PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
PREMIER Design + Build Group hires
three key employees for its Iselin,
NJ office
PREMIER Design + Build Group, LLC has an-
nounced three appointments to its Iselin, NJ office
team. Lisa Vickers-Walwyn has joined as a project adminis-
trator, and Vincent DeCaro is employed as a project
manager, the company says. As well, Danielle Stafford
has been hired as office manager and project adminis-
trator. Vickers-Walwyn has more than 20 years of experi-
ence in project support and office administration and
brings a people-first, positive mindset and results-dri-
ven attitude to PREMIER.

“I’m excited to contribute my talent and expertise to
a true leader in the industry. This
opportunity allows me to leverage
my experience to help facilitate
PREMIER’s distinctive project de-
livery system and 24/7 dedication
to their clients,” she said. “It’s re-
freshing to work for a company
that takes a contemporary and in-
dividualized approach to each of
their clients’ projects.”
She spent her career earning in-
creased responsibility and respect
Lisa Vickers-Walwyn
as a resourceful teammate who in-
teracts well with clients, executives,
project managers and colleagues. She developed a
keen eye for spotting efficiencies in the role of office
manager, and supervised adherence to OSHA stan-
dards, project and office protocol. She has been in
charge of project management scheduling and helped
teams manage estimates and collections.

Vickers-Walwyn has helped maintain
subcontractor/vendor lists and pre-qualifications,
weekly submittals, RFIs and invoices. Her office man-
agement responsibilities have included general admin-
istration, office vendor coordination, scheduling
meetings and maintaining project databases. She has
prepared construction documentation and permits as
well. For more news and updates: Newyorkconstructionreport.com
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18 – WINTER 2018 — New York Construction Report
As a project administrator for PREMIER, Vicker’s-
Walwyn fulfills front office duties and assists project
managers with many aspects of the administrative
tasks. She confirms all subcontractor licenses are cur-
rent, maintains and updates bid lists, start-up and
closeout documentation.

“Lisa helps promote progress at every milestone for
our Northeast team. She gets things done for our
clients and associates,” says PREMIER executive vice-
president Alec Zocher. “She is a great addition to the
PREMIER team and we are fortunate to have her with
us.” Vickers-Walwyn grew up in New Jersey and has a
true affinity for the Garden State. She has a Microsoft
Project certificate from Rutgers University and a Small
Business Administration certificate from Middlesex
County College.

Meanwhile, Vincent DeCaro has been hired by PRE-
MIER as a project manager in the New Jersey office.

He is a true leader and motivated professional who is
dedicated to clients. He is productive, inspires his
teams and believes that innovation drives better re-
sults. In short, DeCaro is a true credit to his home state
of New Jersey.

“I am incredibly excited about joining the PREMIER
team,” says DeCaro. “To be the best, I have to work for
the best, and that’s exactly what PREMIER is all about.”
DeCaro oversees all aspects of
the construction process including
bidding, budgeting, scheduling,
subcontract administration, finan-
cial management and closeouts
for PREMIER projects.

He uti-
lizes his problem-solving abilities
to navigate obstacles and work di-
rectly with consultants, subcon-
tractors and field superintendents
to direct activities.

DeCaro migrated into a project
Vincent DeCaro
management role after serving as a
business manager in commercial real estate for a lead-
ing financial institution. Subsequently, he took a posi-
tion as a project manager at a prominent construction
company in New Jersey where he built strong relation-
ships with clients, architects, engineers and subcon-
tractors and was responsible for all aspects of project
delivery. DeCaro honed his leadership skills as a member of
the United States Navy deployed in Afghanistan and
Africa. As a Navy Seabee, he analyzed, planned and es-
timated construction projects for the Department of
Defense. He led multiple teams on the ground in build-
ing and security operations, provided tactical and tech-
nical guidance and professional support for personnel
across several countries. He earned several commen-



PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
dations for his service with the military.

“Vince is a patriot and a leader,” says Zocher. “His
discipline, dedication and spirit of innovation will pay
dividends for our clients. We are proud to have him
with us.”
Recently, DeCaro earned a business degree and
graduated summa cum laude from Rider University.

