SSOE Group CEO and leadership

DiPofi joined SSOE in 2000 and has more than 40 years of professional experience. He has risen through the ranks at the firm as a Business Leader, Corporate Director of Business Development, and Chief Strategy Officer, prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer. Throughout the years, he has been instrumental in developing numerous new accounts for SSOE and starting up the company’s operations in Mexico. Today, he has the company focused on a technology-driven strategic plan that is positioning SSOE as one of the fastest-growing firms in the country and a leading edge thought leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and design automation.

DiPofi holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo and is a licensed Professional Engineer in both Ohio and Michigan.

Catherine joined SSOE in July 2017 as the SBU Manager for Advanced Technology. She was the first woman to be elected Chair of the Board at SSOE in December 2020. Today, Catherine is President of the firm’s global engineering operations. Prior to joining SSOE, she held the position of Senior Vice President for CH2M’s Industrial and Advanced Technology Business Group with responsibility for the semiconductor market—overseeing $200 million in annual revenue. More recently, Catherine served as the Director of Industry and Community Partnerships within the Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering at the University of Portland.

Catherine is a graduate of the University of Portland and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering; she is also a licensed Professional Engineer. In addition to serving on SSOE’s Board of Directors, Catherine serves on the De La Salle North Catholic High School Advisory Board in Portland, Oregon, where she resides and works.

Mike joined SSOE as an entry-level controls engineer in 1987 and now serves as Executive Vice President for Strategic Plan Integration. Forged from his long tenure, Mike has a deep knowledge of SSOE’s operations that accelerates the firm’s ability to successfully implement its strategic plan and advance key initiatives. Prior to his current role, Mike served as Chief Operating Officer, and before that, as the SBU Manager for Food and Consumer Products. During his career at SSOE he has served in a number of roles including Project Manager, Business Leader, and Account Executive for the cereal market sector—working with companies such as General Mills, Kellogg’s, and Quaker. He has also previously served as Chair of SSOE’s Board of Directors. Mike was named an Associate in 2001, a Senior Associate in 2005, and became a Principal in 2010.

Mike earned a Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Toledo and is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery.

Jim joined SSOE in 2001 as the Chief Financial / Legal Officer and provides the firm’s leadership with both domestic and international transactional business experience. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and attorney licensed in Ohio and Michigan, Jim has functioned in multifaceted roles as both a financial officer and legal counsel.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Bowling Green State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. He is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs as well as the American, Michigan, Ohio, and Toledo Bar Associations. Jim serves on various charitable boards, including the University of Toledo Foundation Board, Toledo Legacy Foundation, and All-Saints Catholic Church in Rossford, Ohio.

Robin joined SSOE in 2024 and serves as the firm’s Chief Administrative Officer. Located in SSOE’s headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, Robin provides oversight for the firm’s Human Resources, Technology, Corporate Development, and Procurement teams and plays a pivotal role in its continued growth and strategic plan.

Robin brings over 25 years of experience to SSOE. She is a proven corporate and community leader with a track record of delivering complex and transformative projects. Robin has extensive engineering and construction experience, as well as knowledge of managing corporate functions, having previously worked at ProMedica Health System and the city of Toledo.

Robin holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toledo and a Master of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University.

Matt currently serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at SSOE, overseeing the firm’s Facilities and Building Design Group Operations. He also serves as Chair of the firm’s Board of Directors. Matt started his career at SSOE in 2007 as the Mechanical Engineering Department Manager in the firm’s Facilities SBU. In 2009, Matt obtained both his Professional Engineer license and his LEED® for New Construction accreditation. He was promoted to Technical Division Manager in 2010, named a Principal in 2015, and appointed SBU Manager of Facilities in 2018.

Under Matt’s direction, SSOE has been consistently ranked in the Top 5 Automotive Design Firms by ENR Magazine and was ranked #2 among Manufacturing Design Firms in 2024.

Matt is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. In addition, he earned a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Davenport University.

