B

Blach Construction

General contractor for education, housing, offices

Vice President of Risk Management

Full-TimePosted on 10/15/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's, JD
San Jose, CA, USA
In PersonRegular travel to the Monterey and Orange regional offices and jobsites is required.
Finance & BankingRisk Management

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, business, risk management, or a related field; a Juris Doctor is valued.
  • At least 15 years of progressive experience in construction risk management, insurance, construction law, or construction operations, including at least five years in a senior leadership role.
  • Hands-on leadership of a contractor insurance program, including renewals, broker and carrier relationships, and claims; group captive experience is a strong plus.
  • Experience overseeing or partnering closely with a construction safety program, including Cal/OSHA matters.
  • Experience negotiating prime agreements and subcontracts across delivery methods, including design-build, on large commercial and public projects.
  • Executive presence, sound judgment, and communication credibility with the President, owners, sureties, carriers, and counsel.
  • Strong grasp of construction contract law, insurance, surety, and risk transfer; negotiation skills to balance risk mitigation with project and client relationships.
  • Financial acumen to read contractor financial statements and work-in-progress schedules, understand how they affect bonding capacity, and turn loss and premium data into recommendations.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities across the company's three regions and proficiency with contract, insurance-tracking, and safety management software.
  • Professional designations such as ARM, CPCU, CRIS, or CSP are a plus, not required.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the company's overall risk approach as a member of the Leadership Team and advise the President on growth strategy, major legal issues, and project contract and insurance strategy.
  • Keep the President and Leadership Team informed about significant risks, how they are changing, and the responses being taken.
  • Bring risk judgment to go/no-go decisions, contract strategy, and delivery models, including design-build and prefabrication, from pursuit through closeout.
  • Lead responses to major incidents, claims, and crises, and set escalation protocols and authority levels for claim reserves and settlements.
  • Build, develop, and coach the risk team, including the Senior Safety Manager and staff across insurance, contracts, and compliance, and grow the function as the company scales.
  • Train project teams on contracts, insurance, and claim avoidance, and build risk awareness into planning and project execution.
  • Own executive direction of safety and the Captive insurance program, managing the leaders and teams responsible for day-to-day operations.
  • Represent the company to its Captive and oversee its performance, connecting safety results, claims, and loss trends to Captive costs.
  • Set the safety program's vision, culture, standards, and priorities for policies, training, hazard identification, incident and emergency management, workplace violence prevention, and subcontractor safety oversight; advance safety technology and continuous improvement.
  • Own the company's Cal/OSHA regulatory posture and report safety and Captive performance, including EMR, incident rates, and loss trends, to the President and Leadership Team.
  • Oversee the design, placement, and administration of insurance beyond the Captive, including property, builder's risk, professional and pollution, D&O, cyber, crime, and specialty lines.
  • Manage broker and carrier relationships, lead annual renewals, and structure coverages, limits, and deductibles to reduce total cost of risk as the company and market change.
  • Set insurance strategy for individual projects, including builder's risk, owner- and contractor-controlled insurance programs, and project-specific coverage, and ensure recovery for insured losses.
  • Set insurance requirements in owner and subcontract agreements and oversee subcontractor insurance compliance.
  • Oversee the Subcontractor Default Insurance program, including enrollment decisions, claims, and program performance.
  • Partner with the President and Finance on relationships with the surety and surety broker, including annual reviews and underwriter access.
  • Support bonding capacity planning, including single and aggregate limits, working with Finance on financial statements, work-in-progress reporting, and backlog.
  • Support bond program renewals, terms, and indemnity requirements, and advise Operations and Preconstruction on deploying capacity across pursuits and regions.
  • Engage the surety early on large or high-risk projects and coordinate surety communications on claims, defaults, and subcontractor failures.
  • Manage subcontractor prequalification by evaluating financial strength, safety performance, licensing, bonding capacity, and insurance before award, and set single and aggregate exposure limits.
  • Work with Preconstruction and Operations to identify subcontractor risk early, develop Risk Mitigation Plans for higher-risk trade partners, and evaluate subcontractor performance at closeout.
  • Work with Operations executives to negotiate prime agreements across delivery methods, including AIA, design-build, and other formats, covering bond, indemnity, and insurance provisions.
  • Maintain standard subcontract templates, including long, short, short-short, and purchase-order forms; oversee other agreements and work with project teams on revisions to standard terms.
  • Set standard positions on indemnity, insurance, limitation of liability, delay, and design responsibility, and maintain contract review checklists for project teams.
  • Partner with Preconstruction and Operations to identify contract risk during bid and buyout.
  • Lead project-level risk management, including subcontractor insurance tracking, SDI enrollment, lien releases, and required state filings.
  • Oversee public works compliance, including prevailing wage and certified payroll, Skilled and Trained Workforce requirements, apprenticeship ratios, subcontractor licensing, and DIR Public Works Contractor registration.
  • Manage owner insurance documentation, controlled insurance program enrollment, Project Labor Agreement and Project Stabilization Agreement compliance, and Department of Justice fingerprinting.
  • Manage major legal claims and dispute resolution, including investigation, litigation strategy, settlement recommendations, and selection, direction, and cost of outside counsel.
  • Lead regular claims reviews with Operations, tracking loss trends, reserves, and lessons learned to reduce claim frequency and severity.
  • Oversee risk policy governance, licensing and regulatory compliance, employment-related risk with HR, and records retention.
Desired Qualifications
  • A background with a commercial general contractor or construction manager, including working knowledge of California public works compliance.
  • A Juris Doctor with deep construction practice, either as outside counsel to contractors or in-house, and the business sense to lead an operating function.
  • A senior construction operations or project executive background with firsthand command of contracts, claims, insurance, and surety.
  • Experience with a group captive.

