Meet the Team

Joy Manning | Director of Renovations

Brandon Williams | Supervisory Project Manager

Brandon grew up in Giles County and attended Virginia Tech to study mechanical engineering. He spent two years at a design firm and 15 years with a mechanical contractor before joining the renovations team. Brandon enjoys outdoor activities including hunting and fishing. He’s a member of Blue Ridge Church and loves spending time with family and friends.

Chris Almond | Supervisory Project Manager

Chris Almond grew up in the New River Valley area and graduated from Virginia Tech. Chris recently returned to Blacksburg from Guam, where he served as the Director of Public Works and Infrastructure for the naval base. Chris is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia, and he has served 20 years in the U.S. Navy leading teams in facilities planning, public works operations, and construction management around the world. Chris enjoys hiking, cycling, and spending time with his family.

Dante DeFazio | Project Manager

Dante DeFazio was raised in Winchester, Virginia and followed his two brothers to Blacksburg. Dante received his degree in Building Construction at Virginia Tech. Dante has spent 20 years working for general contractors on an array of projects working for the federal government, the U.S. Postal Service, Corps of Engineers, and private clients in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area, Oklahoma, and Texas. Outside of work, Dante is involved with his community and keeps up with his kids and their activities.

Matt Giambra | Project Manager

Matt is originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia. He graduated from the Building Construction program at Virginia Tech. Matt has been been working in the construction industry for 9 years and has been working with Virginia Tech renovations since. Outside of work, Matt enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting, hiking and snowboarding.

Cyndi Stewart | Assistant Project Manager

Cyndi recently relocated to the Blacksburg area, originally from Peoria, Illinois. She has worked in the construction field for over 30 years and was an APM/Safety Coordinator at her previous job. Outside of work, Cyndi enjoys golf and yoga.

Marianne Ouren | Assistant Project Manager

Marianne was raised in Monte Vista, Colorado. She graduated from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. She joined a friend in her home repair business in 1988 and has been involved in the construction industry since. Whether bike riding, camping, hiking, kayaking, fishing, or snow skiing, Marianne loves being outdoors.

Ken Black | Quality Control/Quality Assurance Representative

Ken grew up in a Navy family. He came to Virginia Tech for his undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in 2008 and has not left since. Ken has roughly 15 years of experience in architecture and construction. This is in multiple design firms, teaching at Virginia Tech, and working for the Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities. Ken’s hobbies include walking, hiking, and building Lego models.

Rich Stokes | Project Manager - Athletics

Rich grew up in southern California. He graduated from James Madison University with a degree in management and recreational sports. Rich has been in the construction field for over 20 years. He has worked with renovations at Virginia Tech for over 5 years. He has experience with electrical, controls, and project management. Rich enjoys spending time with family, fishing, and teaching firearm safety. He also loves watching the Braves play.