Denovo is at the forefront of redefining construction management, emphasizing the importance of client satisfaction, trust, and commitment in every interaction. We have a strong track record of nurturing lasting relationships, meeting clients where they are, and working collaboratively to turn their aspirations into achievable and meaningful projects.
About Us
Denovo answered all of our questions, they know us, they really want to be here and do this [project] with us as a partner.
– Dr. Christine Trujilo, Superintendent for Gilbert CSD
Core Purpose: Help others get what they want.
LOVE WHAT YOU DO
We’re all about building dreams with heart and creating a workplace where passion isn’t just encouraged—it’s the norm.
LEAD & OWN IT
Responsibility is built into our foundation, ensuring we deliver on our promises with unwavering commitment.
DO WHAT OTHERS WON'T
We go above and beyond the blueprint, leading with a new, fresh way of construction management that breaks ground and norms alike.
LIVE THE DENOVO LIFE
Intentional, heart-led, and deeply rewarding—doing what we love, with people we respect and care about making a meaningful difference.
OFFENSE ALL OF THE TIME
We approach each day with a proactive, forward-thinking mindset taking the initiative, seizing opportunities, solving issues, driving growth, improvement, and innovation with the desire to make things happen with a client-centric intention!
We exceed our clients’ expectations to the point where they become raving fans of Denovo.
TEAM DENOVO
Brent Mitchell
Co-Founder & CEO
Brent Mitchell
Brent and the team at Denovo focus on building partnerships with their clients by making their construction projects easy and enjoyable. Denovo brings value by being our client’s trusted advocate in K-12 Education (CMa), Design Build and Design Build Mechanical. As an avid bicycle racer, Brent harnesses both the competitive nature and team spirit of the sport to drive Denovo forward.
Contact Brent any time!
Brian Crawford
COO & President of Missouri Region
Brian Crawford
Brian exudes the true spirit of Denovo, years of construction industry leadership has prepared him to take on even the greatest project challenges with sophisticated solutions and unprecedented outcomes. Objectively helping clients navigate complex programming options to find the best outcome. Clients appreciate Brian’s positive attitude and friendly work style. He is an integral part of the Denovo executive team and passionate about the delivery of well-planned quality facilities.
Patrick Davis, AIA
Director of Project Development
Patrick Davis, AIA
A wealth of programming and design knowledge sets Patrick up as the perfect extension of your facility planning team. Aligning building programming needs with project management, Patrick is able to steer his clients through the complexities of program management with confidence.
Colleen Ladd, LEED AP
Director of Operations
Colleen Ladd, LEED AP
Making sure the ball is rolling efficiently and effectively, Colleen leads as our Director of Operations, overseeing our project management team from the start to finish of all Denovo projects. Bringing 25+ years of rich experience from across the industry, including key roles in Des Moines, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Orlando at Disney, she is set to boost our operational processes, optimize information flow and management, and lead our team toward exceptional quality standards. Colleen’s commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and guiding our projects to success is a valuable addition to our team.
Gina David
Director of Marketing
Gina David
With 25 years of diverse experience across a variety of industries, Gina is a seasoned marketing professional known for a dynamic, positive, and results-driven approach. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated a passion for developing innovative strategies that elevate brands, engage customers, and drive business growth. Gina thrives with true partnerships supporting each team and project at Denovo, fostering collaboration, blending creativity and strategy. She’s also quite active outside the office navigating life with two young adult children, and her own hobbies of biking, painting, and traveling!
Brandon Griffin
Project Executive
Brandon Griffin
Brandon is a driven Project Executive with a decade of experience across various sectors, including historic restoration, multi-family housing, industrial, commercial, and healthcare projects. His strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills enable him to build effective relationships with clients, architects, engineers, and contractors. In addition to his expertise in construction, Brandon excels in business development, consistently identifying new opportunities and fostering long-term client partnerships to drive company growth. His ability to align strategic business initiatives with project delivery is instrumental in achieving successful outcomes for both clients and the organization.
Caleb Benzing
Accounting & Finance Manager
Caleb Benzing
Caleb brings a unique blend of swift accounting expertise and an active lifestyle to our team. His attention to detail and quick number-crunching skills make him a valuable team member at Denovo. Whether he’s managing finances or staying active in the neighborhood, Caleb’s agility in both numbers and life adds a dynamic edge to our services.
