Rochester, N.Y., August 4, 2022 – LeChase Construction Services, LLC is pleased to announce the following promotions.
- Barbara Sauer is named Senior Vice President, Finance. Sauer continues to lead the company’s finance operations, including financial strategy, planning and reporting as well as taxes, payroll, support operations and special initiatives. She joined LeChase in 2011 as assistant corporate controller, was named corporate controller in 2015 and vice president of finance in 2019. Sauer earned an M.B.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in accounting from St. John Fisher University.
- Tom O’Gara is named Senior Vice President, Administration. In addition to acting as General Counsel, O’Gara leads the legal, risk management, safety, IT, and diversity, equity and inclusion functions. He joined LeChase in 2017, having previously served as a partner in a Rochester law firm, and was named vice president in 2020. O’Gara received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Albany Law School, and his undergraduate degree in political science from Siena College.
- Brian Russo is named Senior Vice President. Russo joined LeChase as director of preconstruction in 2011 after serving as a project engineer, cost estimator and chief estimator at other firms. He was named operations manager in 2013 and appointed vice president in 2016. In his role, Russo provides operational oversight on joint ventures, projects and other initiatives. He attended Pennsylvania State University, earning a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. He also has LEED AP® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
- Lee Sommerman is named Senior Vice President. A career-long LeChase employee, Sommerman joined the company as a project engineer in 1995. After working his way through roles in project management, he was named a regional operations manager in 2013 and a vice president in 2019. He manages LeChase’s Rochester and Central New York offices, and also assists in other initiatives. Sommerman earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He also has an A.A.S. degree in architecture from Alfred State College and LEED AP® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
“Our new senior vice presidents have proven to be exceptional leaders, and each plays a key role in the company’s success,” noted LeChase President Will Mack. “Their experience and professionalism are instrumental in guiding our operations and staff functions.”
