HOME OUR WORK WHO WE ARE CONTACT EMPLOYEE-OWNED FOR A REASON. Harman Construction is a design-build general contractor made up of about 65 individuals—20 in our Harrisonburg office and 45 working in the field. Though our backgrounds and interests differ, you’ll find common themes of family, faith, and pride in our work run strong throughout our company. We come together under the example of our leadership, upholding the Valley tradition of hard work grounded in fairness and integrity. This common ground has led to a steady growth over Harman’s nearly 50 year history. What began as a spin-off to CEO Carl Harman’s family farm supply business, Harman Construction now has an annual volume consistently around $45 million. Harman Construction transitioned into an employee owned company in 2019. Becoming an ESOP is a great way to preserve the company’s legacy providing a smooth transition of ownership at a fair price while maintaining the existing management, values and workforce. The company receives tax benefits and the employees ultimately benefit from stock shares allocated to them over time. Everyone wins! LEADERSHIP WAYNE WITMER President & CEO email: wwitmer@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 103) Wayne joined Harman in 1990, the day after returning from his honeymoon. Married with four children, Wayne enjoys family, travel, sports, and music. Wayne holds a business administration degree from Eastern Mennonite University and worked his way up from project management and business development to president and CEO. “Communicating with employees and clients to make sure that goals and expectations are met is very important,” says Wayne. “I work hard at making that a priority.” Active in the industry and community, Wayne is past president of AGCVA Valley District, Has served as AGCVA state board member and has served on the Butler Building Systems national advisory council. He is a current member of Harrisonburg Rotary Club board and the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity Board. Faith and trust in God is what keeps him focused and inspired to lead well in all he does. GARY MCBRIDE Director of Operations, LEED AP BD+C email: gmcbride@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 110) A Virginia Beach native, Gary earned both his B.S. in business administration and M.S.Ed. in administration from James Madison University. Gary is very active in the AGCVA Valley District. Since 2004, he has sat on the executive committee and is the 2009-2013 president. The Golden Rule is Gary’s philosophy for achieving high quality projects that come in on-time and on-budget, “Treat people like I would want to be treated,” he says. Married with two grown children and one grandson, Gary enjoys the beach, big dogs—specifically labs and golden retrievers, golf, biking, and travel. You might want to ask him about his love of Virginia Tech football though since JMU’s Dukes beat them last time they played. NANCY BOWERS Director of Finance email: nbowers@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 114) Prior to joining Harman in 1997, Nancy earned her accounting degree—cum laude—from Eastern Mennonite University. She also graduated from the U.S. Army Military Police Academy and from the Defense Language Institute with a focus on German. Nancy is thankful for the five and a half years she spent in Germany—experiencing the culture to the fullest! “From my military days, I learned the importance of team work and unity within an organization and being a member of the Harman Team I am thankful that we have been blessed with a great team of talented and creative people through which great things can be accomplished.” These days, Nancy spends time in various roles at Antioch Church of the Brethren where her husband is pastor. She also enjoys time spent with family, playing piano, and gardening. Even after all her years at Harman, Nancy continues to learn and adapt to industry changes, trusting in God to continue blessing the work at Harman. TRAVIS LAYMAN Director of Pre-Construction, LEED AP BD+C email: tlayman@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 122) With a family history rich in construction, contracting, and design, Travis’s career trajectory was set pretty early in life. His official start in estimating and contracting was running Layman Brothers Yard Work with one of his brothers back in the 80s. In talking to Travis, faith and community are two common themes. An active member at First Presbyterian Church on Court Square, Travis is quick to tell you Colossians 3:23 and John 6:27 are the two verses that guide and direct him in his daily work. Though he briefly left Harrisonburg to earn a B.A. in business administration at Furman University, Travis returned and joined Harman in 2002. Locally, he is chair for the Rockingham County Bicycle Advisory Committee and a board member of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition. Travis enjoys spending time with his family and likes almost any outdoor recreation or exercise, but as you might imagine, most times you’ll find him on a bike ride with family or friends. RYAN STRITE Director of Business Development email: rstrite@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 120) Ryan joined Harman in 2004 as a project manager before switching to business development seven years later. His past experience managing projects strengthens his ability to help clients put together projects that are well thought out. In his current role, Ryan often hears that he makes the planning process easy—helping communicate and set attainable and realistic expectations. Ryan graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a B.A. in business administration and is a member of the Rockingham/Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce, Augusta County Chamber of Commerce, and recently served as an Elder at New Beginnings Church. During college, Ryan studied in Guatemala and Cuba for a semester. He also spent a summer as an Alaskan fishing guide, so it’s no surprise he is an avid sportsman spending his free time fishing, bow hunting, and playing any type of team sport. Ryan also enjoys time with his wife and two children. PROJECT MANAGEMENT & SAFETY JOHN BAZAN Safety Director email: jbazan@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 116) “Making our jobsites as safe as possible and for everyone to go home to their loved ones every day,” that’s John’s job description in his own words. John’s commitment to safety is backed up by his training which includes: OSHA 500 Trainer, OSHA 510, American Heart Association Heart Saver Instructor (First Aid, CPR AED), Certified Lead