Management Team
Our diverse commercial construction project experience, coupled with our exceptional team of professionals, enables Herman/Stewart to provide and excel in a wide range of services.
Ray Herman, President
Ray Herman received his formal education from Auburn University School of Architecture with a degree in Building Science. He began his career in commercial construction in the Washington, DC area. Ray became Vice President of Construction for a regional developer in Columbia, Maryland, where he was responsible for all construction and development activities on a variety of commercial office, retail and industrial construction projects.
Ray started Herman/Stewart Construction in 1990, initially focusing on retail and commercial interior projects. Over the past 20 years, the company has grown to specialize in hospitality, senior living facilities, retail shopping centers, assisted living, and food service construction projects. Based out of Lanham, Maryland, Herman/Stewart has completed work in more than 40 states, and is proud to say that much of its core management has been with the company for more than 15 years.
Matt Whitney, Vice President of Finance
Matt Whitney received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration in 1985 and his CPA in 1988. After spending eight years as a controller in the residential construction market, he joined Herman/Stewart Construction in the early 1990s and is responsible for the financial planning, monitoring and achievement of the company’s corporate goals. Matt is also the Secretary/Treasurer for Herman/Stewart, serving under the President, Ray Herman.
Jim Gosnell, Vice President of Hospitality and Multi-Unit Division
Jim Gosnell received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management at Virginia Tech and obtained a Master of Science in Architecture with a specialty in Construction Management at Virginia Tech in 1982. He began his career in commercial construction with the fastest growing commercial general contractor in the Washington, D.C. region. Jim went on to work for a national, full service commercial real-estate company, where he performed construction management services for multiple development clients, building over $1.2 billion dollars of mixed-use projects in the greater Washington, D.C. region.
Jim joined Herman/Stewart as a Project Manager in 1994 and has been Vice President of the Hospitality, Senior Living, and Multi-Unit division since 1996.
Terry L. Varner, Vice President of Business Dev—Restaurant and Retail Division
Terry Varner has a vast range of experience in Restaurant and Retail construction. His construction career began in 1980 in the field, where he worked his way through the ranks, spending time as a Superintendent, Estimator and Project Manager. This experience helped Terry truly understand all aspects of a professional construction project.
Terry’s career at Herman/Stewart began in 1990 when he was hired as a Superintendent. He quickly moved from the field into the office, where he served as a Project Manager before being promoted to Vice President in 1993. As Vice President, he has established relationships with some of the most well-known restaurateurs in the industry, both in the US and abroad.
Michael Dennis, Vice President of Operations—Restaurant and Retail Division
Mike Dennis received his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Texas A&M University in 1983. He gained extensive experience both in the field and office as a Surveyor, Superintendent, Project Engineer and on-site Project Manager with a large general contractor in Texas. Mike joined Herman/Stewart in 1993 and became a Vice President in 1996, forming the retail roll-out division. In 2003, the retail roll-out and restaurant divisions were consolidated under the joint management of Terry Varner and Mike Dennis, the former focusing on business development and the latter on operations.
Juanita Fox, Vice President of Administration
Juanita Fox received her Associates Degree in Business Management in 1981. She joined Herman/Stewart as Office Manager in 1990. Over the years, Juanita has been involved in many critical aspects of the company’s business, including human resources, finance and the overall management of the company. Juanita plays an integral part in the management and operations of Herman/Stewart and was promoted to Vice President in 2006.