EXPERTS IN BUILDING GREAT IDEAS
Pizzuti Solutions is an Owner’s Representative that combines public sector expertise with private sector experience to guide the success of public projects. As an Owner’s Representative, we augment the staff of cities, counties, organizations, and non-profits with experienced development professionals to manage the planning, design, and construction of complex capital projects. Our job is to work with your team to make sure your project moves forward on time, under budget, and true to your mission.
Our Team
Jim Russell
Executive Vice President
Jim provides strategic oversight of the firm’s real estate development, consulting, and community participation. After nearly a decade of working in the public sector, Jim joined Pizzuti in 1997 and he was instrumental in the 2005 establishment of Pizzuti Solutions, the firm’s public/private development and consulting division. A nationally recognized economic development expert, Jim is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).
Don Wheat
Senior Vice President, Operations
As a registered architect with more than 30 years of experience, Don has a strong background in project management, strategic master planning, programming, and cost management. In his role with Pizzuti Solutions, Don provides oversight and management of all project activities. His projects include the Franklin County Courthouse, Franklin County Government Center Master Plan, the new Michael B. Coleman government office building, Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Vision 2020 Plan, and the development of a new business hotel in northwest Ohio.
Tom Harmer
Senior Vice President
As a senior executive in local government, Tom has supervised numerous capital projects managing the planning and programming, funding, and design and construction of multiple award-winning sports, recreation and parks projects, libraries, public safety centers and stations and other community facilities. Having served in a variety of leadership positions including Fire Chief and Emergency Manager as well as a City Manager and as Sarasota County Administrator, Tom understands how to build a team in support of common goals. Tom’s private sector experience with The Pizzuti Companies has been focused on assisting local and state governments with planning their community, real estate, and facility needs from concept to construction with strong management oversight.
Cigarette Parks
Senior Vice President
Cig provides oversight for teams, budgets, schedules, and facilitates communication between Owners, design professionals, construction managers, and stakeholders. She collaborates with project teams on LEED administrative functions, including evaluation of design and construction phases, supporting documentation, and credit calculations. Cig is a retired Commander with 21 years of U.S. Navy service and is a Registered Contractor in the City of Columbus.
Ashley Senn
Director
Ashley brings more than a decade of experience in the public sector working at both the federal and local government levels. As division director, Ashley partners with clients to develop strategies and programing for new projects. She manages the entire program cycle and coordinates with the project team to achieve the best outcomes for clients and stakeholders.
Patrick Katzenmeyer
Director of Growth Strategies
Patrick provides a wide range of private- and public sector experience to both The Pizzuti Companies’ development and Solutions teams. He has extensive experience managing due diligence, architects, engineers, permit expediters, and general contractors throughout the development process. Patrick also has expertise in site selection, lease negotiation, market analysis, and program development.
Jeff Less
Manager of Construction
Jeff provides expertise in estimating, project scheduling, field coordination, quality control, construction safety, blueprint interpretation, contract review and recommendation, budgeting and expense management, and building and zoning permitting. A creative and analytical manager, Jeff has a demonstrated track record of meeting deadlines and budgets through effective customer service, relationship management, and project documentation.
Annslee Schmidt
Senior Project Manager - Design Services
Annslee has more than a decade of project management experience for retail, industrial, and corporate interiors spaces. Her most recent experience encompassed managing design and construction for educational facilities as part of the owner’s team. Her background gives her a unique perspective in interacting with consultant teams but also relating to public owners. In her time with Pizzuti Solutions, she has acted as project manager for the Franklin County Downtown Facility. Annslee is also assisting with the Delaware County Shared Services Center.
Sophia Lanza
Project Manager
Sophia joined Pizzuti Solutions in October 2021 after beginning her career in the public sector. As a project manager, Sophia maintains and monitors project details such as schedules, deliverables, and budgeting. She monitors the program cycle and manages members of the project team to achieve the best outcomes for clients and stakeholders.
Peyton Jackson, MS
Project Coordinator
Peyton joined Pizzuti Solutions in January 2026 after finishing her master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University. Peyton is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA). As project coordinator, Peyton collaborates closely with project managers, team members, and stakeholders to support the planning, organization, and execution of projects.
Tegan Lehman
Project Controls
For more than a decade Tegan has dedicated her career to logistics and project management for nonprofit economic development organizations. With a particular focus on data analysis and process optimization, she works across the breadth of Pizzuti Solutions’ portfolio of projects to help the entire team work more efficiently and productively for their clients. Tegan is passionate about helping communities build projects with the best possible value and efficacy for the public they are meant to serve.
WHERE PUBLIC MEETS PRIVATE
With decades of collective experience in public-private partnerships, we know what it takes to succeed in public work. Our approach to serving as an Owner’s Representative includes registered architects and construction professionals, as well as associates with deep experience in city management, economic development, planning and zoning, and public communications. Since 2005, we’ve been guiding communities in the planning, management, and completion of public projects that thrive.
Governmental Facilities
Public facilities are places where public interaction, operational efficiencies, and economies of scale serve taxpayers in a transparent and cost-effective manner to achieve the desired policy and operational outcomes. Our team can provide the expertise to help manage the complex planning, programming, design, and construction of facilities as an extension of internal staff.
Judicial, Correctional, and Public Safety
Modern security facilities protect the community, reduce recidivism, provide treatment and programming options, and balance security with humanity. Subject matter experts, we help manage these challenges in order to right-size projects, handle budget constraints, and prioritize spending to achieve operational outcomes for these important legacy projects.
View Select Judicial, Correctional, and Public Safety Projects
Non-Profit Organizations
We understand that non-profits are often understaffed and pulled between mission and process. Adding a capital project often occupies time better spent serving the organization’s beneficiaries. Qualified and experienced professionals, we take on the daily responsibilities of project management through completion so that our clients can focus on their priorities.
Cultural Facilities
Cultural facilities foster creative possibilities in communities—they are places of potential; the soul of any neighborhood. With our support, our clients achieve early alignment of aspirations to allow the proper design elements are in place to meet the hopes and needs of patrons, visitors, and performers.
Planning, Programming, and Economic Development
Early project planning—whether to understand needs, budget, schedule, or desired outcomes—is the most important phase of any project. With our assistance, expectations are established early and translated into a facility and operational design. We guide planning and selection, economic development, marketing, and other strategic endeavors that lead to successful outcomes.
View Select Planning, Programming, and Economic Development Projects
Sports and Recreation
Meeting the long-term needs of active and healthy residents, recreation programs create opportunities to advance skills and offer playing opportunities for adults and youth; they foster creative senior programming for a growing and aging population. Our team advances the analysis, programming, design, and construction of facilities suitable for a variety of users from private and amateur sports to professional training and league facilities.
contact us
Most of our projects begin as a conversation with one of our associates. For an evaluation of your project, or to learn more about Pizzuti Solutions’ Owner’s Representative services, send us a message or give us a call.
Phone
614.280.4000
solutions@pizzuti.com
