Leadership

John Scherer is a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. As President/CEO of Gulf Building, John spearheads the strategic direction and operations, driving the company towards excellence and innovation. Under his leadership, Gulf Building has achieved remarkable growth and garnered a reputation for integrity, reliability, and client satisfaction.

Beyond his role at Gulf Building, John is actively involved in many industry associations and has a deep commitment to giving back to the community, dedicating his time to serving on boards and committees. John currently serves as vice chair of the executive board for the YMCA of South Florida. Previous appointments include serving on the board of the Associated Builders and Contractors (2006-2013) and Commissioner of the Florida Board of Construction (2009-2012). John earned a bachelor's degree of science in building construction from the University of Florida and law degree from Nova Southeastern University.

Chip Derrer is executive vice president of Gulf Building. He has over three decades of experience in the construction industry and oversees the firm’s luxury residential division.

Under Chip’s leadership, Gulf Building’s residential division has established itself as a premier provider of luxury custom homes throughout South Florida. Chip oversees the execution of each project and leads a team of construction professionals to ensure that every project reflects the client's vision and exceeds their expectations.

As chief operating officer, William R. “Rick” Derrer is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the company and ensuring Gulf’s ability to consistently exceed client expectations in project delivery.

With over 50 years of experience in the construction industry, Rick brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Gulf. Rick co-founded James A. Cummings Inc. in 1981 as a three-person operation and grew it into a multi-million-dollar business before the company was sold in 2003 to Perini Corp. He retained his role as President and CEO until his retirement in October 2015.

Beyond his role at Gulf, Rick is actively involved in industry associations and initiatives aimed at advancing the construction sector. He is a member of the Broward Workshop, Chairman of the CSBE Advisory Board in Miami-Dade County, past Chairman and current member of the Board of Rules and Appeals for Miami–Dade County. Derrer serves on the board of the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade. He advocates for enhanced parks that improve people’s quality of life and for increased walkability and connectivity in communities. He is a past member of the Advisory Council Executive Committee of the University of Florida’s M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management and a past President of the Construction Association of South Florida.

Rick graduated with honors from the University of Florida’s M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management and he was inducted into the University’s Construction Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rob Gillette has joined Gulf Building LLC as Senior Vice President. Gillette has 28 years of construction experience and has spent his entire career building throughout South Florida. He holds a BS degree in Marine Engineering from the US Naval Academy. Gillette is a licensed general contractor, LEED Accredited Professional, and serves on the board of the South Florida AGC. 

Kevin Murphy is vice president of Gulf Building LLC. He is directly involved in all aspects of the company, responsible for overseeing the facilitation of business development, owner and subcontractor negotiations, staff management and training, and other various internal operations.

Kevin joined Gulf Building in 2004 as a project manager. He created partnerships with some of the company’s biggest-name clients, including the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, various local municipalities, and a host of trusted, well-known design teams and subcontractors.

Kevin is a licensed general contractor and holds a B.S. in Construction Management from East Carolina University.

Eric Squilla is a vice president for Gulf Building LLC. He is directly involved in all aspects of the company, responsible for business development and development of owner and subcontractor relationships, staff management and training, coordination with and assistance during Preconstruction, including the development of strategic project start-up procedures and overall Project Management from inception through successful completion for full client satisfaction.

Eric brings over 29 years of construction experience to Gulf and has spent entire career building throughout South Florida. Prior to joining Gulf, Eric was Vice President for Cummings, where he oversaw some of the firm’s largest projects.

Eric is a licensed general contractor and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Building Construction from the University of Florida’s M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management.

Shawn Quill is Chief Financial Officer of Gulf Building LLC. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the accounting and financial functions of the company, including developing and maintaining effective accounting, financial and treasury systems, as well as preserving the company’s existing relationships with various external entities from its accounting firm, legal team and bonding firm, to financial institutions and lenders.

Shawn has more than 23 years of accounting and financial management experience, including more than 18 years in the construction industry. Prior to joining the company, he served as Controller for Konover South and Sikon Construction Corporation in Deerfield Beach. Quill had worked as the accounting manager for Centerline Homes, as well as a senior auditor for a large Miami-based accounting firm.

Shawn is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a degree in business administration from American University in Washington and a masters of accounting from the Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University.

Giovanna Alessi-Suarez is Vice President of Marketing. With a career spanning over three decades in marketing, she has dedicated the past 20 years to the construction industry. She possesses an in-depth understanding of the A/E/C market landscape, enabling her to develop tailored marketing strategies that drive business growth.

Giovanna holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from William Carey University and a master’s degree in business administration from Florida Atlantic University.

Eric Gnage is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Eric serves as Director of Preconstruction for Gulf Building’s Commercial Division where he oversees the Estimating Department and is responsible for all preconstruction efforts including estimating bid packages, bid analysis, and price preparation. He also works closely with owners, architects, and Gulf staff through all phases of project development and execution. 

Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida’s M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management.

George Chekuri is Director of Preconstruction Residential Division at Gulf Building LLC.  He is responsible for preconstruction activities, subcontractor packages preparation, document control and assisting the team in the procurement of all permits, expediting shop drawings and submittals, and the review of Requests for Information (RFI’s) prior to submittal. George coordinates with subcontractors as well as Architects and Engineers for the duration of the project and maintains cost estimates, GMP, project schedules, safety management & risk management completion. He is also responsible for cost pricing, quantity takeoffs, managing project financials, processing pay applications, reviewing contracts, and owner and subcontractor change orders.

George holds a Master’s in Construction Management from Florida International University.