Hoffmann Architects + Engineers Announces New Shareholders

Date July 2024

Category Press Releases

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Hoffmann Architects + Engineers is pleased to announce that Kristen Anderson, Bob Delagrange, Melissa Melone, and Rachel Mesite have accepted the firm’s offer to join in equity ownership of the company.

As shareholders, they join John Hoffmann, Russ Sanders, Avi Kamrat, Craig Hargrove, Dan Bishop, Debbie Costantini, Alison Hoffmann, Larry Keenan, Erin Kesegi, Juan Kuriyama, Rob Marsoli, Nick Moroniti, Richard Off, Donna Rehm-McCabe, Ben Robinson, and Steve Susca in sharing responsibility for the firm’s achievements and shaping the direction of the company.

Meet the Shareholders

Hoffmann’s shareholders range from early-career professionals to seasoned experts and include technical, administrative, and finance staff. All exhibit capability, initiative, and dedication to the success of the firm.

New Shareholders

Kristen T. Anderson, AIA is Staff Architect in New York. She joined Hoffmann in 2019 and holds a B.Arch. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), she is a volunteer mentor with the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program of Greater New York.
Robert G. Delagrange is Senior Business Development Manager in Connecticut. He joined Hoffmann in 2016 and holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from the University of New Haven. Active in many professional associations, he currently serves as co-chair of the programs committee for Connecticut Building Congress, where he was recently elected to the Board of Directors.
Melissa R. Melone, AIA is Staff Architect in New York. After earning a B.Arch. from Syracuse University, she joined Hoffmann in 2021. Certified by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) as a Construction Documents Technologist, she is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and AIA New York Women in Architecture Committee. An alumna of the ACE Mentor Program, she also volunteers with the Greater New York chapter.
Rachel A. Mesite is Corporate Secretary and an officer of the firm. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and joined Hoffmann in 2015. Her many finance and reporting responsibilities include maintaining statutory and regulatory compliance, processing stock transactions, maintaining business insurance, executing corporate filings and reports, and keeping official records.

