MEET THE TEAM

Brown & Momen

Ernest Brown founded Brown & Momen over 35 years ago. His firm has played a crucial role in reshaping Chicago with projects such as the Obama Presidential Center, the O’Hare International Airport expansion, and the University of Illinois Outpatient Surgery Center. As member of the CCBC and a general contractor on the Bally’s Chicago Casino project, Ernest leverages his decades of experience in construction scheduling and project management to help ensure the project proceeds smoothly and safely, and he is proud to work on a project that aligns with his long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion in the construction industry.

d’Escoto, Inc.

Frederick d'Escoto, Corporate Vice President of d’Escoto, Inc., joined his family company in 2017 after earning his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University. Frederick takes great pride in the projects completed by the d'Escoto, Inc. team, knowing they play a crucial role in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people by ensuring the safety and functionality of essential infrastructure like roads, bridges, airports, and pipelines. As part of the CCBC, Frederick serves on the Management Committee, a team of the joint venture’s principals that oversees and provides strategic direction for the Bally’s Chicago Casino project.

Gilbane Building Company

Karrie Kratz is vice president and business leader for Gilbane Building Company’s Illinois operations. In this position, Karrie is responsible for driving consistency and excellence in the Chicago office, while overseeing all projects and employees in the Illinois area. Karrie's role as part of the CCBC leadership team includes bringing Gilbane’s extensive knowledge, connections and experience in the construction industry to support the team. Karrie played a key role in bringing the CCBC together, and she works to identify needs among members and ensure that all companies have the tools they need to succeed on the Bally’s Chicago Casino project.

Milhouse Engineering & Construction

Melanie Jefferies is Chief Operating Officer at Milhouse Engineering and Construction, and serves as the Owner and Principal of Milhouse Development LLC, the development arm of the Milhouse family of companies. In her position, she oversees a team of over 300 members nationally, contributing to a revenue exceeding $50 million. As part of the CCBC leadership team, Melanie serves as the executive stakeholder representing Milhouse. She ensures that Milhouse’s unique perspective and expertise in engineering, construction and development is represented in the round table discussions on building Bally’s Chicago Casino project.

Powers & Sons

Kelly Powers Baria is Vice President at Powers & Sons, where she co-runs operations in the company’s Chicago and Northwest Indiana offices. As part of the third generation of the family-owned business, Kelly excels in building client relationships and managing new business opportunities. She plays a key role in proposal development, marketing communication, preconstruction planning, and construction management for multimillion-dollar public and private clients. Kelly is part of the executive leadership and management committee team at CCBC, which she views as an extension of the work her firm started with Lakeside Alliance, the builder of the Obama Presidential Center. She believes the CCBC team is truly representative of Chicago and brings together unique perspectives within the city’s construction industry.

Riteway-Huggins Construction

Larry Huggins is the owner of Riteway-Huggins Construction. Larry originally entered the construction industry as a painter, driven by a passion for creating beautiful spaces. In 1975, he founded Riteway Painting and Decorating, which later expanded into construction management, trucking, concrete and development services. Larry is part of the executive team of the CCBC, which he says is unique for how it positions a group of minority businesses as the General Contractor for the Bally’s Chicago Casino project.

SQN Associates

Rozie Makhani is the President, CEO, and Owner of SQN Associates (SQN). As a principal member of the CCBC, Rozie serves as SQN’s representative to the collective and plays a pivotal role in guiding the vision and implementation of the Bally’s Chicago Casino project. Her contributions are instrumental in ensuring that CCBC's core values—diversity, local engagement and community-driven development—are at the forefront, aiming to make a lasting impact on Chicago.

UJAMAA Construction, Inc.

As President and CEO of Ujamaa Construction Inc. (UJAMAA), Jimmy Akintonde leads a team of construction professionals, consultants and businesses. One of the Principals of the CCBC, Jimmy leads and oversees the strategic direction of our construction projects, ensuring they align with our goals of promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry and City of Chicago. This involves mentoring and working closely with other minority-led construction firms that are part of the CCBC to ensure our projects adhere to the highest industry standards, while supporting our broader mission. Jimmy also plays a crucial role in managing relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders, government officials, and private sector partners.