Legat Architects, with a location in downtown Moline, recently announced a new leadership team.
Among the new leaders is Jeff Sandberg, who was named the company’s president and chief executive officer. He succeeds Berry DeSimone, who served as president and CEO from 2021 to 2024.
The six team members, the company said in a news release, were selected for their diverse backgrounds and complementary skills. Some have been with the firm for decades; others were brought on more recently for their talents and ability to advance the firm.
The leadership team is made up of:
- Jeff Sandberg: As president and CEO, Mr. Sandberg will drive the vision and strategy for the firm’s next chapter. He holds master’s degrees in architecture and civil engineering with a construction management focus from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He joined Legat in 2000 and quickly became a trusted advisor to clients. In 2011, he established Legat’s Quad Cities studio, which has since expanded from one employee with one client to a team of talented individuals that has served more than 40 regional clients.
- Zach Wiese: He assumes Mr. Sandberg’s former position of chief operating officer. His focus will be on increasing efficiencies and ensuring projects respect clients’ budgets and schedules. He kicked off his Legat career in 2000 after graduating from the University of Michigan. Mr. Wiese quickly established a reputation as the firm’s go-to resource for technical challenges with code compliance issues and building enclosure details. He advanced to director of Legat’s Oak Brook, Illinois, studio in 2018 and the firmwide director of operations in 2020. During his tenure, Mr. Wiese has streamlined processes, standardized documentation, and increased communication between the firm’s six studios.
- Kathleen Conneely: She is an alumna of Northwestern University’s prestigious Kellogg School of Management MBA program and has assumed the role of chief financial officer. Her responsibilities include leveraging technology to enhance workflow and optimize profitability. With more than 20 years of experience in finance at multinational companies including a role as Midwest regional controller at the world’s largest food service company, Ms. Conneely joined Legat in 2023. She has revamped and streamlined the firm’s financial operations, introduced AI and machine learning tools to improve processing times, and transitioned to electronic and cloud platforms.
- Adam Quigley: As corporate secretary, Mr. Quigley will serve as primary administrator for agreements, contracts, licensure, and shareholder-related matters. Before landing at Legat in 2019, the University of Michigan graduate spent 18 years rising through the ranks at a Chicago-based architecture firm. Legat appointed Mr. Quigley director of its Chicago studio in 2022. In just five years, he has raised the firm’s design production and strengthened camaraderie among his co-workers.
- Evan Menk: The new chief design director will focus on mentoring project teams and elevating Legat’s design impact, sustainability initiatives, and industry visibility. A graduate of Ball State University, Mr. Menk built his portfolio of award-winning projects while working at prominent Chicago design firms. He joined Legat as technical director in 2015 and advanced to director of design in 2022. During his tenure, he has not only strengthened the firm’s quality assurance program and enhanced its design reputation but also helped position Legat as a premier workplace.
- Jody Boyce: As chief marketing director, she leads Legat’s marketing strategy and brand development. After graduating from Boston University with a degree in communications and graphic design, she launched her career as a graphic designer at an international advertising agency. She then transitioned to the design/construction industry as an art director and marketing manager at firms on both coasts. Legat welcomed Ms. Boyce in 2019, and she played a major role in meeting the firm’s revenue goals and enhancing its marketing strategies. Key initiatives resulting from Ms. Boyce’s efforts range from brand standards, onboarding materials, and promotional videos to revived proposals and an award-winning website led in collaboration with Mr. Menk.
Legat Architects was founded in 1964 in a Waukegan, Illinois, home and then moved into a renovated church in the same city. In addition to the Moline location at 1515 5th Ave., Suite 108, in Heritage Place, Legat has offices in Iowa City; Columbus, Ohio; and Illinois offices in Oak Brook, Gurnee and Chicago. The company has about 85 employees across the six offices. The Quad Cities office celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022.