About the company

B

Blach Construction

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Website

Blach Construction focuses on building high-quality facilities and housing across California, with its headquarters in San Jose and offices in Monterey and Southern California. It works in education (TK–12 and higher education), housing (including affordable, supportive, and market-rate developments), and civic and workplace sectors, delivering projects from schools to office environments. The company uses a collaborative project delivery approach with clients and partners and leverages its Folia prefabrication system to streamline construction. It differentiates itself through strong partnerships, a broad, diverse project portfolio, a history of safe, award-winning work, and a consistent presence among California’s top contractors. Blach’s goal is to deliver durable, well-built spaces that enhance communities and provide reliable, efficient construction solutions for its clients.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

San Jose, California

Founded

1970

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • March 24, 2026 hires expanded Central Coast and Southern California execution capacity.
  • June 2026 ownership conversion strengthens retention and recruiting in California's tight construction labor market.
  • Blach's education and affordable-housing pipeline matches ongoing district and community development demand in 2026.

What critics are saying

  • California public-school work concentrates revenue in bond cycles and district approvals through 2027.
  • June 2026 ESOP creates repurchase obligations that can strain cash during margin compression.
  • A Southern California slowdown or lost Blach family leadership would weaken the succession story.

What makes Blach Construction unique

  • June 18, 2026 ESOP makes Blach 30% employee-owned, preserving founder control.
  • Blach's Folia prefabricated system differentiates California delivery in housing, civic, and education.
  • Since 1970, Blach built dense relationships across Bay Area, Central Coast, Southern California.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Parental Leave
  • Fertility Treatment Support
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Student Loan Assistance
  • Gym Membership

Company News

Menke
Jun 18th, 2026
Blach Construction becomes 30% employee-owned with Menke guidance.

