Leadership


Rod Donnelly

Founder and CEO

As founder, Rod has established a culture of excellence within the company. He looks for ways to continuously improve our capabilities as well as seeking new opportunities to move Donnelly Construction forward. Over the years, Rod has expanded the company to serve clients in additional ways by creating Donnelly Energy and Donnelly Facilities. He plays a pivotal role in ensuring that all companies in the Donnelly family have the resources and guidance required to exceed client expectations by providing the best overall service in the industry. Rod has over 45 years’ experience in the General Contracting industry and has been a leading contractor servicing the New Jersey Office of Clean Energy’s Direct Install Program since its inception ten years ago.

Chris Powers

President

Chris joined Donnelly Construction in 1980 and has over the years become a driving force behind the company’s growth and success. With over thirty-five years of experience in project management, Chris has extensive experience in every aspect of the construction process. He is currently responsible for project management, operations, and business development. Chris’s leadership has helped us deliver a high level of quality, safety, and customer service to our clients. Chris takes an active interest in every Donnelly Construction project and works closely with our project teams to ensure that the work is completed to maximize our clients’ satisfaction. In addition to supporting clients, Chris mentors our company’s executives to continue building long-term client relationships.

Shahzad Khan, LEED AP

Chief Operations Officer

Shahzad oversees all aspects of the estimating process, project management, and purchasing. His engineering background and strong analytical skills provide an invaluable service to our clients during all stages of their projects. Shahzad ensures that clients receive the best value by not only providing accurate cost information, but also value engineering and analysis of building systems and components, which enables clients to make informed decisions. Shahzad’s estimating experience includes large scale core and shell projects, cast-in-place concrete structures, and major interior and structural alterations and renovations. Shahzad has gained extensive leadership experience in management and operations, overseeing numerous projects, including many of Donnelly’s largest and most complex projects.

Drew Struss

Chief Financial Officer

With over 35 years of experience in finance and administration, Drew has been working for Donnelly Industries for over 30 years. As CFO of Donnelly Construction, he is primarily responsible for accounting functions, financial reporting, 401K plans, and audits. He is also responsible for overseeing the accounting department, insurance programs, and the human resources departments of all the companies under Donnelly Industries. Drew also manages the cash flow between the three independent companies in the Donnelly family, develops their financial budgets, and forecasts financial needs. Additionally, Drew leads the company’s tax planning and compliance functions.

Chris Donnelly

Vice President of Business Development

A graduate of University of Scranton with a degree in Business Administration, Chris has 12 years of experience in many areas of the construction industry. He has worked as a safety director, project manager, and real estate developer. As VP of Business Development, he is responsible for new business development, sales, and marketing. He organizes trade shows and marketing events with clients, all while highlighting the services that enhance Donnelly’s position as a top general contractor in the tristate area.

Irshad Khan

Vice President of Risk Management & Operations

Irshad has over 29 years of experience in financial and cost accounting, risk management, and operations. He has been working for Donnelly Construction for over 11 years. As VP of Risk Management and Operations, he is responsible for contract management, subcontract management, cost-benefit analysis, and cost accounting. Meanwhile, as leader of the corporate change management team, Irshad directs the use of resources, business processes, budget allocations, and other modes of operation, which have significantly reshaped Donnelly Construction into a more efficient company. He also serves on the committee that oversees insurance, quality control and safety programs, as well as the IT department.

Dan Stempert, LEED AP

Vice President of Project Management

Dan has over twenty-five years of experience in construction project management including country clubs, commercial, institutional, hospitality, retail and many more sectors. He currently supervises our project management team and is responsible for training new project managers. Dan’s recent portfolio of successful projects includes Canoe Brook Country Club, Oratory Preparatory School of Summit, Ironbound Community Corporation Early Head Start, as well as multiple projects at Stevens Institute of Technology, Walmart, Weichert Realtors, Toys “R” Us, Morris Catholic High School, and The Bonnie Brae School. As vice president, he conceptualizes projects and establishes relationships with partners to monitor the progress of projects, ensuring their timely implementation and completion.