Partners

Todd E. Gates - Chairman
A native of Virginia, Todd Gates had been coming to Southwest Florida since 1969 and moved permanently to the area in 1984.  As a Southwest Florida resident, he has been involved in the project management of such projects as The Ritz Carlton Hotel, The Registry Resort and The Philharmonic Center of the Arts.  Since 1993, Mr. Gates has been a principal of GATES.  Today, the firm is Florida’s premier fully integrated construction, development and real estate company.  This unique approach was recognized when the firm was awarded the Excellence in Industry Award for Innovative Achievement by the Economic Development Council of Collier County. 
 
Mr. Gates is a Past Chairman of the Economic Development Council of Collier County (EDC).  Additionally, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the President’s Forum.  He was recently nominated and is currently serving on the Board of Trustees for the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation and is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors.  He serves on the board of directors for The Children’s Hospital of SW Florida, Junior Achievement, and the CEO Cultural Advisory Board for the United Arts Council.  He is a current board member for the Chamber of Southwest Florida and a current board member for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Mr. Gates also serves as a Trustee for the YMCA and as a Trustee for Hodges University.  He serves as an Elder for the Moorings Presbyterian Church. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Greater Naples Area Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in starting the “Soaring with Eagles Program” aimed at the area’s numerous retired CEO’s and military leaders.  He was also recently appointed as a member of Lee County Economic Development Office Horizon Council.
 
He is a past Chairman of the Christian Chamber of Southwest Florida.  He is a past president of the Collier Building Industry Association, the largest builder and development association in the state of Florida, and was also named Builder of the Year in 2003.  Recently, Mr. Gates was recognized as one of Gulfshore Life magazine's Men of The Year.  In recognition of his commitment and dedication to the community, he was honored by the Education Foundation of Collier County as a 2007 Man of Distinction.  Also in 2007, Mr. Gates was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Gulf Coast Business Review.
 
Mr. Gates is a graduate of and highly active alumni member of Leadership Florida.  The members of Leadership Florida are dedicated not only to their local communities, but to their statewide community. From its active regional alumni groups, to its broad committee structure that encourages long-term involvement by all of its members, Leadership Florida is a unique and dynamic program designed to promote statewide leadership. 
 
Also in 2008, he has been named as a finalist by Ernst & Young in their 2008 “Entrepreneur of the Year” Awards.  Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida has named Mr. Gates as a 2008 Hall of Fame Laureate in recognition of his support and leadership as a role model for local area youth.  And finally, in 2008, Gulfshore Business Magazine recognized him as one of the Top 50 Power Players in Southwest Florida, ranking him number 10 on their list.
 

Greg L. Butz
CEO, GATES Butz Institutional Construction, LLC
President & CEO, Alvin H. Butz, Inc.
Greg currently oversees GATES Butz Institutional Construction as CEO and also serves as President & CEO of Alvin H. Butz. Inc. ( www.butz.com ). Founded in 1920, Alvin H. Butz, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest construction companies in Pennsylvania. With Greg at the helm, the Butz family still owns and operates the company, preserving the tradition and stellar reputation passed down through five generations.

Butz has been consistently ranked among the 100 largest construction managers in the country since 1981 and has also been named as one of the Top 50 Green Contractors in the country, according to ENR Magazine.

Over the years, Butz developed an expertise in the construction of institutional projects. That expertise led Butz to partner with GATES in 2005 to form GATES Butz Institutional Construction, LLC to offer unparalleled institutional specialization to clients throughout the State of Florida. GATES Butz Institutional Construction has established itself as a leader in the industry constructing numerous projects in Florida and developing a growing list of repeat clients.

John A. Hayes - President & CEO, GATES Builders, Inc. and President, GATES Butz Institutional Construction, LLC.
Mr. Hayes joined GATES with over 32 years of experience in the construction industry. As President and CEO of GATES Builders, Inc. and President of GATES Butz Institutional Construction, LLC, he oversees all construction operations for GATES projects throughout Florida. This amounts to over $225 million in gross revenue in 2007.  Mr. Hayes is a qualifier for both companies and has played a key role in contributing to and assisting in management of the company’s growth. 

Starting his construction career in his home state of Minnesota, Hayes graduated with highest honors from the Dunwoody Industrial College, School of Building Construction. His diverse range of projects through the years has included office buildings, government facilities, educational facilities, medical facilities, retail, commercial and luxury high-rise.   A state licensed general contractor, Hayes has been involved in the industry as both the builder and developer.

Extremely active in the Southwest Florida community, Mr. Hayes is past Chairman of the Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA).  He also served as past director of the CBIA and past director and treasurer of the Pelican Bay Rotary.  He is a former board member for the Lee County Building Industry Association (BIA).  Most recently Mr. Hayes was appointed as a Member of The City of Fort Myers Building & Zoning Oversight Committee.  He also serves as a board member for The Education Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. An avid sports fan, he has coached Jr. Everblades Travel hockey for the past twelve years. 

Don Gunther – Board Member
Former Vice Chairman of Bechtel Group, Inc., retired in 1998.  He was a driving force behind Bechtel's work processes, marketing strategies, organizational structure, and leadership development efforts. "Don's achievements over his extraordinary career will serve Bechtel well into our second century," said Riley Bechtel. "He personally helped build many of our biggest signature projects, the core of our functional construction strength, some of our most important relationships, a leading petroleum and chemical industry group, and the No. 1 E&C contractor serving the U.S. and subsidiary governments, as well as energized regional organizations in two hemispheres.“

Executives