Blach Construction becomes 30% employee-owned with Menke guidance. San Jose, Calif. - June 18, 2026 - Blach Construction, a leading California-based commercial general contractor, has completed a transition to 30% employee ownership through the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The transaction was guided by Trevor Gilmore, CEO, and Payton Stockton, Senior Counsel at Menke, a nationally recognized ESOP advisory firm. The ESOP transaction supports Blach Construction's long-term ownership succession strategy while rewarding employees for their contributions and preserving the company's independence. Rather than pursuing a sale to a competitor or private equity firm, the move reinforces Blach's commitment to long-term stability for its employees, customers, and the communities it serves. "This new plan advances our ownership succession planning," said Mike Blach, Chairman of Blach Construction. "We have always been focused on the future and the long-term success of the firm. I'm excited that more of our colleagues will become partners in the business and share in the company's continued success." President Dan Rogers added, "We have an outstanding group of leaders and colleagues building long-term careers with Blach. This transition creates a meaningful opportunity to reward them as the company grows and prospers." Blach has expanded its footprint to the Central Coast and Southern California and has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for the past 15 years. "Blach already has a strong ownership culture - it's in their DNA, and the ESOP was a natural fit," said Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke. "This transaction enhances financial security for employees, strengthens customer relationships, and ensures the company's long-term independence. They were a pleasure to work with." About Blach Construction. Founded in 1970, Blach Construction delivers structures of enduring quality and value throughout California. The firm's diverse portfolio includes community-focused TK-12 and higher education facilities, modern civic and workplace environments, and affordable, supportive and market-rate housing developments. The firm is consistently ranked among California's top contractors by Engineering News-Record and has received multiple Construction Safety Excellence Awards from the Associated General Contractors of California. About Menke. Since its founding in 1974, Menke has enabled more than 4,000 companies to become all or partially employee-owned across the United States. With core competencies across the ESOP lifecycle, Menke is ESOP owned, as well. Learn why an ESOP is better for You, your Business, and your Employees. Upcoming web seminar. Free 90-Minute Webinar for Business Owners, CFOs & Advisors Learn how ESOPs fuel growth, reduce taxes, and power succession - without giving up control. Why 2026 is the Time for ESOPs. Strong companies are using ESOPs to play offense. With rates stabilizing and talent still tight, employee ownership is delivering a durable edge: * * Founder Liquidity - On Your Terms. Create a market for your shares without selling to private equity or competitors. * Major Tax Efficiency. Enable capital-gains deferral for selling shareholders (Section 1042 eligibility) and reduce or even eliminate ongoing corporate income tax for S-Corporation ESOPs - freeing cash for growth. * Talent Magnet. Meaningful employee ownership boosts engagement, retention, and performance - without relying solely on wage increases. * Resilient Margins. ESOP tax advantages help counter wage pressure, input costs, and tariffs - so more operating cash flows to strategy. * Control & Culture Intact. Transition ownership while keeping leadership and values in place... Transition ownership while keeping leadership and values in place. Bottom line: ESOPs create a rare win-win-win - for owners, the business, and employees. What you'll learn. ESOP 101 - Modern Playbook How ESOPs work in 2026, who qualifies, deal structures, and timelines. Tax Strategies that Change the Math Capital-gains deferral, corporate tax reduction/elimination for S-Corp ESOPs, deductible contributions, and cash-flow modeling. Talent & Culture