Back to About us

Our Champions

The people on the front lines and behind the scenes are the heart of Champion.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Carlos M. Hernandez

Chief Executive Officer

Read Bio

As President of Champion, Carlos Hernandez has grown the company to be a leader in heavy construction, specialty services, road and bridge, and military industries. He and Champion are firmly committed to their mission of delivering high-performance services to the public and private sectors while always maintaining the highest degree of safety, quality, and integrity.

As president, Hernandez leads efforts in business development and building relationships. He also supports the sales, estimating, project management, staffing, and partnerships activities. Hernandez believes that team members are the backbone of the organization and leans into staff development by ensuring that his teams are well-trained and possess the tools to be successful.

His interest in construction started at an early age through his father. He took that passion, founded a specialty coatings company, and led the organization prior to purchasing Champion in 2012.

Before his professional pursuit of construction, Hernandez served in the United States Marine Corps. From there, he led a highly decorated law enforcement career in South Florida that spanned more than a decade. Hernandez holds a bachelor's degree in professional administration from Barry University. He also holds certifications as SSPC Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI) Level 2, SSPC Quality Control Supervisor (QCS), and Florida Department of Transportation Advanced Maintenance of Traffic (MOT).

Hernandez is an active community member and has lent his support to United Way, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots, New World School of the Arts, DANCE NOW, Miami Children's Theater, and more.
Kyle Hough

Chief Operations Officer

Read Bio

Champion’s Chief Operations Officer Kyle Hough is an industry leader with over 20 years of experience in industrial coatings and construction specialty services. His vision for Champion goes beyond annual revenue, focusing on building a diverse footprint with resources that prioritize the development and well-being of their people. Hough believes in bringing great individuals to the team and has cultivated a culture and environment that values continuous improvement.

With Hough’s expertise in business, customer growth and solving workforce issues, Champion has successfully expanded to multiple construction specialty services and construction craft companies in a wide range of industries, from power, pharmaceutical, and stadiums, to road & bridge, theme parks, and commercial construction. Hough’s vision has always been the same: develop an exceptional company culture and dedication to the people.

Hough’s mindset for the growing company has always been to strive for perfection, knowing that it may never be fully achieved, and always aiming to get better. He strives to remain ahead of the industry trends and continues to push the boundaries and go beyond industry-wide expectations.

After becoming an apprentice with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades at a young age, Hough has worked his way up through the industry’s ranks. He is a true thought leader and has contributed multiple articles to Coatings Pro Magazine and the Journal of Protective Coatings & Linings.

Hough holds an SSPC-certified Level 3 Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI), a C 3 Supervisor/Competent Person, a Protective Coating Specialist (PCS), and a Master Coatings Inspector (MCI).

When not working, Hough spends time with his wife, and their two adult sons. He also enjoys practicing his lifelong passion of martial arts.
Charles Jeffrey “Jeff” Gibbons

Chief Business Development Officer

Read Bio

Jeff Gibbons, Chief Business Development Officer, leads the Champion Specialty Services division. He is a seasoned construction executive with more than 30 years of experience at all management levels of construction, maintenance, modifications, demolition, and plant upgrades serving the power industry — hydro, fossil, and nuclear, along with other industrial markets.

Gibbons is involved in strategic planning, presentations, and execution related to sales, marketing, proposal writing, estimating, and contract negotiations. He has experience in industrial business market areas, encompassing conventional power, nuclear power, pulp and paper, chemical, food and beverage, U.S. Department of Defense, and Department of Energy industries. He is also responsible for maintaining and strengthening client relationships and developing new business opportunities.

A proud Florida State University alumnus, he is a previous winner of the Bechtel Annual Award, issued for being one of the Top 50 Subcontractors in the world. Gibbons is a member of SSPC, NACE, NACE Nuclear, and NRCA. When he’s not championing our capabilities, he enjoys playing golf, working out, and spending time with his family.
Jenny Guzman

Chief Administrative Officer

Read Bio

With over 18 years of progressive experience in the construction industry, Jenny Guzman has consistently demonstrated a keen acumen for strategic management and process improvement. As the Chief Administrative Officer for Champion Specialty Services, Guzman works closely with the COO & CEO among other executives, playing a pivotal role in supporting business strategies, facilitating organizational growth, and successfully leading change initiatives.