Mike Pardun
K-12 Ambassador - Iowa
Mike Pardun
As a former superintendent, Mike brings 35 years of expertise to K-12 projects. Serving as a K-12 Ambassador, Mike emphasizes the importance of relationships, trust and integrity in supporting districts and communities to move vision to reality. Living a totally fulfilling life while helping others fulfill theirs has been Mike’s mission in his entire career. This commitment to serving others makes him a dynamic member of our team.
Russ Reiter
K-12 Ambassador - Iowa
Russ Reiter
With 35 years of experience, Russ infuses a wealth of knowledge to K-12 projects. As a former superintendent serving within several districts, he has a deep understanding of the goals and needs of school districts – big and small. Serving as a K-12 Advocate, Russ focuses on building long-term relationships and the educational visions of school districts into impactful realities.
Outside of work, Russ is a devoted family man, enjoying time with his wife and visiting his two sons. He’s also a classic music enthusiast, often bringing his love for tunes on the road for client visits or K-12 conferences. Russ’ commitment to creating future-focused learning environments makes him a vital asset to our team.
Jim Jones
K-12 Ambassador – Missouri
Jim Jones
The addition of Jim Jones to Team Denovo as our K-12 Ambassador in Missouri brings 30+ years of wealth of classroom experience and district expertise. Jim is poised to help improve community impact beyond the traditional educational boundaries with a story or two! Jim is truly your advocate, a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, college football, and more than anything else, his family! And you’re family when working with Jim!
Connor Wohlenhaus
Senior Project Developer
Connor Wohlenhaus
With 6 years of hands-on experience in project development, Connor is a dedicated and results-oriented professional, skilled in managing and delivering both current and upcoming projects. Focused on meeting the unique needs and objectives of each client, Connor excels in creating tailored strategies that ensure successful project execution from start to finish.
Known for his attention to detail, proactive problem-solving, and excellent communication skills, Connor has consistently demonstrated the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, manage resources efficiently, and drive projects to completion on time and within budget. His commitment to understanding client goals and delivering customized solutions makes him an invaluable asset to any team.
Connor’s passion for continuous learning and improvement, coupled with his hands-on experience, enables him to handle complex projects with confidence, ensuring that every initiative meets the highest standards of quality and client satisfaction.
Matt Faber, PE
Director of Technical Services
Matt Faber, PE
Matt is a mechanical engineer with a broad experience and a focus on energy efficiency. Parlaying versatile design capabilities with keen project management, commissioning and energy program facilitation allows Matt to deliver exceptional results in multiple areas of the technical services field. Matt’s strengths have been honed from working with large clients, complex projects exceeding $100 million in construction costs, and energy service projects at an enterprise level. He has served commissioning services in a wide range of industries including healthcare, higher education, commercial, K-12, government, hospitality and data centers.
Todd Majeres
Director of Special Projects
Todd Majeres
Todd approaches project management with a confidence and capability our projects demand. Todd’s construction engineering degree and extensive and diverse project experience further allows Denovo to take on the complicated challenges so clients can reap the benefits of more sophisticated solutions.
Prior to joining Denovo, Todd served as a project manager for Des Moines Public Schools, the largest in the state, overseeing millions of dollars of concurrent construction work, including many award-winning energy efficiency projects.
Jessie Kintz
Senior Project Manager
Jessie Kintz
With over 10 years of experience in project management, Jessie is a highly skilled and results-driven Senior Project Manager with a proven track record of delivering complex projects on time, within scope, and under budget. Known for a strategic approach and exceptional leadership skills, Jessie excels at overseeing large-scale projects from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and client objectives.
Stephen Manus
Project Manager
Stephen Manus
Serving as a Project Manager, Stephen has an excellent track record of leading clients and design teams through project initiatives and development. With over a decade of experience, Stephen has a broad range of construction proficiency and is the perfect advocate for our client’s building goals.
Michael Schmitz
Project Manager
Michael Schmitz
Mike is a seasoned Construction Project Manager who understands construction from many different lenses—and brings your project to life with you in mind. With over 20 years of hands-on experience as a Superintendent, Project Manager, Owner’s Representative, and Consultant, Mike brings a unique, well-rounded perspective to every job site. His work spans projects from $2M to $25M and is known for his ability to align project goals with client vision, all while keeping budgets, timelines, and quality at the forefront. His holistic approach to project delivery ensures clear communication, minimal disruption, and outcomes that reflect the needs and values of the stakeholders involved.