Retention without across-the-board raises; ownership communications that actually move the needle. Protecting Margins How ESOP incentives can offset cost inflation and support reinvestment. Valuation & Financing in Today's Market Bank/seller notes, mezzanine options, rate considerations, and why "bankable ESOPs" are closing now. Governance & Control Board, trustee, and management roles - what really changes (and what doesn't). Who should attend. * * Business Owners planning an exit, partial sale, or recapitalization * CFOs evaluating capital structure and tax strategy * Advisors & Succession Planners guiding owner-led companies * HR & ESOP Committee Members building engagement around ownership Agenda (90 minutes). * * Welcome, Speakers & Why ESOPs in 2026 (5 min) Quick orientation; who Menke is and why ESOPs are winning right now. * ESOP Basics & Business Owner Benefits (10 min) What an ESOP is; liquidity, diversification, succession, productivity. * Myth-Busting: What ESOPs Do - and Don't - Require (5 min) No, you don't have to sell 30%+, borrow big, or give up control. * Deal Structures & Transaction Paths (10 min) Cash-contribution (pay-as-you-go), leveraged (bank/seller notes), and stock contribution; when each fits. * Typical Scenarios & Outcomes (10 min) Gradual sales, minority/majority sales, 100% buyouts, and recap strategies. * Who's a Strong Fit (and Common Constraints) (5 min) Profitability, team/transition readiness, industry notes. * Tax Strategy Deep Dive (10 min) S-Corp ESOP distribution savings; C-Corp §1042 capital-gains deferral; entity-path options. * Valuation & Pricing vs. Third-Party Sales (8 min) FMV standards, control vs. minority value, practical comparisons. * Financing the ESOP (8 min) Bank market overview, seller paper, balance-sheet effects, cash-flow modeling. * Plan Operations & Employee Communications (8 min) Eligibility, vesting, distributions, disclosures, and how transparency drives results. * Culture, Engagement & Measured Performance Uplift (6 min) What changes on day 2; tying ownership to productivity. * Roadmap & Next Steps (3 min) Feasibility, design/adopt, contributions, and timing the sale. * Live Q&A (2 min) Hear from past attendees. "I came in skeptical. I left with a concrete roadmap and the math to brief our board." - Mark T., CFO, Manufacturing "This clarified our exit plan and showed how we can reward employees at the same time." - Susan D., Founder & CEO, B2B Services Firm Your presenter: Phil DeDominicis. Phil DeDominicis is an ESOP strategist and M&A advisor who has guided 300+ companies through ESOP formations, financing, and transactions over 20+ years at Menke & Associates. He specializes in selling ESOP-owned businesses to financial or strategic buyers and in helping ESOP companies acquire other businesses. Before Menke, Phil spent 14 years in investment banking M&A at Morgan Stanley and Salomon Smith Barney, advising middle-market companies on change-of-control transactions. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware (1985) and an MBA in Finance & Accounting from UCLA Anderson (1989). Phil currently serves on six for-profit and not-for-profit boards. What Phil will cover: * * Where ESOPs win in 2026 (tax, talent, and control) * Owner liquidity paths: minority, majority, and 100% sales * Financing options and what lenders look for * Valuation reality vs. third-party sales * How to prep a board, trustee, and employees for a successful close Reserve your spot now. Seats are limited. Save yours now and receive the ESOP Feasibility Checklist. 10:00AM - 11:30AM PT 11:00AM - 12:30PM MT 12:00PM - 1:30PM CT 1:00PM - 2:30PM ET No cost. Suitable for companies with $5M-$500M+ in revenue across construction, manufacturing, services, distribution, tech, and more. FAQ (Quick hits). * * Do I lose control? No - most ESOPs preserve day-to-day control with your leadership team and board. * Is this only for certain industries? ESOPs work across sectors when cash flow is stable and leadership continuity matters. * Can The Menke Group do a partial sale? Yes - stage liquidity over time while capturing tax benefits. Ready for an ESOP now? Interested in finding out how an ESOP could work for your company?