Existing Shareholders​

John J. Hoffmann, FAIA is Executive Chairman. In 1977, he founded Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, and he was elevated to fellowship in the American Institute of Architects in 1992 for significant contributions to the field of architecture. In 2006, he was named a Richard Upjohn Fellow of the AIA for service to the profession. An alumnus of the City College of New York, he serves on Hoffmann’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Russell M. Sanders, AIA is President of Hoffmann Architects + Engineers. He joined the firm in 1978 after earning a B.S. in architecture from Ohio State University. For decades, he has led the architecture and engineering staff across all three offices, overseeing the quality and accuracy of all technical documents produced by the firm. In 2011, he became a shareholder and took over as President in 2019. He also serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Avi A. Kamrat, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been with Hoffmann since 1998. He became a shareholder in 2011 and currently serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Responsible for overseeing resource allocation and contract administration, he provides financial accountability for all of the firm’s projects. He holds a B.A. from Brandeis University in Massachusetts.
Craig A. Hargrove, AIA, RRC, LEED AP is Senior Vice President and Director, Architecture. He manages the New York office, supervising the firm’s largest technical team. With a B.Arch. from the New York Institute of Technology, he holds advanced credentials from the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), CSI, and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), among others. After joining Hoffmann in 2002, he became a shareholder in 2011 and now sits on the Board of Directors.
Daniel L. Bishop, AIA is Senior Architect and manager of the firm’s Virginia office. He joined Hoffmann in 2011 and became a shareholder in 2022. He earned both a B.S. in architecture and an M.Arch. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, in addition to completing a graduate exchange program at Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark. He is an active member of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT), the Building Enclosure Council, and IIBEC.
Deborah J. Costantini, AIA is Senior Architect in Connecticut. She has been with the firm since 1997 and became a shareholder in 2017. A recognized expert in roofing investigation and design, she holds a B.S. in architecture from Roger Williams University and is active with the Construction Specifications Institute.
Alison B. Hoffmann is Communications Manager. She also chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which earned the firm several awards for promoting equity in the design professions. With a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Arizona, she produces communications and marketing materials, including Hoffmann’s award-winning publication, the JOURNAL. She has been with the firm since 2007 and became a shareholder in 2017.
Lawrence E. Keenan, AIA, PE is Senior Vice President and Director, Architecture and Engineering. Both a licensed structural engineer and a registered architect, he manages the firm’s Connecticut office and has been with Hoffmann since 1997. In 2011, he became a shareholder. With a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut, he holds multiple patents for his innovative parking garage connections. He was among the first to be certified as a Qualified Parking Structures Inspector (QPSI) in New York City.
Erin L. Kesegi, AIA is Senior Architect in Connecticut. After graduating from Roger Williams University with a B.Arch. degree, she joined Hoffmann in 2001, then became a shareholder in 2016. During the pandemic, she took responsibility for managing health and safety protocols and for maintaining compliance with changing mandates. She currently serves as President of the Housatonic Chapter of CSI.
Juan A. Kuriyama, AIA is Vice President and Director, Architecture. A senior leader in the New York office, he has been with the firm since 1998 and became a shareholder in 2011. He holds B.Arch. degrees from both Ricardo Palma University in Peru and Pratt Institute in New York. A dedicated mentor, he has guided many rising professionals at the firm while consistently carrying the longest list of active projects.
Robert A. Marsoli, Jr., PE is Senior Engineer in Connecticut. He joined the firm in 2007 with a B.S. in civil engineering from Northeastern University, and he became a shareholder in 2017. Certified as a Qualified Parking Structures Inspector (QPSI) in New York City, he specializes in garage engineering analysis, as well as structural evaluation of exterior walls, roofs, and plazas.
Nicholas J. Moroniti is Information Technology Manager and has been with Hoffmann since 2004. He holds a B.S. in computer science from Quinnipiac University and serves a critical role at the firm, overseeing all computing systems and staff technology use. Under his leadership, the firm transitioned seamlessly during the pandemic to a hybrid remote workforce, migrating from premise-based infrastructure to hybrid cloud. He became a shareholder in 2017.
Richard W. Off, AIA is Senior Architect in New York. He joined the firm in 2016 after earning a B.Arch. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University. In 2023, he became a shareholder. His restoration projects have earned prestigious preservation awards, and he is a prolific writer for technical publications, as well as a frequent lecturer at national conferences.
Donna L. Rehm-McCabe is Controller. She has been at Hoffmann since 2009 and became a shareholder in 2023. In addition to a B.S. in business administration / accounting from American International College, she came to her role with many years of senior finance experience. Her expert bookkeeping and financial reporting keep Hoffmann’s accounts in order and guide essential business decisions.
Benjamin J. Robinson, AIA is Senior Architect in Connecticut. He joined the firm in 2006 with a B.A. in architectural studies from Connecticut College, then became a shareholder in 2016. With expertise in historic preservation that spans from New England preparatory academies to the U.S. Capitol, he volunteers as Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee for The Mark Twain House and Museum, where he also serves on the Board of Trustees.
Steven J. Susca, PE is Senior Engineer in Connecticut and has been with the firm since 2002. He earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut, and he holds the Qualified Parking Structures Inspector (QPSI) credential from the NYC Department of Buildings. His articles on preparing buildings for winter weather garnered specific requests for his expert consultation, both in the U.S. and abroad. He became a shareholder in 2013.

Ownership Transition

Hoffmann Architects + Engineers was founded on January 7, 1977 by John Hoffmann, FAIA, who focused the architectural practice on the building enclosure, particularly design details that are often overlooked. As the firm grew, engineers joined the technical team and furthered the mission of providing consulting services that not only resolve design and construction failures, but prevent them.

Looking to the future, John Hoffmann began offering ownership stakes in the firm to key leadership personnel in 2011, as the firm approached its 35th anniversary. Since then, the number of shareholders has grown, with team members from across departments recognized for their contributions and aptitude. Emerging leaders now have the opportunity to set the course for the firm, navigating a bold trajectory forward as Hoffmann nears 50 years in business.