Jeremy Woodgate serves as COO at SSOE, overseeing the firm’s Advanced Technology and Process Engineering Operations. He oversees incredibly high-performing teams to deliver exceptional results in some of the most technically complex markets. Applying his more than 25 years of experience, Jeremy is responsible for portfolio management of clients and projects within his operations as well as a focus on future leader development and succession planning. Under Jeremy’s direction, SSOE has been consistently ranked as the #2 provider of design services to the semiconductor industry by ENR magazine. His leadership has led to participation on Autodesk’s North America Engineering Executive Council where he co-authored a whitepaper “Passing the Baton” to discuss advancements in the hand-off from design to fabrication.

Jeremy earned his Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Larry is a founder, investor, and advisor / partner in various real estate and technology companies. Over his career, Larry has held many positions, including his current role with Gigafund, a venture capital firm backing the world’s most ambitious and transformative entrepreneurs. The firm makes long-term concentrated investments in founders who are capable of growing with their companies and maximizing impact over a period of decades. Larry is based in Austin, Texas and will serve a three-year term as part of SSOE’s Board of Directors.

Jeanne retired in December 2021 from a 34-year career with 600-person H.W. Lochner, Inc. (Lochner), where she rose to the role of CEO / President, a title that she held since 2017. As CEO, she spearheaded numerous efforts to improve the operational health of the organization with results that tripled net earnings from $3.4 million in 2017 to $10.7 million in 2021, nearly tripled operating income from $7.7 million in 2017 to $20.0 million in 2021 and increased gross revenue 35% from $112.7 million in 2017 to $151.6 million in 2021. Additionally, while in the role of CEO / President, Jeanne implemented a Train to Work program. This program provides opportunities for inner-city, non-college-bound high school seniors to enter the transportation industry upon graduation. She also launched the firm’s Emerging Leadership Program to strengthen succession planning. Jeanne is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University.

Since 2015, Doug has been President of McDonald’s International Lead Markets segment, which includes Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The International Lead Markets segment encompasses over 6,000 restaurants and accounts for about 40% of McDonald’s global operating income. In October 2016, he took on additional responsibility as Chief Restaurant Officer and oversees the functions most directly supporting restaurant execution: supply chain, IT, operations, development, and digital.

Prior to his current role, he was President of McDonald’s Europe, responsible for nearly 8,000 restaurants in 39 countries. He previously served as Corporate Executive Vice President of Worldwide Supply Chain and Development for McDonald’s Corporation, where he had responsibility over the $23 billion procurement of food, packaging and premiums, worldwide purchasing, supplier relationship strategies, food safety, quality systems strategy, and global restaurant development strategy.

DiPofi joined SSOE in 2000 and has more than 40 years of professional experience. He has risen through the ranks at the firm as a Business Leader, Corporate Director of Business Development, and Chief Strategy Officer, prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer. Throughout the years, he has been instrumental in developing numerous new accounts for SSOE and starting up the company’s operations in Mexico. Today, he has the company focused on a technology-driven strategic plan that is positioning SSOE as one of the fastest-growing firms in the country and a leading edge thought leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and design automation.

DiPofi holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo and is a licensed Professional Engineer in both Ohio and Michigan.

Catherine joined SSOE in July 2017 as the SBU Manager for Advanced Technology. She was the first woman to be elected Chair of the Board at SSOE in December 2020. Today, Catherine is President of the firm’s global engineering operations. Prior to joining SSOE, she held the position of Senior Vice President for CH2M’s Industrial and Advanced Technology Business Group with responsibility for the semiconductor market—overseeing $200 million in annual revenue. More recently, Catherine served as the Director of Industry and Community Partnerships within the Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering at the University of Portland.

Catherine is a graduate of the University of Portland and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering; she is also a licensed Professional Engineer. In addition to serving on SSOE’s Board of Directors, Catherine serves on the De La Salle North Catholic High School Advisory Board in Portland, Oregon, where she resides and works.

Mike joined SSOE as an entry-level controls engineer in 1987 and now serves as Executive Vice President for Strategic Plan Integration. Forged from his long tenure, Mike has a deep knowledge of SSOE’s operations that accelerates the firm’s ability to successfully implement its strategic plan and advance key initiatives. Prior to his current role, Mike served as Chief Operating Officer, and before that, as the SBU Manager for Food and Consumer Products. During his career at SSOE he has served in a number of roles including Project Manager, Business Leader, and Account Executive for the cereal market sector—working with companies such as General Mills, Kellogg’s, and Quaker. He has also previously served as Chair of SSOE’s Board of Directors. Mike was named an Associate in 2001, a Senior Associate in 2005, and became a Principal in 2010.

