About us

SPENCE BROTHERS LEADERSHIP

Meet the team!

We're a family of construction experts with leadership rooted in a rich, historic family-led legacy. Our commitment towards excellence is driven to create important facilities, and to build trust and meaningful relationships.

  • Herb Spence III, PEChairman & CEO

    Herb Spence III, PE

    Chairman & CEO

    As the 4th generation leader of a construction company with long legacy of building important facilities for our project partners, it is incredibly humbling to reflect on our company’s accomplishments. I’m proud that our company still employs and is led by key family members who started their careers from the ground up, like myself, who started working as a project engineer in Ann Arbor. My great-grandfather and his brother started our firm to rebuild our community after a devastating fire, and our commitment to the communities we live in continues through community involvement by our employees and leaders.

  • Ed Spence IIIPresident & COO

    Ed Spence III

    President & COO

    As Spence Brothers’ Chief Operating Officer, I direct projects we build, from planning to completion. Our family’s name is on every job we do. I feel fortunate that my forefathers passed on their work ethic and commitment to excellence to the following generations, and I am accountable to uphold our hard earned reputation. This is what drives me to make sure the job is done safely, on-time, within budget, and exceeding our clients’ expectations. Whether large or small, simple or complex, I am dedicated to make sure all employees and our subcontractors are committed to the needs and objectives of our clients.

  • Robert Spence IIIRegional President, Northern Michigan

    Robert Spence III

    Regional President, Northern Michigan

    I’m proud to be a company leader, responsible for carrying on a legacy of getting the job done right that spans 13 decades. Our success has been built by the manner in which we treat people—clients, subcontractors, and above all, our employees. I believe in mutual respect and an appreciation for a job well done. Just as we believe in doing the job right on every project we build, I also apply that way of thinking to community leadership through my involvement as a board member of the City Opera House and Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP).

  • Brian KeelerExecutive Vice President - PreConstruction

    Brian Keeler

    Executive Vice President - PreConstruction

    Taking a page out of the Spence Notebook, I began my career out in the field as a laborer & project engineer, with the understanding that the best educational foundation for building involves a hands-on approach.  Coupled with an education in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Business from Saginaw Valley State University, my field work, and on-the-job project management experience has allowed me the privilege of currently serving as our Executive Vice President of Preconstruction Services.  This means I am often the first to meet with our customers, and being among the first of the company’s Owners without the Spence name, I’m proud to apply the family’s values to the work I do each and every day – putting the client first and treating every customer dollar like it’s my own.

  • Dave SpenceExecutive Vice President - Tradework

    Dave Spence

    Executive Vice President - Tradework

    I grew up with a passion for construction as a result of being with my father on job sites as a youngster. I got the construction bug. Much like everyone else in our company with Spence as the last name, I learned the business from the ground up – literally. It was there I realized concrete was my thing. Having run some of our company’s largest concrete projects over several decades, my experience now allows me to mentor others within the company – ensuring our projects run smoothly, quickly and represent the quality associated with the Spence Brothers name.

  • Norm ThomasChief Financial Officer

    Norm Thomas

    Chief Financial Officer

    Since joining Spence Brothers I have been impressed with the level of dedication and commitment invested in the projects we build and in the communities where we work. It’s clear to me that this starts with the Spence family and the level of integrity they bring to our relationships with owners, subcontractors, designers, and municipalities. The company’s longevity is a testament to the trust built up over many years and many projects. I’m happy to be working with the team, happy to be building relationships and I plan on making sure the next century is just as successful for Spence.

  • John GalnaresVice President & Project Director

    John Galnares

    Vice President & Project Director

    As a lifelong resident of Traverse City, it’s been a privilege to represent Spence Brothers’ tradition of excellence in customer service and quality in Northern Michigan. My own background is a mix of management and practical hands-on experience; I’ve project managed for many years, but I’ve also spent time in the field as a Superintendent. So, coming on-board a company with a leadership that seemed to share a similar start in the industry just made sense. Spence Brothers has a fantastic culture that’s focused on relationships and customer service that fits my own personal approach of putting the client first, no matter how large or small the job. It’s definitely a legacy of tradition I’m proud to be a part of.

  • Bruce SmithVice President & Project Director

    Bruce Smith

    Vice President & Project Director

    I am proud to be a member of the Spence Brothers team and representing a company that prides itself on hard work and quality projects. My interest in construction began as an early teen where I worked alongside my dad on small projects. This inspired my studies at Michigan State University where I earned a degree in Construction Management. After graduation, I worked as an onsite project engineer, project manager and later as an estimator. My combination of field and office experience has helped shape the way I approach projects and clients. As a Project Director and Vice President of the Ann Arbor office, I am proud to represent the Spence Brothers name and values. I am dedicated to building client and subcontractor relationships and exceeding expectations.

  • Shane Willis, PEVice President & Project Director

    Shane Willis, PE

    Vice President & Project Director

    I have always had an interest in construction. When deciding a career path out of high school I was drawn to construction management because the projects we build are very visible in the community and are around for a long time. I am very fortunate and proud to have spent my entire career with Spence Brothers starting as a project engineer in the field after graduating from the University of Michigan and now serving as Vice President and Project Director. My goal is to carry on Spence Brothers’ hard-earned legacy and to apply our values daily to ensure that our employees have the tools and processes they need to be efficient and successful and above all that our clients receive the value and quality they expect and deserve from Spence Brothers.

  • Darci CzubaController & Project Administration Director

    Darci Czuba

    Controller & Project Administration Director

    Seeing construction projects come to completion knowing I was an integral part of the process, makes me very proud to be a part of Spence Brothers’ team. With 20 years of experience working in this industry and joining Spence Brothers in 2006, I noticed a marked difference in the atmosphere upon coming to work for such a family-owned and -oriented business. They place as much value on employee appreciation as they do on customer satisfaction, so it’s a pleasure being a part of their leadership team as Controller/Project Administration Director.

  • Ted NelsonTradework & Bid Director, Northern Michigan

    Ted Nelson

    Tradework & Bid Director, Northern Michigan

    The construction industry and the carpentry trade, in particular, have always been a passion of mine. My career started as I worked my way through an apprenticeship and then worked for years as a journeyman carpenter. This field experience and my tenure as an estimator and project manager has allowed me to execute the core values of our company. I am very proud to be a leader in a company such as Spence Brothers who puts people and relationships first.

  • Tom BennettPreConstruction & Bid Director, Northern Michigan

    Tom Bennett

    PreConstruction & Bid Director, Northern Michigan

    I have over 40 years in senior management working in the construction field as Head Estimator and Project Manager. Being a lifelong resident of Alpena, most of my experience includes projects throughout Northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. I’ve had the privilege of working with people who take enormous pride in their work and communities, while building lasting connections. Just as the Spence family has done over the years, this pride has carried over into my volunteering with local government, schools, and sporting activities. It’s a pleasure working at a family company that places tremendous value on customer satisfaction and relationships, whatever the project size.

  • Don Denomme Jr.Project Director, Northern Michigan

    Don Denomme Jr.

    Project Director, Northern Michigan

    I’ve had the pleasure of working with national construction firms, as well as those like Spence that are mid-sized and family-owned. Though each has its strong-suits, working for a company like Spence Brothers where a legacy of family-values and tradition meets construction technology, efficiency, and quality is an absolute pleasure. It makes me very proud to be able to apply over 40 years of personal construction experience to the duties of Project Director for our Northern Michigan service area.