Renovator, OSHA 30-Hour, OSHA 10-Hour, excavation and trenching safety, and confined space safety. Outside the office John enjoys motorcycle riding, camping, hiking, and spending time with his wife and two boys. DUSTIN HARPER Senior Project Manager email: dharper@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 129) If he looks familiar, maybe you remember him from his days on the Harrisonburg High School soccer team. Dustin, a Harrisonburg native, returns home from Pennsylvania with a business management degree from Messiah College and extensive experience working for a top-three, national contractor. The dynamic aspect of construction and seeing the process through each day is what Dustin loves most about his job. A true people-person, he believes a project’s success is directly related to building strong relationships with co-workers, subcontractors, and clients. Dustin places a strong personal value on working with honesty, so it’s no wonder his clients enjoy his professionalism, foresight, and leadership throughout his projects. Though he’s no longer playing soccer, Dustin still enjoys time spent outdoors with his wife and two sons. You’ll often find him with a camera, snowboard, mountain bike, or attending local music festivals and relaxing to good music. ERIC CASH Project Manager email: ecash@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 105) Eric possess strong leadership and management skills with over 20 years of managerial experience. He maintains excellent people skills in all aspects of the job and is able to effectively work in a team environment. His past experiences as a Fire Lieutenant and Paramedic have provided him with a unique ability to remain calm under the most stressful of situations. Eric is a graduate of the University of Richmond where he completed a B.S. degree in Emergency Management with a focus on human behavior during disasters. Outside the office, Eric is an avid big game hunter and a gifted bowler, holding a 213 average and achieving the perfect 300 game. Eric also is an accomplished actor and play write having performed in dinner theater plays since he was 8 years old and in 2018 began writing comedy plays for the Crimora Players, a comedy play group who’s show proceeds are donated to community members suffering from major medical issues and struggling with medical expenses. KEVIN CAMPBELL Project Manager email: kcampbell@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 118) A Salem, VA native, Kevin received his degree in Business Administration from Roanoke College. Kevin has since worked in a variety of careers including his work as a police officer and construction manager in Roanoke, VA. With his passion for construction, playing with Carter CAT vehicles since childhood, Kevin is excited to join the Harman team where it is a family environment. He thoroughly enjoys working closely with all those involved in each of his projects, and building relationships with co-workers, subcontractors, and clients. His dedication to the success of each project ensures a positive outcome for all involved. When he’s not busy at work, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids. He also loves anything Hokie (particularly Virginia Tech football), golf, and going to the beach. JARED WIGGINS Project Manager email: jwiggins@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 126) Hailing from the greater Chicago Area, Jared came to the valley eager to explore the beautiful landscapes of Shenandoah as an Architectural Designer. Since then his Construction endeavors have brought him into Project Management joining Harman in 2020. Jared and his wife serve God faithfully at Horizon Christian Fellowship, aiding in leading worship and leading Youth Group. At heart he is an artist, creating with such mediums as watercolor, pencil, and acrylic. When he’s not painting you can find him on the piano, meeting new people, working on fun ideas, or in deep conversation. Jared and his wife live in the Harrisonburg area. KRISTIAN MOORE Safety Manager email: kmoore@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 134) Kristian grew up in Timberville and graduated From Broadway High School. He went to Christopher Newport University to study Communication. He has a variety of different experiences from managing the Broadway Community Pool, doing painting and light construction, and bartending in downtown harrisonburg. Kristian takes safety very seriously and his main goal is to make sure everybody gets to go home safely at the end of the day. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, watching football and basketball, playing golf, snowboarding, hunting, camping, and fishing. DESIGN & ESTIMATING TRAVIS LAYMAN Director of Pre-Construction, LEED AP BD+C email: tlayman@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 122) With a family history rich in construction, contracting, and design, Travis’s career trajectory was set pretty early in life. His official start in estimating and contracting was running Layman Brothers Yard Work with one of his brothers back in the 80s. In talking to Travis, faith and community are two common themes. An active member at First Presbyterian Church on Court Square, Travis is quick to tell you Colossians 3:23 and John 6:27 are the two verses that guide and direct him in his daily work. Though he briefly left Harrisonburg to earn a B.A. in business administration at Furman University, Travis returned and joined Harman in 2002. Locally, he is chair for the Rockingham County Bicycle Advisory Committee and a board member of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition. Travis enjoys spending time with his family and likes almost any outdoor recreation or exercise, but as you might imagine, most times you’ll find him on a bike ride with family or friends. JIM ELLINGER Design-Build Manager email: jellinger@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 119) Jim joined Harman in the spring of 1988. The best part is the “freedom to express your talents” and “working with clients that appreciate what we accomplished for them.” As Harman’s Design-Build Manager, Jim enjoys turning owners’ dreams into a reality—often starting with minimal information. A graduate of Blue Ridge Community College, Jim likes to stay relevant with continuing education. He holds the Master Order Writer Certification from Butler Manufacturing and has taken classes on LEED sustainable future, U.S. Energy codes and standards, the Butler Advantage, CSI Master Format, and IBC Code. When he’s not at the office, Jim can be found knocking down pins at the bowling alley. His record includes 11-300 games and 12-800 sets