LEADERSHIP AT ICON WEST: A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Founders
Michael Halaoui is the Chairman and President of Icon West, Inc. He is responsible for the overall operations and direction of the company as well as its financial strength and oversight.
Michael has created a streamlined system of communication based on absolute transparency with all stakeholders—clients and team members alike. His decades of experience have taught him to be relentless in his personal dedication to each project. Michael’s goal is always the same: to exceed client expectations and deliver each project on time and on budget. This, along with Michael’s strategic vision and team building acumen, is key to Icon West’s success and exponential growth.
As CEO, Bernard has an overall responsibility for the administrative leadership and strategic planning of the organization and is responsible for all work procurement, contract administration, executive management and development of the company.
Giving back is an important aspect of Bernard’s life. He is actively involved in supporting local and regional organizations including the Boys and Girls Club foundation, local Children Museums and other charities.
Bernard is a member of American Society Of Civil Engineers and presently sits on the advisory board of ITT Technical school.
Leadership
Ed brings 40 years of industry experience, 30 of which are here in the Southern California market. He oversees and is responsible for all public work construction projects for the company. He enjoys a solid reputation with owners, subcontractors, and all those who work for and with him. He sets the highest standards for honesty and accountability and expects it of everyone we team with.
Ed has a vast and varied resume of projects: airport, rail and tunnel, higher education, housing, clean gas facility and many more. He holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. His experience has allowed him to be the industry leader he is today. He is an effective creative problem solver and negotiator.
Ed’s motto: “If we let others resolve our issues, we have failed.”
With over 45 years of construction experience, 30 years here in Southern California, Bill has gained the professional respect of everyone he has dealt with. He has been a team member and leader on numerous notable projects in diverse fields: educational, medical, correctional facilities, hospitality, transportation and convention centers.
Notable projects: The Los Angeles and San Diego Convention Center, Metro Red Line Stations, Hyperion Secondary Digesters, LAUSD High Schools, LAPD Headquarters, UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital and most of the UCLA Housing Facilities, to name a few.
Bill is currently overseeing various projects, construction start-ups and monitoring budgets and schedules, while keeping excellent relations with our clients and subcontractors.
Holding a Bachelor of Engineering with a Civil major, he utilizes the skills gained through the diverse experience in all of the construction disciplines including estimating, project management and design build. Bill brings strong technical knowledge and ability to creatively negotiate solutions to complex problems, thereby ensuring the final resolution is beneficial for all stakeholders.
Ed is a seasoned leader in the construction industry with over 36 years of experience managing multiple large and complex construction projects within the public and private sectors. Ed has a proven record in developing successful, collaborative relationships with Owner Representatives, Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Subcontractors, and other key stakeholder groups. Ed’s experience stretches throughout the United States and Mexico.
Over the last 22 years his focus has been on public sector projects that include Division of the State Architect (DSA) and Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development (OSHPD) as well as other Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) throughout the State of California. He provides leadership and oversight for the day-to-day processes for Construction, Project Management and Project Administration activities associated with Business Development, Preconstruction, and Operations.
Ed holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. His educational and diverse construction background give him the foundation as an experienced Leader and Builder in the construction industry.
William Powelson oversees all field operations for Icon West Inc. With over 30 years of experience within the industry, he offers a very unique perspective in supervision.
As someone who detects risks early, and being a natural born problem solver, William is able to organize, deploy and mitigate concerns before they become real problems.
William’s deep understanding of the industry and commitment to developing and maintaining strong relationships with owners and subcontractors have helped him deliver exceptional results in his time with Icon West.
As Chief Financial Officer, Derrick oversees the company’s entire financial operations. He began his career at Icon West, Inc. in 2007 as the Accounting Manager.
Rising up through the ranks, he was appointed Finance Manager in 2010 and was tasked with directing Icon West’s Finance Department. Derrick’s current corporate role as CFO includes hands-on involvement in the company’s financial reporting, legal needs, and accounting operations. His other key responsibility is maintaining the banking, investment, and bonding relationships of Icon West. We can attribute part of Derrick’s rapid advancement to our success recipe. “He that knows the way, shows the way.”
Tess joined Icon West as Senior Estimator in 2008 and now enjoys the position of Chief Estimator. Her extensive experience working on a multitude of complex projects, public and private, as well as engineering projects spans more than 30 years.
Tess is responsible for managing the Estimating Department activities throughout the bidding process. Beginning with analyzing project plans and establishing cost estimates, through negotiating bid proposals, Tess is instrumental in securing new projects for the company. Tess’s continued commitment and dedication to her department, and the Icon West team has been pivotal to the growth and sales of the Estimating Department. Tess holds a BSCE and is registered P.E in Civil Engineering.
Dwayne has cultivated a safe environment & exceeded production while overseeing tightly scheduled and arduous projects in his 40 plus years of construction.
By being a fair, firm, and skilled leader he has been able to coordinate, schedule, and deliver his projects on-time and in a safe manner. He keeps a steady line of communication with inspectors and owners, and the respect he’s gained from colleagues and tradesmen does not go unnoticed.
Dwayne’s boundless experience in the logistics and daily operations of large construction projects has a vast range. He worked extensively with DSA and completed several LAUSD schools and colleges that included LACCD Trade Tech’s, libraries, science, & technology centers, & multi-story classroom buildings. He’s been integral with a major presence in building the LA county Expo Museum, the Los Angeles City Emergency Command Center Fire Stations and Cal Fire Operations Center. He worked closely with owners & National security to prevent interruptions in critical daily activities for the Government’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dwayne has also managed sites in the entertainment industry, working on Disneyland’s California Adventure Park, overseeing construction of The Land of Hollywood rides.
Robert “RJ” Stump is an Executive Project Manager for Special Projects with Icon West, Inc. RJ realized he had a passion for the industry at an early age and received a Construction Management degree from California State University Fresno.
RJ’s leadership skills, creativity and depth of knowledge gained through 30 plus years in the industry ensure he can handle the enormous and diverse challenges projects may hold. RJ excels at developing and managing construction teams that work seamlessly to ensure each project’s success. He has an extensive and impressive portfolio of large Public and Capital projects to his credit. His success is rooted in his ability to build relationships with all stakeholders, clients, subs and team members.
RJ’s goals are simple: Safety first, Team Building, Establishing a collaborative working atmosphere both with owners and Icon team members, Communicating transparently, Focusing on what is best for the project and following through effectively and efficiently.
With many years of experience, Nohad oversees both disciplines that require a similar skill set of exacting attention to detail and follow through with the ability to bring out the best in co-workers and outside partners, alike.
She leads both teams with great communication and interpersonal skills and is incredibly dedicated to her work and employees, with a passion for team-building and helping others achieve their highest potential. She believes this promotes employee retention, optimizes productivity and drives performance. This and Icon West’s company culture work synergistically to heighten individual ownership and accountability.
Nohad earned an MBA in Banking and Finance and has been able to apply the discipline and detail from that background to her chosen field on the business side of construction.
She acts as a liaison between management and employees, ensuring a productive and harmonious work environment for all. She has a genuine care and concern for people, which helps her to build a strong, effective team.
Our leadership team has a collective mission for Icon West:
Cultivating integrity and excellence in everything we do
Satisfying the needs of our clients in a timely manner
Valuing our employees as individuals
Maintaining safety for all