Chris Buckman Promoted to Vice President of Corporate Construction

Chris is a fourteen year veteran of BMW Constructors, having joined the organization in 1997 following his graduation from Purdue University, where he earned his degree in Building Construction Management. During his tenure with BMW, Chris has progressed through the organization, working in various roles, including Project Engineer, Resident Manager, Project Manager and Business and Contract Manager. Most recently, Chris served as Contract Manager for our BP account in Whiting, Indiana, where he was instrumental in further building and enhancing BMW’s relationship and scope of work with BP.

In his new role, Chris will oversee the operational and administrative control of projects across the organization, with the goal of gaining optimum profit and growth on both a short term and long term basis.

“Chris’s transition into this position is another step forward in our management succession planning, and I am confident in his leadership abilities to fulfill this important position for BMW,” President and CEO Brian Acton says. “I trust everyone will support Chris as he undertakes this new position and works to build upon the success and achievements of our organization.”

Clay West Promoted to Corporate Director of Employee Health and Safety

Clay will develop, lead and communicate the safety vision, policies and programs to ensure BMW’s continuous commitment to world-class safety performance.

“I am very pleased to have Clay serve in this role for BMW,” President and CEO Brian Acton says. “His knowledge of the construction safety environment, coupled with his commitment to BMW, will serve our employees well as we strive for zero injury safety performance.”

Most recently serving as BMW Constructors’ Assistant Corporate Safety Director, Clay joined the company in 1998 as a Safety Administrator. Later, Clay was promoted to Safety Supervisor, working on a wide range of projects across the organization. Clay earned his Health and Safety Management degree from Indiana State University.

Greg Kroh announced President of Mechanical Contractors Association Chicago

BMW Constructors, Inc. is proud to announce that Greg Kroh was named President of the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) of Chicago. He will work directly with the Executive Vice President/CEO of MCA and represent MCA at dozens of local and national meetings and conferences. He also presides over all meetings of the association, names committees and committee chairs, is involved in collective bargaining with Local #597 and lobbies on behalf of contractors. Before taking on the role as President of the MCA, Greg served as the Vice President. The MCA was founded in 1888. Although its membership consists of around sixty of the oldest and most substantial mechanical contractors in the Chicagoland area, MCA represents all mechanical contractors who are signatory with Local #597 in collective bargaining with the local. Local #597, the largest Pipefitter Local in America, has about 9,000 total members and about 6,000 active Pipefitters.

What is a boilermaker?

Students prepare to graduate

Seth Conley

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A true boilermaker will show his colors after Purdue's graduation ceremonies next week. Andy Bell is following in his father's footsteps.

"I'm a real boilermaker," said Andy Bell, Purdue Senior.

Bell is graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. The non-traditional student has worked as a boilermaker at coal power plant prior to coming to Purdue.

"I'm ready to go back to work," he said. "It's nice knowing that I've got a degree now and also a craft."

Bell knows what it is like holding the welding torch and living up to the university's long-held beginnings.

"Boilermaker term is thrown around a lot but no one really knows what it is," he said. "You know it's funny, I actually lived with Purdue Pete. He had absolutely no clue what a boilermaker actually was."

So what do boilermakers do? Bell said some boilermakers work in coal and nuclear power plants or in a shipyard welding and repairing, what else? Boilers.

As for Bell, he said he already has a job lined up with a company in Munster, Indiana.

Purdue's graduation ceremonies will be held May 15th-17th.

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