Wightman announces Market Sector Leader Staff

Wightman, an employee-owned consulting firm with offices in Allegan, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, and Royal Oak, has recently appointed staff to Market Sector Leader roles within the company.

Wightman is a multi-disciplinary firm that offers engineering, architecture, and survey services to a variety of clients throughout the Great Lakes region. Those services, as well as six other disciplines including environmental, GIS, interiors, landscape architecture, planning, and reality capture, are organized into four main sectors: Commercial, Education, Government, and Utilities.

Market Sector Leaders (MSL) are responsible for high-level client and business development which fosters stronger relationships and more thorough project expertise. Through continual collaboration and communication, MSLs provide guidance to ensure projects are completed on time, on budget, and by exceeding client expectations.

Stefany Holland, AIA Associate in the architecture department, has been named the commercial sector specialist. Holland joined Wightman in 2008 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Project Management from Ferris State University; she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Lean Systems Leadership. Her role as a project manager, as well as her passion for organization and efficiency and 13 years’ experience, has given her the necessary tools to lead the commercial sector. Commercial projects often feature tight deadlines, involve numerous stakeholders, and require municipal and state approval processes. By listening to the client, asking the right questions, and having cultivated a wide breadth of problem-solving solutions, Wightman’s commercial project experience is unparalleled.

George Kacan, AIA, is a licensed architect in 13 states and the District of Columbia, the regional director of Wightman’s Royal Oak office, and the education market sector leader. Kacan joined the Wightman team in 2019 and has more than 30 years’ experience in architecture, project management, and executive leadership. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan. Kacan’s expertise in business development in the education field complements his new role. Capital improvement projects - from planning, financing, design, legal, community engagement, and construction - in the education field are typically challenged with competing agendas, difficulty achieving consensus or understanding, and financial constraints. Wightman’s education sector can offer practical advice and technical solutions that education stakeholders will need on their capital improvement journey. Our education sector team focuses on people by designing and constructing transformative spaces where students and teachers thrive.

Steve Carlisle, P.E, serves as chairman of the company’s Board of Directors as well as the government sector leader and is a licensed professional engineer in Michigan and Illinois. Carlisle has been with Wightman since 1997 and is responsible for the analysis, design, and construction management of municipal engineering projects. With his client-centric focus, substantial experience with municipalities throughout Michigan, and strong ties to the community, Carlisle is ideal to lead the government sector. His 25 years of experience assisting municipal clients and strong background understanding their business leads to an impressive resume of providing practical and resourceful solutions to infrastructure challenges. As municipalities emerge from a post-pandemic year where they faced severe staffing cutbacks, construction delays, and limited financial resources, Wightman continues to assist clients by designing and constructing much-needed infrastructure projects, implementing transportation and community-wide asset management plans, providing grant funding assistance, and aligning intergovernmental cooperation between agencies.

Lee Petcu began his career at Wightman in 2001 as a survey crew chief. With 30 years of surveying experience, he has risen through the ranks at Wightman to hold other notable positions including project manager and client representative. Petcu has been named utilities market sector leader following his substantial experience and great working relationships with energy and utility clients. He is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Technology. Utility and energy clients face numerous challenges involving existing site conditions, procurement of easements for expansion, site design, and construction. Wightman’s utility market sector facilitates a smooth path and technical solutions that assist the client in rebuilding, acquiring, and maintaining their facilities, while maintaining a strong power network and offering environmentally friendly solutions.

“We invest our time and resources to be expert in your business including emerging trends, funding opportunities, regulations, and how our services help you achieve your organizational goals. Lee, Stefany, Steve, and George have the knowledge and experience to ensure we serve you through the lens of your business, not ours,” shared Wightman president Matt Davis, following the announcement of the appointments.