BROOKFIELD, Wis. — raSmith announces that Jeff Derra, P.E., S.E., LEED AP, and Pat Hainault, P.E., have received promotions to Assistant Directors of the structural services division. In the construction services division, Jennifer Starr has been promoted to Assistant Director of Construction Services, Assistant Director Patrick Zimmer will retire in December 2022, and Paul Schafer will continue to lead the division as Director of Construction Services.In Derra and Hainault’s expanded roles, they will work more closely with Scott Ginal, Director of the structural services division, in achieving the division’s yearly and strategic goals. They will also assist with the management and development of the division’s 28 engineers, cold-formed designers, BIM specialists, and technicians. For the past four years, Derra and Hainault have served as Co-Leaders of raSmith’s cold-formed group. They will continue to serve in this capacity, with business development, project management, and employee development responsibilities.

Derra has over 23 years of experience as a Structural Engineer and Project Manager, working on a variety of building types nationally. Derra recently celebrated his eighth year with raSmith. During his time with raSmith, Derra founded raSmith’s cold-formed group. Derra holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Marquette University.

Hainault has more than 27 years of structural engineering experience and recently celebrated his fourth year with raSmith following the acquisition of Matsen Ford Design Associates, which significantly expanded the cold-formed group. Hainault holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Marquette University and currently serves as Chair of the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute’s Executive Committee.

Starr has served as a Construction Project Manager at raSmith since 2012. She has more than 17 years of experience in construction management. Starr coordinates and oversees both municipal and private construction projects and assists Schafer in managing and scheduling more than 30 staff members in various construction services roles. Starr will continue to serve her local government clients as their primary contact. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a certified inspector of sediment and erosion control.

Zimmer served as the Director of Construction Services at raSmith from 1988 until June 2021 when he assumed an Assistant Director role. He began his career in the construction services industry in 1982 as a Construction Inspector and Technician with the City of Milwaukee. Zimmer worked closely with many local units of government in southeastern Wisconsin on a variety of projects throughout his 34-year career at raSmith.