Mike earned a Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Toledo and is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery.

Matt currently serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at SSOE, overseeing the firm’s Facilities and Building Design Group Operations. He also serves as Chair of the firm’s Board of Directors. Matt started his career at SSOE in 2007 as the Mechanical Engineering Department Manager in the firm’s Facilities SBU. In 2009, Matt obtained both his Professional Engineer license and his LEED® for New Construction accreditation. He was promoted to Technical Division Manager in 2010, named a Principal in 2015, and appointed SBU Manager of Facilities in 2018.

Under Matt’s direction, SSOE has been consistently ranked in the Top 5 Automotive Design Firms by ENR Magazine and was ranked #2 among Manufacturing Design Firms in 2024.

Matt is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. In addition, he earned a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Davenport University.

Jeremy Woodgate serves as COO at SSOE, overseeing the firm’s Advanced Technology and Process Engineering Operations. He oversees incredibly high-performing teams to deliver exceptional results in some of the most technically complex markets. Applying his more than 25 years of experience, Jeremy is responsible for portfolio management of clients and projects within his operations as well as a focus on future leader development and succession planning. Under Jeremy’s direction, SSOE has been consistently ranked as the #2 provider of design services to the semiconductor industry by ENR magazine. His leadership has led to participation on Autodesk’s North America Engineering Executive Council where he co-authored a whitepaper “Passing the Baton” to discuss advancements in the hand-off from design to fabrication.

Jeremy earned his Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Larry is a founder, investor, and advisor / partner in various real estate and technology companies. Over his career, Larry has held many positions, including his current role with Gigafund, a venture capital firm backing the world’s most ambitious and transformative entrepreneurs. The firm makes long-term concentrated investments in founders who are capable of growing with their companies and maximizing impact over a period of decades. Larry is based in Austin, Texas and will serve a three-year term as part of SSOE’s Board of Directors.

Jeanne retired in December 2021 from a 34-year career with 600-person H.W. Lochner, Inc. (Lochner), where she rose to the role of CEO / President, a title that she held since 2017. As CEO, she spearheaded numerous efforts to improve the operational health of the organization with results that tripled net earnings from $3.4 million in 2017 to $10.7 million in 2021, nearly tripled operating income from $7.7 million in 2017 to $20.0 million in 2021 and increased gross revenue 35% from $112.7 million in 2017 to $151.6 million in 2021. Additionally, while in the role of CEO / President, Jeanne implemented a Train to Work program. This program provides opportunities for inner-city, non-college-bound high school seniors to enter the transportation industry upon graduation. She also launched the firm’s Emerging Leadership Program to strengthen succession planning. Jeanne is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University.

Since 2015, Doug has been President of McDonald’s International Lead Markets segment, which includes Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The International Lead Markets segment encompasses over 6,000 restaurants and accounts for about 40% of McDonald’s global operating income. In October 2016, he took on additional responsibility as Chief Restaurant Officer and oversees the functions most directly supporting restaurant execution: supply chain, IT, operations, development, and digital.

Prior to his current role, he was President of McDonald’s Europe, responsible for nearly 8,000 restaurants in 39 countries. He previously served as Corporate Executive Vice President of Worldwide Supply Chain and Development for McDonald’s Corporation, where he had responsibility over the $23 billion procurement of food, packaging and premiums, worldwide purchasing, supplier relationship strategies, food safety, quality systems strategy, and global restaurant development strategy.

Former Vice President of Technology and Manufacturing at Intel Corporation, John most recently served as General Manager of Intel’s Global Construction Group overseeing all domestic and international projects. He was a factory and plant manager for many years, where he was responsible for the technology transfer and ramp-up of all of Intel’s new products. During his last three years with the semiconductor manufacturing company, John served as a national board member for the Lean Construction Institute (LCI). Since his recent retirement after a total of 34 years with Intel, he is now a sought-out champion and mentor for Lean and collaborative delivery approaches. John remains active in the LCI community and routinely speaks and helps projects across the country.