Meet Corey

Corey has always been interested in the details of how work is accomplished. It's this interest, along with his desire to make our entire industry better, that led him from architecture to a career at Pepper - where he helps both architects and contractors understand the science of construction. His goal is to facilitate behavioral changes. So as he helps teams plan how the work is done, he takes time to explain why, with the hope that they will learn and help each other.

Why is Corey's perspective important? It’s not just about ensuring the work is installed correctly. As director of quality management, Corey works on more than 70 buildings over the course of a year, which exposes him to more construction techniques and products, from air barriers to windows to screws. While architects tend to gravitate toward what they know and what works, Corey also sees what doesn’t work. He speaks with different manufacturers and acts as a resource to them, offering them feedback based on our experience.

To keep quality top of mind on our jobsites, Corey developed the Quality App. The app shares Quality Bulletins, which he authors, along with information about his AIA Presentations, an event calendar and more.

Jobsite-Quality-Audit

Thought Leadership

Corey's is a contributor to Pepper's blog - as an author and an adviser to other authors.

What the appearance of your jobsite says about your project

Preventing moisture issues in your building

Sunset-Ridge-facade

The science of building codes and climate zones

Raising the level of quality through education

Construction workers

A call to action for construction

With a focus on education, Corey developed a training series for AIA:

Session 01: Constructability and Critical Transitions of Air Vapor Moisture Barriers - 2.0 hours
Session 02: Understanding Fire-Stop Joints - Head of Wall - 1.0 hour
Session 03: Understanding Critical Transitions of Air Vapor Moisture Barriers - 1.0 hour
Session 04: Proper Installation of Sealant in a Movement Joint - 1.5 hours
Session 05: Interior Exterior Metal Framing - Sheating Boot Camp - 2.0 hours
Session 06: Building Skin Constructability Coordination and Verifications - 4 hours
Session 07: Air Barrier Preparation, Installation and Review - 1.5 hours
Session 08: Air Barrier Boot Camp - 3.0 hours
Session 09: Plumbing Quality Boot Camp - 1.0 hour
Session 10: HVAC Quality Boot Camp - 1.0 hour

Session 11: Sprinkler Quality Boot Camp - 1.0 hour
Session 12: Electrical Quality Boot Camp - 1.0 hour
Session 13: Avoid Catastrophic Estimating Errors Through a Proactive Construction Quality Program-ASPE - 1.0 hour
Session 14: The Air Barrier Preinstallation Meeting - 1.5 hours
Session 15: The Air Barrier and Shelf Angle Design, Detailing and Lessons Learned - 1.5 hours
Session 16: The Subcontractor Quality Plan - A Design and Roadmap - 1.0 hour
Session 17: Understanding Difficult Critical Transitions of Air, Vapor and Moisture Barriers - 1.5 hours
Session 18: Lessons Learned-Building Envelope Construction Observation - 1.0 hour
Session 19: Quality MEP-FP Constructability Concerns - 1.0 hour
Session 20: Job Site Construction Observation - 2.0 hours
Session 21: How to Improve Your Drawings to Have Better Construction Detailing - 1.0 hour

Session 22: The Pre-Installation Meeting - 2.0 hours
Session 23: AVB Considerations in Prefab Construction - 1.5 hours
Session 24: Mind the Gap - 1.0 hour
Session 25: The Firestopping Installation, Inspection, & Maintenance Process - 1.25 hours
Session 26: Waterproofing Preconstruction through Construction Observation - 1.0 hour
Session 27: Cold-Formed Metal Framing-Lessons Learned from a General Contractor - 1.0 hour
Session 28: Contractor Confessions to Help Improve Specifications and Drawings - 1.0 hour
Session 29: Spec and Drawing Tips for Better Buildings - 1.0 hour
Session 30: Difficult Detailing and Specification Gaps - 1.0 hour
Session 31: Firestopping Considerations for Masonry Walls - 1.0 hour
Session 32: Building Envelope Tolerance - 1.0 hour

Corey specializes in building envelope, forensic building review, plazas, restoration, preservation, life safety, waterproofing, roofing & interior finishes. He is one of only 51 in the country (3 in Illinois) to hold a Registered Building Envelope Consultant certification from IIBEC. Areas of practice include:

  • Building Envelope Review / Assessment
  • Construction Observation and Assessment
  • Forensic Building Review / Assessment
  • Life Safety / Fire Safety Review / Assessment
  • Interior Finish Review / Assessment
  • Waterproofing, AVB and Roofing Review / Assessment
  • Plazas and Parking Decks
  • Curtainwall Review / Assessment
  • Restoration and Preservation Review / Assessment
  • Level 1 Thermographer

Speaking Engagements

In addition to regular Architectural office lunch and learns, Corey is a frequent presenter and educator at industry events across the country: 

