Batson-Cook Construction Promotes Neha Dugal to Senior Vice President, General Manager, Dallas

Darin Appleton

Darin Appleton leads Batson-Cook’s West Point Division as senior vice president and general manager. In this role, he carries ultimate responsibility for the strategic planning, business development, construction operations, and client relationships essential to the growth of the West Point Division.

Darin started at Batson-Cook as an intern in the West Point office and has been an assistant project manager, project manager, senior project manager, and a project executive over the course of this career. His personal portfolio tops $634 million.    

HOMETOWN

• Marietta, Ga.

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION / RECOGNITION

• Degree in Building Science from Auburn

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS

• ASHE Certified Healthcare Constructor
• LEED Accredited Professional

PERSONAL

• Wife, Kristy; three children, Tucker, Avery James, and Collins
• Enjoys spending time with family, mountain biking, backpacking, and exercising

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Batson-Cook Construction Promotes Chuck Gaston and Darrell Brooks to Senior Vice President of Field Operations

Jimmy Kennedy

Jimmy has spent his entire professional career with Batson-Cook. He started as an intern and has been a field engineer, assistant project manager, project manager, senior project manager, and a project executive. He became a vice president and business unit leader in 2023 and supports healthcare clients to grow the market in the metro Atlanta area. Jimmy also enjoys fostering the growth of those he works with, acknowledging their hard work, and celebrating their successes

Jimmy believes nothing fosters trust or builds relationships like results. When he makes a commitment on a jobsite, he is motivated to perform at his best to deliver results that exceed our clients’ expectations..

Jimmy has more than 22 years of experience in the construction industry. Jimmy has a personal construction portfolio exceeding $1.2 billion.

HOMETOWN

• Rome, Ga.

EDUCATION

• Southern Polytechnic State University, Bachelor of Science in Construction

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS

• ASHE Certified Healthcare Constructor
• LEED Accredited Professional

PERSONAL

• Wife, Paula, two children, Emma & Luke
• Emma’s Marching Band events, Luke’s Baseball Games, hanging out with family & friends, and fishing
• Serves as Deacon, Youth Director, and Sunday School Superintendent at Cochran Ridge Baptist Church in Hiram, Ga.

Batson-Cook Construction’s Clays to Raise earns more than $72,000 for The ROC

Robert Trice

Robert Trice joined Batson-Cook in 1996 as a project engineer in our special projects group, an effort focused on tenant build-outs, renovations, small additions, churches, and miscellaneous projects. Since then, he’s built senior living facilities, multi-family, religious related projects, office, specialty, municipal, master planned communities, and design-build projects. In 2023, Robert was promoted to the vice president and business unit leader role and will oversee the company’s wood frame/senior-living projects. Robert brings a wealth of knowledge to potential and current clients embarking on building endeavors. He also works seamlessly with our employees to help them be successful in their careers while ensuring that Batson-Cook clients receive best-in-class service.

Robert has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry with more than 125 completed projects and a personal construction portfolio exceeding $225 million.
  
HOMETOWN

• Seaford, DE

EDUCATION

• Clemson University, Bachelor of Science in Construction Management

PERSONAL

• Wife, Amy, and four cats
• Enjoys golf, being a handyman and fixing things, travelling, architectural/engineering history, drawing, bowling, biking, reading

Christopher Shepherd

Chris Shepherd joined Batson-Cook in 2007 as an assistant project manager in the company’s healthcare market. He became a project executive in 2016 to assist prospective and current clients achieve their construction goals. In 2022, Chris accepted his current role as vice president and business unit leader for northeast Florida where he applies his wealth of healthcare construction experience to build new relationships, enhance the skills of our project teams, and manage other tasks essential to the growth of his division.

Chris has more than 29 years of experience in the construction industry. Chris’ personal construction portfolio exceeds $1 billion.

HOMETOWN

• Jacksonville, Fla.

EDUCATION

• University of Florida; Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree in Construction Management

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS

• Association Builders and Contractors, Florida
• Florida Healthcare Engineers Association
• American Healthcare Association CHC
• Vice-Chair of the Construction Management Advisory Board for the University of North Florida

PERSONAL

• Wife and one daughter
• Enjoys the outdoors, exercising, tennis, sporting clays, time at the beach and surfing when the waves are decent

Fun!

Northside Hospital Cherokee

AdventHealth Innovation Tower Medical Office Building

AdventHealth Off-Site Emergency Departments

T-Mobile Mission Critical

ZwickRoell

LaGrange Tourism Office Renovation

MUST Ministries Shelter

Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside Emergency Room Buildout

Baptist Health Baptist Medical Center East Post-Partum Bed Wing Vertical Expansion

Piedmont Columbus Regional John B. Amos Cancer Center Addition and Renovation

Darrell Brooks

Darrell Brooks, a 44-year veteran in the construction industry, began his career learning on-the-job as a superintendent in the company’s healthcare market. He became a senior vice president of field operations in 2022 and supports project operations across the Florida and Texas divisions by focusing on jobsite safety, mentoring and coaching field staff, overseeing project schedules, labor management, quality control, as well as cultivating client and key trade partner relationships. He prides himself on bringing the best out of people, and uses every opportunity to mentor colleagues and help them reach the next level in their careers.

