SOURCE: Henderson Engineers
LENEXA, Kan. – Henderson Engineers, a national building systems design firm with more than 800 employees nationwide, announces the promotion of Ryan Starkovich to sports practice director/vice president. Starkovich will lead all aspects of Henderson’s sports and recreation practice while Russ Murdock continues to oversee the convention center practice. Kevin Lewis will remain Henderson’s director of venues, working closely with Starkovich and Murdock as venues (convention centers, arenas, stadiums, practice facilities, ballparks, recreation centers, and performance venues) continue to be an area of focus for the firm.
“Ryan has been vital in the growth of our Henderson sports practice over the last 13 years. He has established great relationships with architects, owners, and contractors, and has worked extensively on the largest sports project in our firm’s history,” Lewis said. “His experience and passion for his craft makes him the natural fit for this role. I’m excited to see the continued development of our sports practice under Ryan’s leadership.”
Starkovich joined Henderson in 2007 and has played an integral role in the evolution of the sports practice, where he has led the design of premier facilities nationwide. Serving as a project manager, he has often been the primary liaison to architects, owners, and contractors. He’ll now focus on management, oversight, and strategic direction while still working closely with all levels of design teams and project partners.
“Ryan has really embraced the Henderson culture of working hard and playing hard, and it has shown in his success with sports work. He has a passion for sports, as well as engineering, which puts him in a perfect position to lead our various teams,” Lewis noted. “He is one of the hardest-working individuals I know and his dedication to impeccable organization helps him hold it all together. He has a tremendous knack at balancing a busy work and home life in a seamless fashion. Our sports leaders are like family to me and I’ve taken a lot of pride in watching Ryan grow throughout his career. I can’t think of a more deserving individual, and I look forward to working closely with him for many, many more years.”
His favorite moments have materialized by watching the excitement of fans as they enjoy their experiences, which makes the whole process meaningful for him.
“I’m honored to take over leadership of our sports practice. I always dreamed of spending my professional career working on athletics facilities, and Henderson has turned that dream into a reality for me,” Starkovich shared. “I’m incredibly thankful to Kevin for mentoring me and preparing me for this opportunity. We have a bright future ahead of us, and whether it’s large-scale new construction, renovations, additions, or master planning, our sports experts are ready. There’s no other team I’d rather be leading.”
Starkovich has worked on numerous world-class venues, including SoFi Stadium, Heinz Field, Gillette Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, Ford Center at The Star, State Farm Center, Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the Moody Center, Hollywood Park Performance Venue, and Matthew Knight Arena.
A former collegiate student-athlete himself, Starkovich competed in basketball for Western Wyoming Community College. He averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 52% from the floor and 47% from 3-point range during the 2003-04 season.
After earning an associate degree in engineering from Western Wyoming and completing his career on the hardwood, Starkovich continued his education at the University of Wyoming, where he received a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering. From there, his Henderson journey began.
When he is not leading design implementation at high-profile venues, you can often find Starkovich enjoying a game as a fan. Sports is a lifestyle for him, and the same can be said for the practice he now directs for Henderson.
ABOUT HENDERSON ENGINEERS
Henderson Engineers is a national building systems design firm. We like to say our systems bring buildings to life. Our partners appreciate being able to utilize all our design services under one roof, with one point of contact. Together with our wholly-owned subsidiary, Henderson Building Solutions, we are truly your partner for the life of the building. Founded in 1970, we have more than 800 employees including 215 PEs across 12 offices, including New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Nashville, Bentonville, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City (Lenexa, Kansas headquarters and downtown Kansas City, Missouri), Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Visit our website at www.hendersonengineers.com.
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ABOUT HENDERSON BUILDING SOLUTIONS
Henderson Building Solutions – a wholly-owned construction management subsidiary of Henderson Engineers – focuses on engineer-led design-build projects and commissioning. Backed by the Henderson national network, we use real-time data, leverage invested capital, offer investment-grade budgets, and deliver a functioning system. We offer single-source solutions for turnkey building systems projects.
For more information on #TeamHenderson, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