Associated Press
Mar 24th, 2026
Blach Construction adds four executives, promotes three leaders to drive California expansion

Blach Construction, a California-based general contractor founded in 1970, has announced four key hires and several internal promotions to support expansion across the state. The company appointed project executives Daniel Chavarria for the Central Coast, Rick Fochtman and Rick Willison for Southern California, and Kate Vernon as senior director of marketing. Blach also promoted Tierney Azzopardi to vice president of human resources, Justin Cabral to general superintendent, and Katie Blach Ellington to vice president. The moves support the company's growth strategy, particularly in Southern California's education market. Blach's Southern California office has grown to 15 employees since opening in 2021, working on projects for several school districts including Pasadena and Long Beach Unified. The company focuses on education, housing and civic projects across California.

The Manila Times
Mar 24th, 2026
Blach Construction announces key hires and promotions to support growth across California.

Blach Construction announces key hires and promotions to support growth across California. By GlobeNewswire March 24, 2026 Appointments strengthen business and field operations across the Bay Area, Central Coast and Southern California SAN JOSE, Calif., March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Blach Construction, an award-winning general contractor serving California since 1970, has announced four key hires, including project executives in Monterey and Southern California and a senior director of marketing at its San Jose headquarters, along with several leadership promotions made over the past year. The appointments position the company for continued strategic growth across its core markets. Project Executive Daniel Chavarria will support Blach's continued expansion on the Central Coast. He brings more than 16 years of industry experience focused on design-build delivery of civic projects across Central and Northern California. In Southern California, Project Executives Rick Fochtman and Rick Willison bring decades of experience serving the region's education and institutional construction sectors. Both will leverage longstanding relationships in the market to support Blach's growth in its newest geographic region. Blach also appointed Kate Vernon as senior director of marketing. Vernon brings more than 20 years of construction marketing experience and will lead integrated marketing initiatives for both the Blach and Folia brands, with an emphasis on strategic storytelling and content development. "Daniel, Rick, Rick and Kate bring not only deep expertise, but also critical leadership qualities to their roles," said Blach President Dan Rogers. "Over the past several years, we have been establishing a presence in Southern California, particularly in the education market, which is a natural extension of Blach's long-standing commitment to the Bay Area and Central Coast. We are also excited to expand our affordable housing expertise and our prefabricated Folia system to serve communities throughout Southern California." Blach's Southern California office, located in Orange County, has grown to 15 employees since opening in 2021. Consistent with the company's statewide focus, the office supports education, housing and civic projects across the region. Current work includes K-12 projects for several school districts, including Pasadena Unified School District, Long Beach Unified School District and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Supporting the company's continued growth strategy, Blach also announced promotions for several longtime employees: Tierney Azzopardi to vice president of human resources; Justin Cabral to general superintendent following the retirement of John Mathias; and Katie Blach Ellington to vice president. Azzopardi, who joined Blach in 2011, oversees talent acquisition, training and organizational development. She leads the firm's recruiting and internship programs, as well as professional development initiatives that support the company's growth through both external hiring and internal advancement. Cabral brings more than 30 years of construction industry experience to his new role. Since joining Blach in 2010, he has played a key role in developing the company's next generation of superintendents and exemplifies the builder-first mindset central to the firm's culture. As general superintendent, he will oversee all field operations. Throughout her career at Blach, Ellington has focused on driving innovation across operations, preconstruction and the Folia team. As vice president, she will continue supporting preconstruction, virtual design and construction, and marketing while leading strategic company initiatives. "As we continue to grow and evolve, Tierney, Justin and Katie's promotions underscore our commitment to fostering a dynamic workplace and delivering exceptional projects for our clients," Rogers said. "As we mark 56 years in business this year, we are confident we have the leadership in place to adapt to the industry's evolving demands and continue strengthening the communities we serve." Blach's leadership team includes Mike Blach, chairman; Dan Rogers, president; Alex Llerena, chief financial officer; Katie Blach Ellington, vice president; Kim Scott, vice president; Kevin McIntosh, vice president; Michael Grzanowski, vice president of operations; Justin Cabral, general superintendent; and Tierney Azzopardi, vice president of human resources. About Blach Construction Founded in 1970, Blach Construction delivers structures of enduring quality and value throughout California. The firm's experience spans the education, housing, civic and workplace sectors, resulting in a diverse portfolio that includes community-focused TK-12 and higher education facilities, modern civic and workplace environments, and affordable, supportive and market-rate housing developments. Committed to collaborative project delivery, Blach emphasizes strong partnerships that strengthen communities and advance innovative construction solutions, including its prefabricated Folia system. The firm is consistently ranked among California's top contractors by Engineering News-Record and has received multiple Construction Safety Excellence Awards from the Associated General Contractors of California. Contact Info +1 415-696-2622

Beauregard News
Mar 24th, 2026
Blach Construction announces key hires and promotions to support growth across California.