Commendations he received while in the military in-
clude the Joint Service Achievement, NATO, and good
conduct medals.

In the third appointment,
Danielle Stafford will work closely
with peers, project managers, su-
perintendents and executives to
keep the New Jersey office run-
ning smoothly as office manager
and project administrator. She has
nearly 10 years of experience in
project support and office admin-
istration and brings great enthusi-
asm to PREMIER.

“I knew PREMIER was the right
Danielle Stafford
place for me when I met with the
team,” says Stafford. “There’s a culture here of ab-
solute dedication to clients and pride in what they do—
it’s exactly the right environment for me.”
Stafford began her career in the competitive New
Jersey construction industry working for a top contrac-
tor, overseeing presentations and bids. She acquired
experience in a financial institution as well where she
maintained employee licenses and schedules. Stafford
arranged appointments and meetings, submitted ex-
pense reports, maintained office inventory and sup-
ported the accounts receivable department.

She most recently served as an office manager and
project coordinator for a leading design and construc-
tion firm in Westfield, New Jersey. While there, she su-
pervised payroll, benefits information, paid time off and
expense reports. Stafford coordinated onboarding and
training for employees and upper management, admin-
istered the assembly of company and project informa-
tion for business owners and lent a hand in the
development of new company branding.

At PREMIER, Stafford handles her day-to-day office
functions with a positive, problem-solving approach
with everything from welcoming guests, developing
positive relationships, maintaining consistency with of-
fice procedures and helping teams prepare important
documentation. She sees to it that the office space is
well organized, professional and welcoming to employ-
ees and visitors alike. Additionally, she provides admin-
istrative support to project managers from the initial
stages of planning to project closeout. Stafford is most
fulfilled when she is helping teams meet deadlines and
promoting progress along the way.

“Danielle has the experience and vitality to help our
Northeast team succeed,” says Zocher. “She knows
what it takes to keep projects moving forward, while
keeping protocol on track. We’re excited to have her on
the team.”
Stafford grew up in New Jersey and has a true affin-
ity for the Garden State. She is currently working to-
ward a degree in business.

PREMIER Design + Build Group, LLC is a full-service
design + build firm specializing in industrial, medical,
commercial and adaptive reuse projects.

The company handles small tenant improvements to
large-scale new construction developments and pro-
vide due diligence, full construction and outsourced de-
sign services. It has completed LEED Gold and Silver
projects, and is a member of the U.S. Green Building
Council. Medici Living Group hires Quinton Kerns
as new design director
Medici Living Group, the world’s largest co-living
provider based in Germany, has recently hired urban
compact living expert A. Quinton Kerns as design direc-
tor. In his new role, Kearns will design for two of Medici
Living Group’s brands, QUARTERS and Medici Living.

QUARTERS, a newly established brand, covers the
Berlin and New York markets. Kearns will be responsi-
ble for the expansion of the brand across U.S.

“With Quinton Kerns, we have won a creative mind
with design expertise in co-living who knows the U.S.

market by heart. That is very important for our further
expansion in the U.S. I am convinced that Quinton will
further develop the design language of our co-living
brands and successfully lift it to the next level,” said
Medici Living Group CEO and founder Gunter Schmidt.

“Thanks to his excellence design competence, Quin-
ton will inspire our customers with our future co-living
projects. He fits in very well with our brands,” he said.

Kerns has more than ten years of work experience in
designing projects ranging from residential to hospital-
ity and workspace facilities. Before joining Medici Liv-
ing’s team, he worked as senior designer for three
years at WeWork, a brand under co-living developer
WeLive in New York. He built the brand and launched
its first two buildings in New York City and Washington,
D.C. Before designing for WeWork, Kerns worked for
project developer Stantec, formerly known as Add Inc.

He also co-founded WHAT’S IN, an initiative dedicated
to the research of innovative housing solutions, such as
co-living and micro living spaces in emerging urban
communities. New York Construction Report — WINTER 2018 – 19