ARCO Design/Build announced CEO Rob Steigerwald and President Jake Stefan will retire effective December 31, following more than 50 years of combined leadership that transformed the company into a national design-build leader. 

Nick Hasapes and Joe Matthews, both current divisional CEOs, have been named Co-CEOs effective January 1.

Steigerwald and Stefan will join founders Rick Schultze and Mark Mummert on the ARCO DB Companies, Inc. Board of Directors.

“This transition reflects what Rob and Jake have built – an organization with the leadership depth to promote from within and the foundation to support continued growth,” said Rick Schultze, founder and co-chairman of ARCO DB Companies, Inc. “They’ve positioned ARCO Design/Build for its next chapter.”

Steigerwald joined ARCO Design/Build in 1999 and was named CEO in February 2023. During his tenure, he led the company’s geographic expansion from a regional presence to a national footprint, growing from 13 offices to 20 offices nationwide. His early leadership of the Philadelphia office drove ARCO Design/Build’s expansion into the Northeast, establishing operations in Baltimore, New York, Richmond and Raleigh-Durham

Stefan, who also joined in 1999 and was named president in February 2023, built the operational foundation that enabled ARCO’s growth. A civil engineer by training, he developed the project management systems and field operations that became the company’s competitive advantage. Under his leadership, ARCO Design/Build expanded its vertically integrated capabilities, adding concrete, electrical and mechanical services that give clients single-source accountability.

Hasapes and Matthews bring a combined four decades of experience with ARCO Design/Build and have led significant portions of the organization as Divisional CEOs. Hasapes, who holds a degree in Architectural Engineering from Penn State, joined ARCO in 2006 and currently oversees operations in Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington. He led the development of ARCO Design/Build’s architectural, structural, and civil design capabilities, strengthening the company’s integrated design-build model.

Matthews, a Clemson University Construction Management graduate, joined ARCO in 2003 and currently oversees operations in Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Greenville, Jacksonville, Memphis, Mobile and Savannah, as well as ARCON and General Services Charleston (GSC). He expanded ARCO’s geographic reach and built the internal capabilities that support the company’s vertically integrated approach.

“Rob and Jake created something remarkable – a company where talented people can build careers and clients can count on results,” said Hasapes. “Joe and I are honored to lead ARCO Design/Build into its next chapter. The foundation is strong, and that strength gives us the opportunity to grow with greater intention – deepening our expertise, expanding into new markets, and continuing to invest in the people who make this company what it is.”

“What makes this transition work is that it’s not a departure from what ARCO is – it’s a continuation and an opportunity,” said Matthews. “Our clients are looking for more than a builder – they want a partner who understands their business and helps them make smarter decisions. That’s who ARCO has always been at our best. Rob and Jake gave us a platform that can support the next level of growth. We’ve spent more than two decades learning from them and leaders across this organization. We’re ready.”

About ARCO Design/Build
ARCO Design/Build is widely recognized as a construction industry leader in industrial and commercial project types, including warehouse and distribution, cold storage, manufacturing, mission critical, and life sciences facilities. As a national design-build firm, ARCO offers turn-key services that provide clients with a single point of contact, resulting in cost savings and clear communication. ARCO is 100% associate-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). With architectural and structural engineering capabilities, ARCO provides clients with streamlined and efficient processes.