Blach Construction announces key hires and promotions to support growth across California. GlobeNewswire | Blach Construction Today at 7:02am PDT SAN JOSE, Calif., March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Blach Construction, an award-winning general contractor serving California since 1970, has announced four key hires, including project executives in Monterey and Southern California and a senior director of marketing at its San Jose headquarters, along with several leadership promotions made over the past year. The appointments position the company for continued strategic growth across its core markets. Project Executive Daniel Chavarria will support Blach's continued expansion on the Central Coast. He brings more than 16 years of industry experience focused on design-build delivery of civic projects across Central and Northern California. In Southern California, Project Executives Rick Fochtman and Rick Willison bring decades of experience serving the region's education and institutional construction sectors. Both will leverage longstanding relationships in the market to support Blach's growth in its newest geographic region. Blach also appointed Kate Vernon as senior director of marketing. Vernon brings more than 20 years of construction marketing experience and will lead integrated marketing initiatives for both the Blach and Folia brands, with an emphasis on strategic storytelling and content development. "Daniel, Rick, Rick and Kate bring not only deep expertise, but also critical leadership qualities to their roles," said Blach President Dan Rogers. "Over the past several years, we have been establishing a presence in Southern California, particularly in the education market, which is a natural extension of Blach's long-standing commitment to the Bay Area and Central Coast. We are also excited to expand our affordable housing expertise and our prefabricated Folia system to serve communities throughout Southern California." Blach's Southern California office, located in Orange County, has grown to 15 employees since opening in 2021. Consistent with the company's statewide focus, the office supports education, housing and civic projects across the region. Current work includes K-12 projects for several school districts, including Pasadena Unified School District, Long Beach Unified School District and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Supporting the company's continued growth strategy, Blach also announced promotions for several longtime employees: Tierney Azzopardi to vice president of human resources; Justin Cabral to general superintendent following the retirement of John Mathias; and Katie Blach Ellington to vice president. Azzopardi, who joined Blach in 2011, oversees talent acquisition, training and organizational development. She leads the firm's recruiting and internship programs, as well as professional development initiatives that support the company's growth through both external hiring and internal advancement. Cabral brings more than 30 years of construction industry experience to his new role. Since joining Blach in 2010, he has played a key role in developing the company's next generation of superintendents and exemplifies the builder-first mindset central to the firm's culture. As general superintendent, he will oversee all field operations. Throughout her career at Blach, Ellington has focused on driving innovation across operations, preconstruction and the Folia team. As vice president, she will continue supporting preconstruction, virtual design and construction, and marketing while leading strategic company initiatives. "As we continue to grow and evolve, Tierney, Justin and Katie's promotions underscore our commitment to fostering a dynamic workplace and delivering exceptional projects for our clients," Rogers said. "As we mark 56 years in business this year, we are confident we have the leadership in place to adapt to the industry's evolving demands and continue strengthening the communities we serve." Blach's leadership team includes Mike Blach, chairman; Dan Rogers, president; Alex Llerena, chief financial officer; Katie Blach Ellington, vice president; Kim Scott, vice president; Kevin McIntosh, vice president; Michael Grzanowski, vice president of operations; Justin Cabral, general superintendent; and Tierney Azzopardi, vice president of human resources. About Blach Construction Founded in 1970, Blach Construction delivers structures of enduring quality and value throughout California. The firm's experience spans the education, housing, civic and workplace sectors, resulting in a diverse portfolio that includes community-focused TK-12 and higher education facilities, modern civic and workplace environments, and affordable, supportive and market-rate housing developments. Committed to collaborative project delivery, Blach emphasizes strong partnerships that strengthen communities and advance innovative construction solutions, including its prefabricated Folia system. The firm is consistently ranked among California's top contractors by Engineering News-Record and has received multiple Construction Safety Excellence Awards from the Associated General Contractors of California. Contact Info This is a paid placement. For further inquiries, please contact GlobeNewswire directly.

Blach Construction
Jan 29th, 2024
Blach Construction Names Industry Veteran Alex Llerena as CFO

Blach Construction (Blach), an award-winning, full-service commercial builder serving California since 1970, welcomes Alex Llerena, former CPA, as chief financial officer (CFO).