McCownGordon Construction Makes Six Key Leadership Promotions

Posted February 11, 2025

McCownGordon Construction has announced several leadership promotions to bolster regional, national and vertical growth.

The Kansas City-based general contractor announced six promotions, according to a release Monday.

Following the retirement of chief people officer Nancy Whitworth, Brandi Riggs will become senior vice president for people and human resources. Riggs, who was part of Whitworth’s team for nine years, has helped shape a culture that has been nationally recognized as a top workplace.

Brandi Riggs, senior vice president of people and human resources at McCownGordon Construction. Photo credit: McCownGordon Construction.

Dustin Burns will become the senior vice president of technology and business solutions and will work to advance the company’s technology initiatives. Burns has led technology adoption at McCownGordon since 2005 when most of the industry considered “construction tech” unnecessary.

Dustin Burns, senior vice president of technology and business solutions at McCownGordon Construction. Photo credit: McCownGordon Construction.

Emily Tilgner was promoted to senior vice president of building performance solutions. In the role, Tilgner leads the building performance solution team offering an array of innovative solution services including mechanical, electrical, plumbing; structural and soils, virtual design and construction; building commissioning as well as sustainability and quality assurance and quality control.

Emily Tilger, senior vice president of the building performance solution team at McCownGordon Construction.. Photo credit: McCownGordon Construction.

Freddy Allison, a 24-year veteran of McCownGordon, is now the vice president of operations.

Freddy Allison, vice president of operations at McCownGordon Construction. Photo credit: McCownGordon Construction.

Justin Hamilton has been promoted to vice president and business unit leader for the food and beverage markets and will continue to drive business growth nationally and align teams with customer priorities. Notable projects include Walmart’s 330,000 SF case-ready beef facility under construction in Olathe, Kansas.

Justin Hamilton, vice president and business unit leader of the food and beverage markets at McCownGordon Construction. Photo credit: McCownGordon Construction.

After working in the company’s regional office in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Huffman will relocate back to Kansas City and embark on his new roles as vice president and business unit leader. Huffman will lead the regional higher education market. The firm is currently working on the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s largest capital project in the University’s history, the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building.

Travis Huffman, vice president and business unit leader of the higher education market at McCownGordon Construction. Photo credit: McCownGordon Construction.

This series of promotions is set to drive continuous growth and solidify the company’s position as a growing national firm, according to the release.