Chris Kirch was recently named President of Kitchell Contractors Inc., taking the reins of one of the oldest commercial building contractors in the Southwest as it moves into a new era of leadership.
“We are experiencing unprecedented innovation and growth as it relates to how and what we build,” said Kitchell President & CEO Wendy Cohen. “As someone who has lived this industry since he started as a laborer on one of our hospital projects, Chris understands firsthand how to meet the challenges of increasingly complex projects while mobilizing teams to perform at the highest levels. I look forward to working alongside him as we chart a future that builds on our long legacy and uses innovation to bring our clients’ visions to life.”
Kirch has been with Kitchell since 2003 and since 2010 has been with the company’s Texas region, helping to grow the company’s footprint in the Austin and Houston markets. He began his journey with Kitchell as an intern while working toward his Construction Management degree from Northern Arizona University, moving through an entry-level Project Engineer position in Las Vegas to Operations Manager in Texas, where he most recently served as Texas Market Sector Executive. He is known as an accessible, supportive leader who is unwavering in his dedication to Kitchell’s projects, clients and employees. Chris is a founding board member of the Lean Institute of Houston and Vice President of Cyclist for a Cause, benefiting MS research.
Kirch is the second leadership appointment at Kitchell in recent weeks, following the appointment of Don Haase as the new President of Sacramento-based Kitchell CEM. The leadership changes are part of a strategic succession effort at the diverse company, which consists of four distinct operating companies: Kitchell Contractors Inc., Kitchell Capital Expenditure Managers (CEM), Kitchell Development Company and American Refrigeration Supplies. Through these companies, Kitchell provides a wide array of building services ranging from real estate development and program management and construction management to general contracting and facility management, as well as wholesale refrigeration and HVAC supplies.