Guzman embodies the multifaceted role within Champion, orchestrating a symphony of responsibilities crucial to the organization's success. Her daily agenda revolves around fostering a culture of excellence, ensuring alignment across departments, and nurturing a "Champion mentality" among staff. She's the architect behind policies that unify teams and drive everyone towards the same goal. Guzman oversees the accounting, finance, procurement, information technology, and human resource departments in addition to managing other business functions.

Beyond HR, Guzman wears multiple hats collaborating seamlessly within departments in efforts to improve process efficiencies and resource allocation. Her knack for problem-solving shines through as she delves into analyses, identifying issues, and solution-based thinking that propels the organization forward.

Recognized for her exemplary leadership, Guzman is celebrated for her commitment to project completion, unwavering integrity, and tireless work ethic. She serves as a motivational force within teams, driving results through a combination of strategic vision and hands-on involvement. In addition to her Bachelor of Science Degrees in Business Management and Criminal Justice, Guzman holds certifications in Human Resource, Performance Management, and Employee Engagement. Guzman lives in South Florida with her two children and enjoys her free time reading, shopping, spending time with family and is dedicated to continuous learning in diverse areas beyond the professional realm.
Duane Hough

President of Champion Specialty Services - Special Operations Group

Read Bio

As president of Champion Specialty Services’ Special Operations Group, Duane Hough has brought more than two decades of experience in business development, specialty protective coatings, and quality assurance to help develop Champion’s skilled global labor workforce. Combining his years of military training with his construction background, he uses cutting edge technology to build and perfect the systems that Champion uses for all its projects.

Drawing from his experience as a Marine Infantry Sergeant, Hough incorporates lessons and principles learned from multiple deployments and humanitarian efforts into his problem solving and leadership approach. His keen project management skills have been the driving force to effectively lead diverse teams at Champion and successfully expand the company’s operations overseas.

We Champion Quality “Our clients expect the highest-quality work, and we deliver. The longevity of the work we do is important to them, and so it’s important to us.”

Hough is an SSPC certified Level 3 Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI), a Level 2 Bridge Coating Inspector (BCI), a Level 2 Concrete Coating Inspector (CCI), a C 3 Supervisor/Competent Person, a Protective Coating Specialist (PCS), a Master Coatings Inspector (MCI), and a SSPC BCI instructor. He previously served as a project manager/foreman for a large national contractor. In this capacity, he managed scheduling for projects, determined labor requirements, and oversaw team members.

Prior to joining Champion, Hough served in the United States Marine Corps, where he led, trained, and counseled Marine Corps infantry. A decorated veteran, he has conducted combat and humanitarian operations throughout the world. Hough is a husband to Julie and father to four children. Outside of work, he enjoys working with philanthropic organizations such as No Kid Hungry.
Anthony Maracic

President of Champion Painting

Read Bio

Anthony Maracic, President of Champion Specialty Services Infrastructure division, boasts a remarkable career spanning over four decades, with a particular focus on protective coating and paint systems for the structural steel industry. His unwavering dedication to leadership, quality production, and safety is at the core of his role, where he adeptly oversees a diverse team of over 200 professionals engaged in more than 150 global projects. Maracic's leadership philosophy places a strong emphasis on the significance of each team member's contributions, understanding that their collective efforts are pivotal to the company's success.

Throughout his illustrious career, Maracic has been intimately involved in numerous high-profile projects, including iconic structures such as the George Washington Bridge and the towering 1,776-foot antenna of Manhattan's Freedom Tower. His crowning achievement came with the successful bid and execution of the monumental $168 million Queensboro Bridge project, which was the largest US paint project at the time. Maracic personally managed the estimation process and then directed the entire project to a triumphant conclusion, surpassing the owner's expectations.

Before joining the Champion team, Maracic honed his skills and amassed extensive experience in the bridge painting industry. He began as an apprentice and gradually ascended to become a partner at a distinguished New York-based contractor, where he laid the foundation for his impressive career.

Maracic's commitment to his field is not limited to his role at Champion. He is an active member of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance, representing both the former SSPC and NACE. Additionally, he serves as a founding committee chairperson for FOP Ashley's Cure, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research on Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP).