Mike’s collaborative style, deep technical knowledge, and commitment to excellence make him a trusted partner in any construction endeavor because he is proud to show them to his family and community.
Lucas Johns
Project Engineer
Lucas Johns
A proud ISU Cyclone, Lucas brings fresh energy and a keen mind to Denovo. His eagerness to learn from our project managers and proactive approach have quickly made him an indispensable member of our team.
When not at work, Lucas is out exploring the outdoors or pouring into his time with friends and family.
Cam Hupp
Superintendent
Cam Hupp
Cam Hupp brings over a decade of experience in glazing and commercial construction to his role as Superintendent. He began his career as an apprentice and quickly moved into leadership, most recently serving as a Glazing Foreman at Elite Glass and Metal. Cam specializes in storefront and curtainwall installation, waterproofing, and field crew management. Known for his attention to detail and jobsite coordination, he ensures projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to spec.
Chris Eden
Superintendent
Chris Eden
Chris Eden is a dedicated and experienced construction Superintendent known for his strong leadership and hands-on approach in the field. With a servant leadership approach, Chris prioritizes the client’s goals, delivering high-quality work with a strong focus on safety, efficiency, and results. His collaborative style and deep understanding of construction processes make him a key asset on-site and a trusted partner to clients and teams alike.
Corey Richards
Superintendent
Corey Richards
Corey Richards is a seasoned Construction Superintendent with over 20 years of industry experience, including more than 15 years in commercial construction management. Corey leads projects from start to finish—coordinating with architects, subcontractors, and suppliers to keep jobs on schedule, within budget, and built to spec. His background also includes managing a successful department at Contractor Services of Iowa, where he grew sales to over $1 million annually.
Known for his reliability, leadership, and problem-solving skills, Corey is committed to delivering high-quality results while maintaining safety and efficiency on every job site.
Rod Strickland
Superintendent
Rod Strickland
Rod Strickland is a skilled and dependable construction Superintendent known for his hands-on approach, leadership in the field, and commitment to quality craftsmanship. With a strong foundation in construction and a track record of delivering projects on time and within budget, Rod is a key player in ensuring successful outcomes on every job. His no-nonsense work ethic and deep knowledge of construction processes make him a respected leader among crews and a trusted partner to clients.
Shane Hansen
Superintendent
Shane Hansen
With over 30 years in the construction industry, Shane Hansen is a seasoned general contractor and superintendent with deep expertise in residential and commercial building. From owning his own construction business to managing multimillion-dollar commercial projects, Shane brings a practical, hands-on leadership style to every job site.
His project portfolio includes healthcare facilities, banks, manufacturing renovations, and public infrastructure—most notably the Roland-Story Sports Complex and the Cy-Ride Transportation Addition in Ames. In addition to his fieldwork, Shane is passionate about shaping the next generation of tradespeople, currently teaching building trades to junior high and high school students.
Travis Crees
Project Manager
Travis Crees
Travis Crees is a dedicated construction superintendent with hands-on experience managing new builds, remodels, and tenant improvements. Currently completing his Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering at Iowa State University, Travis combines his academic knowledge with practical field experience to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality projects.
He has proven his ability to lead project teams while upholding strong safety standards and utilizing modern construction software to ensure effective communication and progress on every project. Travis is OSHA 10 certified and holds a Class-A CDL, further demonstrating his versatility and commitment to the industry.
Ken Smoldt
Superintendent
Ken Smoldt
Ken Smoldt is a seasoned Superintendent, bringing years of experience leading complex, fast-paced construction projects across the Midwest and Mountain West. From multi-use and multi-family developments to retail, convenience store, warehouse, and tenant improvement work, Ken has consistently delivered high-quality results across a wide range of project types. His hands-on leadership style, attention to detail, and deep understanding of the field make him a strong asset on any jobsite.
Dave Pascale
Superintendent
Dave Pascale
Dave Pascale brings more than three decades of experience as a Superintendent, guiding projects of every scale from the ground up. Over his career, he has overseen all types of developments, retail and convenience store builds, warehouse facilities, and tenant improvement projects. Known for his collaborative leadership and problem-solving approach, Dave excels at coordinating trades, managing schedules, and ensuring quality and safety standards are met on every site. His depth of field knowledge and steady, hands-on management style make him a trusted partner to clients and teams alike.
OUR PARTNERS HELP US DRIVE SUCCESS
Our Community. Our Partners. Something Special Together.