with 860 the highest. DONNIE SMITH CAD Technician email: dsmith@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 106) With his degree in architectural drafting, Donnie joined Harman in 1998. “Seeing a completed job that I produced the drawings for is rewarding,” he says. Donnie is task focused and often hears it is a pleasure to work with the design department. Outside the office, he likes hunting, fishing, and playing softball. Donnie also enjoys spending time on the lake with his wife and his dog. DAVID HUGHES Estimator email: dhughes@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 104) David and his family live on an acre of his wife’s grandfather’s farm. Her parents, uncle, and her triplet siblings each have an acre for their families as well. Though David says they are, “far enough apart that we are not constantly up in each other’s business,” it seems pretty fair to say David’s positive, upbeat attitude and calm demeanor are assets not just to his professional estimator role. David graduated from West Virginia University. His history minor is fitting of his interest in living history with specific interest in the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War. He is also an avid soccer fan and enjoys playing in the local rec leagues. JON MARTIN Butler Systems Estimator email: jmartin@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 131) Jon grew up in Harrisonburg and has a family that has a strong history of construction in the area. Jon joined Harman in 2019 and his experience in many different trades and has a wide range of experience that assist in estimating and design. Outside of work Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and son, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, woodworking and watching soccer. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RYAN STRITE Director of Business Development email: rstrite@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 120) Ryan joined Harman in 2004 as a project manager before switching to business development seven years later. His past experience managing projects strengthens his ability to help clients put together projects that are well thought out. In his current role, Ryan often hears that he makes the planning process easy—helping communicate and set attainable and realistic expectations. Ryan graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a B.A. in business administration and is a member of the Rockingham/Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce, Augusta County Chamber of Commerce, and recently served as an Elder at New Beginnings Church. During college, Ryan studied in Guatemala and Cuba for a semester. He also spent a summer as an Alaskan fishing guide, so it’s no surprise he is an avid sportsman spending his free time fishing, bow hunting, and playing any type of team sport. Ryan also enjoys time with his wife and two children. DWAYNE MARTIN Business Development email: dmartin@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 102) Dwayne is a modern day renaissance man who can be found tying flies or fishing with them, butchering hogs, milling wood, or playing old time music on a banjo or guitar. SUPPORT STAFF TAMMY KESTNER Accounting Clerk / HR Coordinator email: tkestner@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 132) An active member of the Shenandoah Valley chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, Tammy has 20 years of construction industry experience with over half of those in HR. Tammy is a trusted resource for her understanding of employment law and advocate for her co-workers. Staying current in her field is a priority. Outside the office, Tammy has a keen eye for decorating and spends her downtime hunting down antiques and other unique items from area shops and auctions. She also enjoys spending time with her three grown children, granddaughter, and two dogs—Daisy Duke and Dixie Chick. JAMIE MCBRIDE Project Assistant email: jmcbride@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 111) Originally from New Jersey, Jamie attended Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach SC and later completed her degree from Southern New Hampshire University. Jamie is customer service focused with experience in office management and the hospitality industry. She is a trusted resource for both estimating and project management and especially enjoys providing support at construction jobsites. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys traveling, tending to her house plants and spending time with her three dogs. BARBARA KLEIST Administrative/Accounting Assistant email: bkleist@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 101) Barbara spent most of her life and career in Augusta, Georgia excelling in sales, marketing and office administration in the technology and advertising sectors. She loves to contribute innovative ideas for future development and growth. Barbara and her husband relocated to Harrisonburg in 2013. They have four grown children and a little Yorkie named Presley. Outside of work, Barbara enjoys spending time with her husband, working in the yard, nursing potted plants and hiking. JAMES MURPHY Staff Accountant email: jmurphy@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 108) Originally from Franklin, WV, James graduated from West Virginia University in 2014 with a B.S.B.AD. in accounting. Outside of the office, James hobbies are basketball, going to the gym, video games, and spending time with his cat, Dexter. CAROL WEST Accounting Clerk email: cwest@harmanconstruction.com call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 123) Being born and raised in Harrisonburg, Carol was both a student and a “townie” while earning her accounting degree from James Madison University. After working for almost a decade, she became a stay-at-home mom and a homeschool teacher to their four children for 24 years. In all areas of life, especially family matters and work responsibilities, Carol’s goal is to do her very best while aiming to bring glory to God. Carol cherishes time spent with her husband, grown children, and grandson and dreams of life at the beach or a lake. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and is a habitual redecorator, also enjoying shopping for the redecorating habit. Grateful for the family atmosphere at Harman, Carol is thankful for the opportunity to work with the people here and the vendors with whom she interacts. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Sign Up HARMAN CONSTRUCTION Call: 540-434-4459 Fax: 540-434-4209 MAILING ADDRESS 1024 Pleasant Valley Road Harrisonburg, VA 22801 CONNECT WITH US PARTNER