Outside of his professional life, Anthony Maracic finds joy in spending time with his wife, Joanne, and cherishes moments with his four daughters, son, and grandson. He also takes pleasure in watching his son excel in collegiate baseball, a testament to his support not only in the business world but also within his family life.
Kelly Powers

President Champion Nuclear Services

Read Bio

Kelly Powers has more than 25 years of power & energy industry experience on major construction projects and programs in the government and commercial sectors. He has a proven track record of strong business growth and project/commercial performance.

Powers attributes his history of success on endeavoring to be a servant leader, always focusing on the needs and support of those for which he is responsible.

Prior to Champion, Powers worked as a Program Manager for Aircraft Carrier Nuclear Propulsion (joint DoE/DoD program), Corporate Functional Area Manager of Capital Projects for Entergy Nuclear, Vice President of Major Projects for Entergy Services, and President of Williams Industrial Services Group.

Mr. Powers holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Masters in Nuclear Engineering earned through Naval Postgraduate training. He also holds Project Management Professional (PMP) and Program Management Professional (PgMP) certifications from the Project Management Institute.
Mat Bryant

Vice President of Operations Champion Painting - SE

Read Bio

Mat Bryant brings more than 20 years of experience in finance, project management, operations, and supply-chain management to the Champion team. His eclectic expertise includes a 20+ year military career in the US Navy and various leadership roles with one of the country’s leading financial institutions.

Bryant joined Champion Specialty Services in 2018 serving as Operations Director, providing financial oversight, reporting, and planning for all aspects of the company. Throughout his two years in this position, he played a key role in strengthening relationships with financial institutions, insurance providers and surety to ensure adequate resources during a successful period of significant year over year growth. As Vice President of Operations for the industrial division at Champion, Bryant is at the helm of developing and implementing organizational strategies to ensure divisional execution is aligned to corporate goals and objectives.

A decorated US Navy Commander, Bryant’s two-decade active military career includes deployments to the Caribbean and Mediterranean and service as an Electronic Warfare Officer supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2010, during a six-year break in military service, Bryant obtained a Masters of Business Administration at Arizona State University with a focus in Finance and Supply Chain Management.

He then began his civilian career with Bank of America where he held various roles in regulatory reporting, program and financial management, and operations during his eight-year stint. Most recently, he leveraged his civilian experience while serving as Comptroller for Fleet Readiness Center Command,, responsible for a $2.3 billion annual operating budget supporting the Naval Aviation Enterprise.

Bryant is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering. His many accolades include the Meritorious Service Metal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Today, he continues his military service as part of the US Navy Reserves.

Bryant is married and resides with his family in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Andrew Wieber

Vice President of Operations Champion Painting - NE

Read Bio

Andrew Wieber brings 20 years of experience in project management and engineering within the paint, coatings and contracting industry. He joined Champion as a Project Manager in 2021 under the leadership of Anthony Maracic, President of Champion Infrastructure. In his position as Project Manager, Wieber played a key role in supporting growth and expansion for the Infrastructure division of Champion Specialty Services.

Now, as Vice President of Operations for Infrastructure, Wieber leads some of Champion’s largest infrastructure projects, while also recruiting and managing a support team for the division. In just two years as part of the Champion team, Wieber has successfully managed notable projects such as a $43 million project at the Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx, a partnership with respected NYC metro area contractor, El Sol Contracting, and an award-nominated project completed alongside Sherwin-Williams.

Wieber started his career at Ahern Painting Contractors Inc., where he spent a combined 15 years building his acumen in leadership and project management. During his time at Ahern, he worked his way up the ladder from Field Engineer to Project Manager, ultimately managing over $100 million in contracts for the New York-based company.

Wieber earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management Engineering Technologies from Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, New York. He continues to live and work in New York, propelling Champion’s projects to new heights.
Rusty Gasser

