Leading the way in top-tier EPC.

Jeff Sipes is the CEO of S&B, an industry-leading engineering and construction firm that serves the refining, chemical, midstream and industrial sectors. S&B employs more than 4,500 people across multiple locations in the U.S. and abroad.

After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University, Jeff started his career as a field engineer and surveyor. Today, Jeff has more than 30 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry as a project manager, business unit leader, strategist and executive. In 2010, Jeff was elected to the Texas Tech Civil Engineering Academy.

Valerie Carlson is responsible for optimizing S&B’s financial performance and oversees the company’s accounting and finance functions.

Valerie joined S&B from Members Choice Credit Union, where she served as Chief Financial Officer. She has more than 20 years of experience in oil and gas, construction, and financial services. Valerie earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Houston – Victoria and her master’s degree in accounting from the University of St. Thomas. She is a licensed CPA.

Wendy Coker is the Senior Vice President of People and Talent at S&B, where she leads the company's strategic Human Resources and Talent Development initiatives to support its mission and long-term growth. In this position, Wendy oversees several key functional areas, such as HR operations, recruitment, total rewards and employee relations, and talent development, to support S&B’s commitment to its people and drive a positive and impactful culture.

With more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas, construction, and human resources sectors, Wendy brings a strong track record of driving organization success through strategic talent management and employee engagement. Since joining S&B in 2019, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening the business’ HR operations and fostering an environment that attracts and retains top talent.

Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and has earned the professional designation as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist.

Brett Searcy joined S&B in 2012 and oversees all legal, risk management and compliance activities for the company. With nearly two decades of legal experience, most within the engineering, procurement, and construction industry, he advises executive leadership and the Board of Directors on a broad range of legal, governance, and business matters.

Before joining the company, Brett spent several years in private practice and then in-house at a large publicly traded EPC firm, providing legal support for complex EPC subcontracts and strategic projects. Brett has broad experience in handling commercial contracts, corporate governance and transactions, compliance, litigation and risk management.

Brett earned his Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Rachel Heller is responsible for setting and executing the full strategic direction of S&B’s IT organization, with a focus on driving innovation and delivering scalable technology solutions.

With nearly 20 years of leadership experience, Rachel has a high-level understanding of the complexities across information systems, digital transformation and enterprise IT strategy. During her time with S&B, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's digital landscape, including the creation of the company’s analytics foundation, which is driving a data-driven culture across the organization.

She has also played a key role in modernizing S&B’s technology ecosystem—championing cloud-based solutions, streamlining IT operations, and leading initiatives that have transformed how the organization leverages technology to serve clients.

Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in Management of Information Systems from Texas A&M University.

John Parker leads S&B’s Power Business Unit, bringing more than three decades of experience in engineering, construction, and executive leadership to his role.

Since joining S&B in 1990, he has held a series of progressively senior roles across the company, including serving as President and Chief Operating Officer, before assuming his current position leading the Power organization.

John’s extensive experience guiding major capital projects—from concept through construction and startup—provides the technical foundation and operational perspective he relies on to drive customer success. Throughout his career, John has built strong capabilities in execution planning, estimating, scheduling, and construction management, and he applies this background to deliver safe, efficient, and successful projects.

John earned his bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Architecture from Texas Tech University. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.

Stephen Fyfe leads S&B’s Midstream business, overseeing projects from design through startup with a strong commitment to safety, quality and operational excellence.

With more than 25 years of hands-on experience in engineering and construction, he has managed complex EPC projects across oil and gas, power generation and logistics sectors—giving him a broad perspective of the challenges and opportunities in today’s energy sector.

Before assuming his current role, Stephen served as Project Director at S&B, where he delivered large-scale midstream facilities, including major NGL fractionation plants across the United States. His career also includes leadership roles in project management for global firms such as Sulzer and Wood Group.

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Honors from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Mike Janssen oversees all engineering operations and project management activities for S&B.

Mike has more than 20 years of industry experience and began his career at S&B in 2006. During his time at S&B, Mike has held several roles across the company including Project Engineer, Project Manager, Alliance Manager, Director of Projects and Alliances, Vice President of EPC and Project Management; and, most recently, Vice President, Oil, Gas & Chemicals.

Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from Rice University.

Vineet Majmudar is S&B’s Vice President of Engineering. In his role, he oversees the engineering organization, focusing on delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality solutions for clients.

With more than 30 years at S&B, Vineet has progressed through key leadership roles, most recently serving as Vice President of Major Projects. He began his career in process engineering, building a strong technical foundation that drives his approach to project execution and team leadership.

Vineet holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Business Administration from Rice University.

Kent Danforth oversees all functions of procurement, including purchasing, expediting, logistics, materials management and source inspection. Additional responsibilities include construction services, third-party rentals and facilities management for all S&B properties.

Kent began his career with the United States Army and then segued into shipbuilding as an apprentice fabricator and welder. Once he completed his apprenticeship academics Kent moved into procurement and supply chain management, which has lasted for 33 years with three separate companies.

Kent has international experience, specifically with a focus on the Middle East supply chain. For the last 11 years, Kent has held positions at S&B as a Subcontracts Manager, Procurement Manager, Director Procurement and VP Procurement before being elevated to his current role.

Scott Pope serves as S&B’s Vice President of Construction, where he is responsible for leading all aspects of construction operations and project execution. With 35 years of industry experience, Scott has played a critical role in the successful delivery of S&B’s most complex and challenging projects.

Since joining S&B in 2006, Scott has held several key leadership positions, including Director of Subcontracts, Area Operations Manager, and Vice President of Field Operations. Through these roles, he developed extensive hands-on expertise in field operations, contract management, project controls and risk mitigation—capabilities that continue to inform his approach to leading large-scale construction programs.

Scott is actively engaged in multiple industry organizations, including the Construction Industry Institute, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Industrial Craft Competition. His long-standing involvement reflects one of his core passions: advancing industrial craft development and continuous improvement across the construction industry.

Justin Borchardt serves as Senior Vice President, Cost and Control at S&B, where he oversees estimating, project cost, scheduling, information management and business management functions. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Justin drives strategic initiatives that enhance planning, execution and operational efficiency across the organization.

Since joining S&B in 2008, Justin has held several senior leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of Organizational Excellence, as well as leadership roles in business development and corporate strategy. He has worked extensively across the downstream, petrochemical, chemical, and midstream markets, leading teams to drive business performance and optimize project delivery. Under his leadership, S&B has advanced its continuous improvement initiatives, achieving higher quality standards and greater operational efficiency to support client success.

Justin is actively engaged in the engineering and construction industry and has contributed to the Engineering and Construction Contracting (ECC) Association since 2011, serving in leadership roles including Chair in 2019 and as a member of the Executive Advisory Board.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from The University of Texas in Austin, Texas.

John Bolt is the Senior Vice President of health, safety, and environmental (HSE) and security programs at S&B. He is responsible for driving a culture of safety and operational excellence across all S&B projects.

John brings more than 30 years of leadership experience to his role, including 26 years in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as an F/A-18 pilot and commanding officer. John joined the company in 2017, and during his tenure has been instrumental in leading S&B’s integration of Human Organization Performance into our safety program, which is focused on fostering more resilient and error tolerant systems and processes.

John earned a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree from the U.S. Naval War College, where he graduated with the highest distinction.