The R.E. Warner Board of Directors is pleased to announce promotions and new positions among the firm's Leadership Team that set up the firm to achieve its strategic goals in the coming years:
Frank Johnson, PE
Promoted to Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Upon joining REW in 2010 as Senior Electrical Engineer and Project Manager, Frank’s technical acumen and leadership qualities immediately stood out. Over the years, Frank has continually risen to new challenges—serving as Director of Project Management, becoming a shareholder, being named Vice President, and joining our Board of Directors.
In 2019, Frank stepped up to lead the firm’s operations as COO, guiding our technical and administrative operations with a strong focus on operational excellence and client satisfaction.
In recognition of his unwavering commitment, outstanding leadership, and tremendous impact on our organization, the Board is proud to announce Frank’s promotion to Executive Vice President.
Tony Sansone, PE
Promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations
Tony rejoined REW as Vice President of Operations in 2023. Since that time, he has successfully managed both the Vice President of Operations and Director roles, overseeing the firm’s tactical and strategic operations. This achievement is particularly notable as the firm has grown substantially over the last two years, including the addition of a BIM Department.
With over 30 years of progressive experience leading operations, projects, and teams in medium- to large-scale A/E/C organizations, Tony’s expertise continues to drive improvements in REW’s processes and procedures to support the ongoing growth of the firm. His advancement to Senior Vice President of Operations acknowledges his contributions and continued role in shaping REW’s future.
Matt Barratt, PE
Promoted to Vice President of Governance & Compliance
With an initial start at REW as an Electrical Engineer in 2006, Matt returned in 2013 as Mechanical Department Manager and soon after became a shareholder. His election to the Board of Directors followed in 2015.
Through his experience serving on the Board and his day-to-day roles, Matt developed strong expertise in navigating legal, ethical, and regulatory matters, as well as a deep understanding of the firm's technology infrastructure. In 2019, leveraging this experience, he became REW’s first Technology and Compliance Manager. In this role, Matt has provided valuable guidance on internal policies and procedures related to ethical conduct, risk management, and quality. Furthermore, in addition to ensuring adherence to laws, safety regulations, licensure requirements, and client contracts, Matt has worked closely with our Safety, IT, and HR teams to implement essential training for our team.
As REW’s Compliance Officer, Matt performs a vital role in safeguarding the firm’s integrity and operational soundness. His promotion to Vice President of Governance and Compliance recognizes his outstanding contributions in these areas.
Matt Benovic, PE
Promoted to Interim Chief Financial Officer
Matt began his tenure with REW in 2011 as a Structural Engineer and quickly demonstrated a keen aptitude for both technical execution and project leadership, going on to become a Senior Project Manager, and then Director of Project Management. In 2015 he was elected a shareholder and in 2019 he was elected to the Board of Directors, serving as Treasurer.
Throughout his time with the firm, Matt has also demonstrated a strong financial acumen. In the mid-2010s, he took the initiative to complete finance and accounting courses. Since then, he has played a key role in guiding REW’s financial strategy—providing weekly budget and forecast updates during the challenges of the Covid pandemic, managing cash flow, projecting future financial needs, and developing KPIs to support strategic decisions. He also streamlined the 2025 budget process in close collaboration with the Accounting Team.
In 2024, Matt began pursuing an MBA with a Major in Finance at The Ohio State University and is set to graduate next year. In addition, he is completing a formal leadership development program at REW. His dedication to continuous learning coupled with his professional credentials and deep understanding of firm operations uniquely position him to effectively guide the company’s financial strategy. The Board is pleased to announce his promotion to Interim Chief Financial Officer.
Susan Crawford, MAOM, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Appointed Vice President of Organizational Development
Returning to REW in 2021 as the company’s sole HR practitioner, Sue has played a central role in guiding the firm through a period of rapid expansion.
In addition to expanding and improving REW’s benefits offerings, Sue has led several leadership development initiatives and now oversees both the HR and Marketing Departments. Under her leadership, initiatives focused on wellness, flexibility, and leadership development have earned REW the 2022 NorthCoast 99 Award, the 2022, 2023, and 2024 local Top Workplace Awards, and the national 2025 Top Workplace Compensation & Benefits Award. These honors reflect not just on REW, but also on Sue's positive impact on the organization.
As Vice President of Organizational Development, Sue will continue to advance REW’s efforts in succession planning, leadership development, future mergers and acquisitions, continuous improvement, and the growth of the HR and Marketing Departments.
Dave Ferencik, PE
Promoted to Vice President of Quality
Dave launched his R.E. Warner career in 2003 within the Civil Department and has taken on increasing responsibility over the years in various management positions, most recently serving as Director of Quality. He has been a shareholder since 2015 and a member of our Board of Directors since 2019, serving as Quality Officer.
Over the last several years, Dave has been heavily involved in the firm’s quality initiatives. He has made significant strides in identifying areas for improvement, implementing processes and procedures to ensure consistency across the organization, and developing metrics to track our progress and successes.
Dave’s leadership has resulted in steady gains in quality performance, making his promotion to Vice President of Quality a natural next step.
Mark Pierce
Appointed Vice President of Strategic Alliances
Mark joined REW in 2024 following several years serving as a business consultant and member of the firm’s Board of Advisors.
In this role, Mark will be responsible for developing and executing the company's mergers and acquisitions strategy. He will work closely with senior management to identify opportunities, develop plans, and coordinate resources. His expertise in proven techniques and strategies to increase value will be instrumental in supporting REW’s growth. Mark will also focus on building valuable connections and driving business growth through new and expanded partnerships and potential acquisitions.