Vice President of Operations Specialty Services

Read Bio

Boasting 35 impressive years, Rusty Gasser has been managing maintenance and modification work across utilities and nuclear power plants throughout the country. As Vice President Of Operations for Champion Specialty Services, Gasser is a driven professional committed to achieving performance objectives and subsequent growth in the power generation and utility sectors. Gasser joined Champion in March 2022 as Vice President of Operations for the company’s Nuclear and Specialty Services division. In this role, he oversees all nuclear and other power generation sector services at operating plants as well as the company’s growing wind turbine sector. For more than 10 years, Gasser worked across various divisions of Williams Industrial Services Group. During his time at Williams, he held executive roles in plant services, where he was responsible for business development and management for customer expectations. Most recently, Gasser served as Vice President of Operations for Williams, where he was responsible for leading day-to-day operations and maintaining profit and loss statements for multiple business lines within the company, including decommissioning, fuel loading, tunnel maintenance and natural gas distribution services. Gasser began his career at Crane Nuclear, where he spent 18 years as a Project Director. His expansive resume also includes leadership roles at The Atlantic Group, Inc., and Shaw Stone & Webster, Inc. Gasser obtained an Electrical Engineering Technology degree from Georgia Southern University. He has also completed various training courses in construction safety, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Tools, Decision Influence Process, Valve Diagnostics and Valve Refurbishment. He resides in North Georgia, where he enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. When he’s not working, you can catch him rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves.
Barry Cooper

Vice President of Business Development and Strategy

Read Bio

Barry Cooper has more than 30 years of experience in business development, cross-functional team leadership, and building strategic partnerships in the nuclear power and energy sectors. In his role as Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at Champion, Cooper is responsible for identifying target markets and prospects through strategic planning functions. In addition to client management, he specializes in risk analysis and developing infrastructure to respond to request-for-proposal and request-for-bid offers. Since joining Champion in April 2023 to help launch the Nuclear division, Cooper has achieved major successes including expanding the client scope at Fermi II Power Plant in Michigan, inclusion into Southern Nuclear, and has leveraged his network and insight to earn Champion a competitive edge in the wind energy market. Cooper began his career working with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and professional loss control with nuclear power plants under construction, including the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Texas. He was also part of the plant management training program at the Savannah River Nuclear Power Site for 15 years. Cooper later went on to hold various executive leadership roles in the energy and nuclear power industries with companies such as Nexus Engineering, Kiewit Nuclear, Vulcan Specialty Services, and BHI Energy. Prior to joining Champion, Cooper served as Vice President at V Specialty Services, a labor management services company serving the construction industry. Cooper graduated Sum Cude Laude from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. During his free time, Cooper enjoys catching up with his three adult children, playing golf and cheering for the University of Tennessee at sporting events.
David Sharek

Vice President Of Decommissioning and Spent Fuel Services

Read Bio

Vice President Of Decommissioning and Spent Fuel Services
Fred Toler

Vice President of Corporate S.H.&E.

Read Bio

Fred Toler is a certified safety professional with 36+ years of progressive safety management experience on large and complex projects based domestically in the United States and internationally. In his current role as Vice President of Corporate Safety Health & Environmental (SH&E) at Champion Specialty Services, Toler is at the helm of all operations under the corporate compliance department. He has created and oversees one of the most sophisticated multifaceted programs the industry offers for compliance and the prevention of on the job accidents.

In April 2021, Toler joined the Champion team as Corporate S.H.&E. Director to manage development and implementation across all areas of the program. In this position, Toler was responsible for providing executive and senior management regulatory guidance on S.H.&E. related matters, while providing oversight to nine team members in corporate and project safety.

Throughout his three-decade career, Toler has gained extensive experience in new construction and maintenance projects, from newly built oil and gas refineries, coal-fired power plants, gas-fired simple cycle and combined cycle power plants, solar farms, and nuclear power plants. He also brings thorough knowledge of worker compensation claims management in multiple U.S. states.

His unique expertise and professionalism have propelled him to work in various roles across the globe, from the United Kingdom to the U.S. Virgin Islands and South Africa. Prior to joining Champion, Toler spent four years as Head of Industrial Safety for Nawah Energy Corporation in Abu Dhabi assigned to safety oversight of their first 4 Nuclear units.

Toler served in the US Navy for four years as a Corpsman/Surgical Assistant and studied at the Naval School of Health Sciences. Following his honorable discharge from the US Navy, he attended Chattanooga State Community College where he studied Occupational Safety and Health Technology. He now resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Bryan Monteon

Vice President of Quality

Read Bio

With a successful track record of four decades, Bryan Monteon is a proven leader in executing industrial maintenance and large capital construction projects for the application of Protective Coatings, Linings, and Intumescent Fireproofing. He joined Champion in 2020 to oversee the company’s best-in-class project delivery. In his role as Vice President of Corporate Quality, Monteon leads efforts to ensure that Champion’s projects are consistent with its purpose and values, as well as its mission to foster a collaborative work environment promoting safety, pride, innovation and growth.

