
Board of Directors
and Leadership Team
Board of Directors

Jeff Biskup
Co-Founder and Executive Chair
Jeff co-founded CRB in 1984 and currently serves as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors. He has played an instrumental role in building CRB into a respected provider of consulting, design, and construction-related services for pharmaceutical and biotech industries, manufacturing, and research facilities and processes. A licensed Professional Engineer in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, he oversees CRB’s international growth and leadership development.

Vahid Ownjazayeri
President and Chief Executive Officer
Vahid Ownjazayeri leads the company’s global strategy, operations, and client delivery. With more than 40 years of industry experience, he is responsible for driving growth, advancing technical excellence and strengthening CRB’s collaborative culture. A licensed Professional Engineer, Vahid oversees CRB’s commitment to helping clients navigate disruption, scale innovation, and achieve transformational outcomes through its integrated engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting services.

Daniel Backman
Senior Vice President
Daniel leads the operation of the company’s Central region. With nearly three decades of experience at CRB, and a focus on life sciences industries, he is responsible for driving his team’s performance through effective project execution, client collaboration, and leadership development. Daniel joined CRB after earning his mechanical engineering degree from Washington University, spending the first eight years of his career in St. Louis before relocating to Michigan to support the establishment of CRB’s Kalamazoo office. A licensed professional engineer, Daniel serves on both CRB’s Board of Directors and executive leadership team.

Shannah Falcone
Chief Client Officer
Shannah Falcone oversees Business Development, Account Management, Vertical Markets and Marketing and Communications. With over 20 years of industry experience, Shannah brings a client-centric philosophy to ensure CRB is positioned as a forward-thinking industry leader, premier technical expert, and genuine partner to our clients. Shannah is currently serving her second term on CRB’s Board of Directors.

Eric Unrau
Chief Strategy Officer
As Chief Strategy Officer, Eric shapes CRB’s long-term roadmap – expanding key partnerships, exploring new markets, optimizing our commercial strategies, and driving international growth, particularly in Europe, where oversees international operations. He has nearly 30 years of experience within the industrial sector including specialty chemicals and life sciences industries, with experience that includes consulting, capital projects, business management and strategic business planning. He also serves on the company’s Board of Directors.

Tim Hannan
External Board of Directors Member
Tim is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for News-Press & Gazette Company, and has long-term success in driving business and financial results through strategy, people, and processes. He is also Chief Financial Officer for the BERKS Group, a business investment firm, and has deep experience in public accounting.

Sandy Price
External Board of Directors Member
Sandy serves on the boards of Evergy and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and is a 2021 National Association of Corporate Directors Directorship 100 Honoree, recognizing the most influential directors and governance professionals. She is a former Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Sprint Corp. with deep expertise in mergers and acquisitions, business transformation, and executive development. A deeply experienced educator and active civic leader, she’s passionate about mentoring and advancing organizational growth.

Bob Uhler
External Board of Directors Member
Bob provides strategy to senior executives, boards, and private equity firms to build value for their companies. He currently sits on several engineering and construction corporate boards, including TRC, Inc. and Stanley Consultants, and he previously served as Chairman of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. Uhler also has been named as a National Association of Corporate Directors Leadership Fellow.

Dirk Schafer
Board of Directors Advisory Member
With nearly 40 years in construction leadership, Dirk served in numerous roles at JE Dunn Construction before ultimately becoming its COO and Midwest Region President. His focus on strategy and mentorship have earned him widespread respect throughout the industry, and his alignment with CRB’s values of technical excellence, collaboration and entrepreneurship make Schafer an invaluable addition to the Board.
Leadership

Vahid Ownjazayeri
President and Chief Executive Officer
Vahid Ownjazayeri leads the company’s global strategy, operations, and client delivery. With more than 40 years of industry experience, he is responsible for driving growth, advancing technical excellence and strengthening CRB’s collaborative culture. A licensed Professional Engineer, Vahid oversees CRB’s commitment to helping clients navigate disruption, scale innovation, and achieve transformational outcomes through its integrated engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting services.

Ken Olson
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, Ken oversees the company’s financial strategy, planning, and analysis, as well as accounting, risk management, and treasury operations. A Certified Treasury Professional with more than 30 years of financial leadership, Ken holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and a BA from the University of Washington.

Sam Kitchell
Chief Operating Officer
Sam oversees all CRB Operations, responsible for successful project delivery and business outcomes across CRB’s international footprint. Before becoming COO, he led CRB’s Emerging Business Operations group, responsible for bringing new initiatives to the marketplace. With more than 25 years of industry experience, he has held high-level operations leadership roles at multiple biopharma companies before joining CRB in 2021.

Danielle David
Chief People Officer
With more than 25 years of experience helping businesses succeed by investing in their people, Danielle is a trusted leader in talent management, total rewards, and organizational effectiveness at large, high-performing companies. As Chief People Officer at CRB, she and her team work closely with leaders across the organization to shape culture, lead change, and build strong, effective teams. They’re known for their focus on strategic HR planning, leadership development, and executive succession in complex, fast-moving environments.

Christopher Walker
Chief Legal Officer
Christopher brings deep legal experience that is instrumental as CRB pursues growth while managing risk. He lead our legal strategy with a focus on contracting, establishing and maintaining risk management practices, and positioning the company for growth.

Eric Unrau
Chief Strategy Officer
As Chief Strategy Officer, Eric shapes CRB’s long-term roadmap – expanding key partnerships, exploring new markets, optimizing our commercial strategies, and driving international growth, particularly in Europe, where oversees international operations. He has nearly 30 years of experience within the industrial sector including specialty chemicals and life sciences industries, with experience that includes consulting, capital projects, business management and strategic business planning. He also serves on the company’s Board of Directors.

Shannah Falcone
Chief Client Officer
Shannah Falcone oversees Business Development, Account Management, Vertical Markets and Marketing and Communications. With over 20 years of industry experience, Shannah brings a client-centric philosophy to ensure CRB is positioned as a forward-thinking industry leader, premier technical expert, and genuine partner to our clients. Shannah is currently serving her second term on CRB’s Board of Directors.

Lee Emel
Chief Innovation Officer
Lee has over 30 years of experience in delivering capital programs for life sciences and other advanced technology companies, having overseen the execution of over $2B of projects in the U.S. and abroad. Lee is a seasoned member of CRB’s executive leadership team, previous Board Director, and strategic leader of key company initiatives. As Chief Innovation Officer, Lee drives global growth and innovation for CRB – expanding our capabilities as a trusted business partner to our clients.

Daniel Backman
Senior Vice President
Daniel leads the operation of the company’s Central region. With nearly three decades of experience at CRB, and a focus on life sciences industries, he is responsible for driving his team’s performance through effective project execution, client collaboration, and leadership development. Daniel joined CRB after earning his mechanical engineering degree from Washington University, spending the first eight years of his career in St. Louis before relocating to Michigan to support the establishment of CRB’s Kalamazoo office. A licensed professional engineer, Daniel serves on both CRB’s Board of Directors and executive leadership team.