Darrell has more than 44 years of experience in the construction industry. Darrell has overseen more than 200 projects with a personal construction portfolio exceeding $1 billion.

HOMETOWN

• Jacksonville, Fla.

PERSONAL

• Wife, Marsha, two children, Whitney and Brandon, and four grandchildren. One dog, Buddy, who is a German short-hair pointer
• Enjoys quail hunting, sporting clays, and attending grandkids’ sports events

Chuck Gaston

As a skilled builder with 45 years of experience in construction operations, Chuck Gaston is a skilled and knowledgeable leader who is driven by his passion to build. With strong core values and respected leadership, Chuck can find efficiencies that yield significant benefits for Batson-Cook’s new and existing clients.

Chuck joined the company in 1984 as a field engineer and advanced to the role of assistant superintendent, superintendent, and general superintendent before becoming a vice president of field operations. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of Field Operations in 2022. Chuck's personal construction portfolio exceeds $2 billion.

HOMETOWN

• Knoxville, Tennessee

EDUCATION

• The University of Tennessee; Certificate of Land Surveying

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS

• LEED AP
• OSHA 30
• Vice President of Hawks Farm HOA

PERSONAL

• Wife, Karla, three daughters, nine grandchildren and two dogs
• Loves restoring old cars and riding Harleys on weekends

Division Officers and Field Operational Leaders

Test

Culture

Batson-Cook Construction’s Clays for a Cause Raises $200,000; Raises More Than Two Million Throughout Its 16-Year History

Pat Ray

Pat Ray brings more than two and a half decades of hands-on commercial construction experience to his role as senior vice president and general manager of Batson-Cook’s Atlanta Commercial division. His passion for building relationships, coupled with a strong desire to uphold Batson-Cook’s core values, makes him an invaluable team member to grow our presence in the commercial sector.

Pat joined the company in 2015 as a Project Executive. He was promoted to Senior Vice President, General Manager, Atlanta Commercial division in 2021.

HOMETOWN

• Hattiesburg, Mississippi

EDUCATION

• University of Southern Mississippi; Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Technology

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS

• Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church
• LEED AP
• OSHA 30

PERSONAL

• Wife Melanie, three children
• Fly fishing, golf, hunting, and Ole Miss sports

Joe Appleton Announces Retirement from Batson-Cook Construction, Pat Ray Promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager, Atlanta Commercial Division

Publix Headquarters Building Addition & Parking Lot Expansion

Batson-Cook Construction Tops Out on the New Winship Emory Midtown facility at Emory University Hospital Midtown

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite IMRI, OR Renovation & ED Expansion

Prattville Geriatric Behavioral Health Wing Addition and Facade / Lobby Renovation

Baptist Health - Nocatee Wellness Center and Medical Office Building

WellStar West Georgia Enoch Callaway Cancer Center

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Batson-Cook Construction Tops Out New Duke Energy Plaza in Uptown

Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office

Grace Presbyterian Church

Beacon Parking Deck

3Twenty3

FNB Tower at 401 S. Graham Street

SkyHouse Apartments

Shiloh Crossing

Puraglobe Syntainics

Reverb Hotel by Hard Rock

Hotel Haya

Celeste Hotel at the University of Central Florida

AC Marriott Gateway Hotel

Omni Mandalay Hotel Pool, Pool Lounge and Landscape

Impact 360 Institute Heritage Student Housing Hall

Rock Hill Schools

UnionWest at Creative Village

Rick Kiger

Rick Kiger joined Batson-Cook in 2021 and is helping build a better Charlotte by collaborating with clients to help them achieve their project goals. As a skilled builder with 30 years of experience in retail, education, senior living, restaurant, industrial, and manufacturing construction, Rick brings a wealth of knowledge to potential and current clients embarking on building endeavors. He also works seamlessly with our project teams to ensure that Batson-Cook clients receive best-in-class service.

Rick believes trust and transparency is key to a long-term relationship, and that aligns with the Batson-Cook mission to do the same. His diverse background promises to bring accomplished advice to each unique build. His qualified perspective makes him a trusted resource for both Batson-Cook and clients alike.
  
HOMETOWN

• Grinnell, Iowa

EDUCATION

• University of Iowa
• South Dakota St. University

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS

• OSHA 30 Certified,
• NASCLA Certified General Contractor
• SCCPMA Member and committee member
• CREW member and co-chair the membership committee
• Ballantyne Business Connections member
• NCPCM member

PERSONAL

• Wife, Polly; two sons,
• Black Pug named Charlie.
• Love to golf, fish, and boat with the family.

Enjoys golf and physical fitness

CONTACT

rkiger@batson-cook.com
 

Hotel Effie

Batson-Cook Construction’s 15th Annual Clays for a Cause Raises $160,000

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Atlanta Area Council, BSA celebrates Construction Merit Badge Day on a current construction site and learn key skills from professionals

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Experience the Batson-Cook Difference in Charlotte

Charlotte Trade Partners

Batson-Cook Construction Receives Two Construction Awards from ABC Florida First Coast

We Care: A Message from Randy Hall, Batson-Cook Construction’s President & CEO

Batson-Cook Construction Receives National Excellence in Construction Award From Associated Builders and Contractors