Leadership

James B. Fenske
President & CEO

As owner and president of The Knoch Corporation, James Fenske is responsible for the quality of services and growth of the professional construction firm.  Mr. Fenske has more than 30 years of experience in general contracting, cost estimating, project scheduling and construction management.  He is an active member in many of the industry’s local, regional and national organizations and has served in a variety of leadership roles including past president of the State of Ohio’s Association of General Contractors. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin.

“I take pride in my company and the service we provide,” said Fenske.  “I am personally involved in all the phases of construction and participate in all project meetings, so our clients can be assured I will be informed and available throughout the project, not just during the bid stage.”

David Walker, PMP, LEED AP
Vice President, Project Management

During his more than 25 years in the construction industry, David Walker has been involved in a diverse array of commercial projects throughout Ohio.   He has experience in both general contracting and construction management.   He is certified as a Project Management Professional (P.M.P.) and is one of the two LEED Accredited Professionals at The Knoch Corporation.   He is a graduate of The University of Akron with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Construction Management. 

Mike Jirele, PMP, CPC, LEED AP in training, BIM certification in training
Senior Project Manager

With 10+ years in commercial construction with a concentration in the public sector, Mike Jirele is a certified project management professional (PMP), a certified professional constructor (CPC) and is currently training to obtain his LEED AP and BIM certification.   As a senior project manager for The Knoch Corporation, Mr. Jirele is the primary contact with the owner and coordinates and directs all aspects of the construction project.   He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from The University of Akron.

David Archer
General Superintendent, EEO, Safety

As The Knoch Corporation’s general superintendent, David Archer oversees all field operations including staffing and equipment needs.   He works closely with the project managers and project superintendents to ensure project start-up and close-out items are completed in a timely manner and the project progresses on schedule and within budget.   With more than 31 years of construction experience, Mr. Archer now serves in this supervisor role, bringing his many years of experience, first-hand knowledge, and technical abilities of all aspects of the construction trades.