Caddell Construction has announced another round of executive promotions and strategic new hires as the firm continues steady growth in key markets. Kendra James has been promoted to vice president – accounting, and Matthew Pool has been promoted to vice president – preconstruction. Mario Beltran has been hired as vice president – commercial automation, while Scott Bergstrom and Bob Cunningham have been hired as construction executives. Drew Ellis has been promoted to construction executive.
According to President & CEO Mac Caddell, the new hires and promotions are part of the company’s ongoing efforts toward “right sizing” staff to support steady growth in recent years and “leaning in” to the company’s strategic goal to attract, develop and retain key talent as they lead toward continued growth in the future. “Our people are what set us apart,” he said. “When we find talented, passionate leaders within our company or elsewhere in the industry, we are committed to helping them find long-term success at Caddell,” he said. “There is ample opportunity for career growth here, and we are thrilled when we get to make that happen for talented professionals like these.”
Mario Beltran has been hired as Vice President – Commercial Automation.
Beltran is a dynamic and experienced leader in the industry who can balance strategic vision with hands-on operational expertise to drive growth and ensure project excellence. Prior to joining Caddell, he served in multiple leadership roles at another leading construction company, most recently as northwest Arkansas division vice president. Ricky Byrd, president of Caddell’s commercial division, said the hire was a strategic move in response to unprecedented success the company has built in the automation market nationwide. “We brought Mario in to provide leadership in scaling the business through our client-based teams approach,” he said. “As our key clients continue to grow, we grow with them. That’s the beauty of collective success—and that’s what Mario and his team will ensure happens to the standard of The Caddell Way.” Beltran holds a B.S in Architectural Studies from the University of Arkansas, where he serves on the Fay Jones School of Architecture Professional Advisory Board. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and also serves as a member of the John Brown University Construction Advisory Board.
Kendra James has been promoted to Vice President – Accounting.
James joined Caddell in 2021 as controller and was quickly promoted to director of accounting the following year. Chief Financial Officer Joe Newell said this promotion to vice president is in recognition of the great value she has brought to the company. “Kendra is the best accountant I’ve worked with in my entire career,” he said. “Her biggest contribution to Caddell is the clear, organized, and effective way she leads. She has consistently demonstrated The Cadell Way as she guides accounting support services to meet the needs of our fast-growing company,” he said. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Kendra earned both a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting from the University of Central Florida. She plays a vital role on Caddell’s Strategic Planning Committee and serves as chairperson for the company’s Giving Committee.
Matthew Pool has been promoted to Vice President – Preconstruction.
Pool was a key hire for Caddell’s Bentonville, Arkansas-based commercial team in October 2022, following a 20-year career at Walmart as Director of Design and Construction. Ricky Byrd, president of Caddell’s commercial division, said his promotion to vice president is a nod to the growing importance of early collaboration and partnership with key trade partners in every phase of every project. “Matt’s leadership and strategic understanding of the preconstruction process has made a very real difference in our core business pursuits,” he said. “His commitment to collective success is something our clients and trade partners value greatly.” A former U.S. Marine, Pool earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas and serves on the John Brown University Construction Advisory Board.
Scott Bergstrom has been hired as Construction Executive.
Bergstrom was hired to help oversee projects out of the company’s Phoenix, Arizona office. A seasoned construction professional, he brings extensive experience with firms such as Turner Construction and the Weitz Company, leading high-profile projects across healthcare, commercial and industrial sectors. He is skilled in project management, team development, and delivering quality results on complex, large-scale builds, and his expertise includes overseeing project execution, profitability and client relationships. Bergstrom earned a B.S. in Construction Management from Arizona State University. He is a Lean Construction Institute (LCI) – Arizona Community of Practice Board Member and serves on the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) – Arizona Chapter Steering Committee.
Bob Cunningham has been hired as Construction Executive.
Cunningham is a strategic hire for Caddell’s mission critical and data center construction team. He is a seasoned construction professional with more than a decade of management experience in commercial construction, data centers, mission-critical facilities and electrical systems. His previous experience on the client side with tech giants such as AWS, Meta and CyrusOne has proven exceptionally valuable as Caddell continues building client-based teams in this sector. He is skilled in project management, technical oversight and strategic planning. Cunningham is a graduate of Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio and is an electrician by trade—expertise that has served him very well in the mission critical space.
Drew Ellis has been promoted to Construction Executive.
Ellis joined Caddell in 2014 as an assistant project engineer and has progressed through increasing roles and levels of responsibility in project engineering, quality control and project management. He is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced construction professionals found in the federal market anywhere in the nation. He has led some of the governmental division’s most challenging and high-profile projects to date in a market sector that is very nuanced and requires many intricacies and specific skill sets. He is particularly adept at managing multiple passionate stakeholders, mentoring his onsite team and motivating subcontractors of every size and trade. Ellis earned a B.S. in Building Construction from Auburn University and was previously recognized as one of Alabama Associated General Contractors “Alabama AGC 40 Under 40 in Construction.”