He presides over the development, implementation, and review of all quality management systems (QMS) at Champion, working closely with project teams, vendor partners, and Champion’s Vice President of Corporate Safety Fred Toler. Since joining the team, Monteon has helped reframe Champion’s commitment to quality with a companywide focus on continuous improvement and quality management.

Champion’s Quality Management Systems are structured to ensure compliance with project specific requirements in addition to State or Federal Regulations such as DOE, DOD Fueling Systems, DOT & NRC sectors including AMPP, ASME, NBBI R-Stamp, NQA-1, and NRC 10CFR50 Appendix B.

Monteon’s extensive career in industrial services and construction covers over two decades with Specialty Services Contractor in leadership roles, which include the implementation of nuclear quality systems, project management, and field engineering for many “innovative industry first” industrial coating projects.

Monteon also had a 15-year tenure as a Corrosion Specialist & Project Manager with a coating manufacturer writing technical specifications for coatings, linings, fireproofing, concrete repair, and product development for heavy industry & infrastructure.

Prior to joining Champion, Monteon rounded out his tenure as Quality Manager leading the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the first ever AP1000 designed plant inspection of safety-related coatings in the United States.

Monteon is a member of ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials), ASQ (American Society for Quality), and AMPP (Association for Materials Protection and Performance) holding the current qualifications: - USACE/NAVFAC Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM-C) - ANSI/ASME N45.2.6 Level III Coating Inspector - AMPP Senior (NACE 3) Coating Inspector #3312 Monteon is a graduate of Williamson College of the Trades where he specialized in the study of coatings and corrosion technology. When not working, Monteon spends time with his wife of 36 years and his family.
Darin Myers

Sr. Vice President of Operations

Read Bio

In his 25 years of experience in the Nuclear industry, Darin Myers has held various roles, including Site Vice President, Plant Manager, and Maintenance/Training Director. During that time, he effectively spearheaded complex programs for large organizations across several disciplines, often maintaining multi-million and multi-billion-dollar budgets. His ability to effectively implement strategic initiatives that optimize site operations and improve employee engagement has earned him several high-profile accomplishments. During his time at Plant Vogtle, Myers successfully led Southern Company Plant Vogtle 1 and 2 from “Plant in Decline” status in December 2014 to the industry’s highest performance designation in April 2018. While at Vogtle he also led a multi-functional group that established processes and procedures for implementing major projects, including a $100M turbine controls installation and main transformer replacement. His leadership qualities, multifaceted skill set, and passion for improvement make him an invaluable member of the Champion team and a critical part of our future success. Myers received his Master of Business Administration at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and currently lives in Augusta, Georgia.

CORPORATE

Helena Bendik

Controller
Tina Cordon

Corporate Tax Director
Maciel Riccardo

Payroll Specialist
Lili Mannino

Payroll Specialist
Brittany Albin

Accounts Payable Specialist
EJ Coughlin

Purchasing Manager
Ali Dominguez

Contract Department Manager
Cinda Schneider

Administrative Specialist
Tristan Hernandez

Accountant
Richard Sharek

Quality Manager - Welding Services
Kyle Brooker

Quality Director

Read Bio

As Champion Specialty Services’ Quality Director, Kyle Brooker brings over 30 years of coatings expertise to the table, ranging from chemical industry, Depart of Transportation to the nuclear industry and the Department of Defense. He joined Champion in 2020, leveraging deep specialized training to help maintain the highest possible standards of safety and quality. In the course of his daily activities, Brooker does everything from conducting audits to reviewing specifications, working with inspectors, supervisors and craft to assure our quality standards along with site specifications and project requirements are met. In 2022, he was awarded a challenge coin recognizing his actions onsite at the submarine dry dock at Naval Station Kings Bay. Prior to working at Champion, Brooker served in multiple roles at Williams Specialty Services LLC dating back to 2008. He received his high school diploma from Gold Coast Corporate Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, and currently lives with his wife and five children in Lincolnton, Georgia.
John Serrano

Business Analyst Manager
Millie Barbosa

Billing/Collecting Specialist