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Our People

Our Leadership Team is made up of dedicated professionals who lead our organization toward strategic goals and inspire our team of 180+ to realize their full potential. We believe true leadership lies in lifting up our staff to be the best that they can be; and in turn, serving our clients in the best ways possible.

Across our office locations in Chicago, St. Louis, and Waterloo, our people blend multifaceted experience, talents, and perspectives to drive growth and ROI for the organizations and groundbreakers we serve. We’re committed and dedicated to our people, both inside and outside of NewGround.

Meet our talented, experienced, and dedicated leadership team.

Headshot of Kevin Blair NewGround President and CEO

Kevin Blair

President and CEO

Mike Crane

COO

headshot of Greg Ward NewGround President, Canada

Greg Ward

President, Canada

Scott Florini

SVP, Strategy

Paul Courter

CFO

Susan Fischer

SVP, Interiors

Jeff Ensweiler

SVP, Business Development

Headshot of Bill Bily NewGround SVP, Design

Bill Bily

SVP, Design

Headshot of Kevin Blair NewGround President and CEO

Kevin Blair

President and CEO

Mike Crane

COO

Greg Ward

President, Canada

Scott Florini

SVP, Strategy

Paul Courter

CFO

Susan Fischer

SVP, Interiors

Jeff Ensweiler

SVP, Business Development

Headshot of Bill Bily NewGround SVP, Design

Bill Bily

SVP, Design

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Kevin Blair, President and CEO

Kevin is a hands-on leader who prefers to spend his time on the front lines of our business at NewGround. He is responsible for setting the strategic vision of our company and leading our management team to execute that strategy. As a thought leader in our industry, Kevin is a sought-after speaker and has become a well-regarded industry futurist on retail delivery and corporate experience trends. Kevin is driven to ignite transformation in our clients’ organizations and to lead our integrated delivery team to create dynamic, differentiating experiences that drive growth and achieve success. In his free time, Kevin pursues active hobbies such as running, sailing, SCUBA diving, mountain climbing, and backpacking.

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Mike Crane, COO

With over 17 years of international retail project management, real estate services, and multi-family residential construction experience, Mike’s role with NewGround manages all functions of project management and implementation. He leads the business unit to achieve company objectives for growth, revenue, and profitability.

After serving our country in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Germany as a US Army Captain and a recipient of the Bronze Star for meritorious service, Mike now resides in Chicago with his wife Jen, and their three children, Connor, Kellen, and Vivienne. Much of his free time is spent at his kids’ events, coaching their football and baseball teams, and keeping them active. Chicago Bears and Cubs games are enjoyed frequently, but Army football is a weekly Saturday priority.

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Greg Ward, President, Canada

As President, Greg is responsible for our overall operations, new business development, architectural planning, design, and management for NewGround’s Canadian operations. For over two decades, he has led NewGround Canada, developing lasting relationships with institutions from coast to coast. Always looking forward, Greg is passionate about driving innovation in architecture, design, and strategy for financial institutions. Greg’s hobbies include cooking at home, cycling, rowing, reading, and SCUBA diving.

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Scott Florini, SVP, Strategy

Scott oversees all Strategy services at NewGround, which includes developing in-depth market and economic studies, workplace strategies, and feasibility analyses. The Strategy Team conducts field work, on-site Discovery sessions, and collaborates with NewGround’s Design and Environmental Teams to provide the best facility solutions for clients. Scott has over 25 years of experience in consulting for financial institutions and is driven to solve problems and share knowledge with our clients and team members. Scott has a knack for remembering places, directions, and geography, and when traveling he tries to visit as many historical sites as possible. In his spare time, Scott also enjoys playing golf and watching baseball.

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Paul Courter, CFO

As the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at NewGround, Paul is responsible for the financial performance of the Company and leads the Shared Services team. Contract pricing, treasury management, risk mitigation, and employer compliance are all functions of the centralized Shared Services team and Paul collaborates and works directly alongside other leaders to solve problems and improve our processes. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and received his Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. Outside of work, Paul enjoys family vacations with his spouse and children.

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Susan Fischer, SVP, Interiors

Susan is a Registered Interior Designer with more than 18 years of expertise in commercial interior design across financial, workplace, retail, and hospitality sectors.  As the SVP of Interiors, she leads a dynamic team comprising of Interior Designers, Procurement Specialists, Environmental Graphic Designers, and Digital Services.  Susan upholds the highest design standards on all projects, challenging the status quo to craft exceptional spaces that enhance company culture, foster brand loyalty, and promote employee well-being. Beyond her professional endeavors, Susan engages in diverse activities, including rollerblading, practicing Krav Maga, and volunteering as the Assistant Troop Leader for her twin daughters’ Girl Scout troop. She also enjoys attending art fairs, festivals, and exploring local parks with her family and their dog.

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Jeff Ensweiler, SVP, Business Development

Jeff is responsible for leading, training, hiring, and developing our Sales Team at NewGround. His role involves strategizing opportunities, managing territories, and anything that helps support our Sales Team in their efforts. He is passionate about helping our Sales Team develop, and his favorite part of his role is seeing them succeed. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys playing guitar, golf, boxing, cooking, and spending time with his family. Jeff is the proud husband of Allison and father to Roman.

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Bill Bily, SVP, Design

With over 20 years of design experience, Bill’s role allows him to expertly lead the Architecture Team and make informed and experienced decisions. His unique design creations have captured the attention of consumers throughout his career, and he continues to assist in designing innovative spaces that shape new market trends. Bill has worked on design projects for top retailers like Nike, Disney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Discover Mills, Lotte Department Stores, and Marriott’s Residence Inns. He has worked and collaborated in retail, entertainment, financial, and hospitality industries. Bill holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the American Institution of Architects and is AIA certified.

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Randy Choplin, SVP, Hospitality

Randy is a seasoned veteran of the hospitality industry, with over 30 years of experience and deep history in technology infrastructure and hotel design and construction. He is tasked with driving NewGround’s hospitality and retail services division’s strategic vision and growth. Randy has a proven track record for building teams and programs across multiple facets of the hospitality industry, with a successful record for growth and acquisition leadership. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, three daughters, and grand-puppy in nature on the trail and in the water of the North Carolina coast.

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