  • ABAA - National Conventions [2015-2019] - regular presenter throughout the country
  • ABAA – Reston [2017], The Air Barrier Pre-Installation Meeting; Air Barrier and Shelf Angle Design, Detailing and Lessons Leader
  • ABAA - Baltimore [2016], The Air Barrier Pre-Installation Meeting
  • ABAA – Dallas Convention [2015], Air Barrier Preparation, Installation and Review
  • American Contractors Insurance Group (ACIG) [2012-2019] - Member
  • ACIG - Peer Groups
  • ACIG - Subcontractor Quality Management & Construction Quality Metrics
  • ACIG - Air Barrier Preparation, Installation and Review
  • Advancing Construction Quality Conference [2019]
  • AIA - Educational series
  • AIA - Chicago [2015], Head of Wall Fire Joint
  • AIC - [2019], The use of Drones for Project Inspections; Firestopping Installation, Inspection & Maintenance Process; AVB Considerations with Prefab Construction, Spec & Drawing Tips for Better Buildings
  • AIC - [2017 & 2018], The Subcontractor Quality Plan – A Design and Road Map
  • ALA - National Conventions [2015, 2017, 2018]
  • ALA - Webinar [2019]
  • ALA - Illinois Panel Speaker [2018]
  • ALA - Illinois Design Competition Judge [2017]
  • ALA - Chicago [2015], Understanding Critical Transitions of Air, Vapor and Moisture Barriers
  • American Society of Professional Estimators [2016], Avoid Catastophic Estimating Errors Through a Proactive Quality Program
  • Architects and General Contractors (Nationwide) [2015, 2016, 2017], Air Barrier Boot Camp, MEP & FP Boot Camps,Fire Protection Boot Camps
  • BEC - Chicago [2014, 2016, 2018, 2019]
  • BEC - Indianapolis [2019]
  • BEC - Cleveland [2017]
  • Chicago-Builds [2019]
  • CSI Construct - National Conventions [2016-2019]
  • CSI Construct - Educational Committee [2017-2020]
  • CSI Construct - Chicago [2015-2019]
  • CSI Construct - Northern Illinois [2019]
  • CSI Construct – National Harbor [2019], Contractor’s Perspective on Specifications
  • CSI Construct – Long Beach [2018], Quality MEP/FP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection) Constructability Concerns: A Guideline for BIM & The Building Envelope; Lessons Learned - Building Envelope; Construction Observation
  • CSI Construct – Providence [2017], Constructability and Critical Transitions of Air, Vapor, and Moisture Barriers
  • CSI Construct– Austin [2016], Head of Wall Fire Joint
  • COAA - Chicago [2019]
  • Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute - National Convention [2019]
  • CRCA - Trade Show Panel [2020]
  • FCIA - National Conventions [2017-2019]
  • FCIA - St. Louis [2017], The Value of the Specialized Firestop Contractor – Panel Member
  • ICRI - National Convention [2019]
  • IMI – Chicago [2019-2020]
  • IMI - Pittsburg [2019]
  • RCI – CAC [2014, 2019]

Published Articles

  • Construction Tech Review: Impact of Newer Technologies on Construction Projects, page 1 [February 2020]
  • Life Safety Digest: Proper MEP-FP Coordination with Non-Bearing Fire-Rated Walls, page 6 [Fall 2019]
  • CoatingsPro: Having an Effective Coating Preinstall Meeting, page 24 [March 2019]
  • SMART | Dynamics of Masonry: Constructability Mock-Up, page 50 [April 2019]
  • D+D Magazine: Facade Maintenance Industry Roundtable [2018]
  • Pepper blog: The Science of Building Codes and Climate Zones 
  • Pepper blog: Preventing Moisture Issues in Your Building

Credentials

Education

  • Masters in Business Administration, specialization in Quality Management; Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
  • Bachelor of Architecture, Minor in Construction Management and Business Management; Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL

Architectural Registrations:

  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Wisconsin

Professional Associations

  • Accredited Commissioning Authority + Building Enclosure (CxA+BE)
  • American Institute of Architects (AIA)
  • American Licensed Architects (ALA)
  • ASQ Member
  • Building Enclosure Commissioning Process Provider (BECxP)
  • Certified Documentation Technician (CDT)
  • Chicago BEC Member
  • City of Chicago Registered Energy Professional
  • Corp of Engineers Construction Quality Management Training (CQM)
  • Construction Specifier Institute (CSI) Member
  • ICRI Member
  • IIBEC Member
  • LEED AP BD+C
  • Level 1 Thermographer
  • NCARB Certification
  • NRCA Member
  • Registered Build Envelope Consultant (RBEC)
  • Registered Exteriors Wall Consultant (REWC)
  • Registered Roof Consultant (RRC)
  • Registered Roof Observer (RRO)
  • Registered Waterproofing Consultant (RWC)