Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc.

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THOMAS A. BUCHAR, AIA, NCARB
PRESIDENT

Principal and Owner of Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc.—Architects
Licensed Architect in Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Maryland and Missouri

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Illinois, Chicago Circle—1971
Associate’s Degree in Machine Design, Joliet Junior College—1968
Certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
Member of the American Institute of Architects
Past President, University Club of Joliet
Committee Member, Downtown Development Council Design Committee
Building and Zoning Officer, City of Crest Hill 1976 - 1991
Past Board Member of St. Paul the Apostle Church
Past Board of Education Member of Joliet Catholic Academy
Past Board Member of the Trailways Girl Scouts Council
Alumni of the Year (1996) of Joliet Catholic Academy

President and Chief Executive Officer of Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc.—Architects since its inception in 1980. Mr. Buchar assumes personal responsibility for all of the firm’s projects and continues to be involved in the company’s full range of projects.

Mr. Buchar’s professional career has spanned 35 years. Prior to starting his own firm, he worked from 1974 to 1980 for the Professional Construction Company of Joliet, Illinois as an Architect. His area of concentration was the structural design and detailing of buildings. This experience continues to show its prevalence today as he takes personal responsibility for structural design of many of the company’s projects.

In addition to this experience, Mr. Buchar worked from 1971 to 1974 for Healy, Moore & Associates in Joliet , Illinois. Prior to this, he worked for the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois; A.A. Lipsey & Associates in Chicago, Illinois; Carl Garner & Associates in Chicago, Illinois; and the City of Joliet Planning Department in Joliet, Illinois.

BRET D. MITCHELL, AIA, NCARB
PROJECT MANAGER/ARCHITECT

Licensed Architect—Illinois and Minnesota

Master of Architecture, University of Oregon, 1993
Bachelor of Arts in Art and Communications, University of Iowa 1990—
Highest Honors
Certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
Member of the American Institute of Architects
Member of the Phi Beta Kappa
Member of the Omicron Delta Kappa
Member of Rotary International
Committee Member for Building and Grounds Committee for Joliet Catholic Academy
Board Member for Girl Scouts of Trailways Council
Board Member for United Cerebral Palsy of Will County

Mr. Mitchell is a Project Manager and Staff Architect whose specific duties include Project Design and Management, Creative Problem Solving, Master Planning, Project and Consultant Coordination, Specification Writing, and Construction Document Production Scheduling, Coordination, and Review, and Construction Administration.

He has thirteen years experience in commercial, office, institutional, religious, educational, health care, hospitality, and community housing architecture. This diverse experience has given him a substantial breadth of knowledge in a variety of building systems, construction methods and space planning options, which allows him to bring a unique perspective to each and every project.

Mr. Mitchell has recently completed a number of high profile projects including the new student activity center for Joliet Catholic Academy, the new City of Joliet Fire Station No. 10, and the EquiMed Professional Plaza medical office building in Joliet, Illinois.

Prior to joining Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc.—Architects, Mr. Mitchell was a Project Manager/Licensed Architect with newmanArchitecture in Naperville, Illinois. In addition to this experience, Mr. Mitchell worked as an Architect for Legat Architects in Schaumburg, Illinois and as a Project Architect/Intern Architect/Project Designer for Architecture One in Brainerd, Minnesota.

THOMAS C. BAJT
PROJECT MANAGER/ARCHITECT

Licensed Architect—Wisconsin

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, 1985
Associate Degree of Science, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois, 1982

Mr. Bajt is a Project Manager and Staff Architect whose specific duties include Project Design and Management, Project and Consultant Coordination, Specifications, and Construction Document Production Scheduling, Coordination, and Review, and Construction Administration.

Mr. Bajt has been with Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc. since October 1985. He has been involved with all types of projects including churches, commercial, office, institutional, residential, banks, retail developments, and a varied array of industrial projects.

SNEZANA D. BANJAC
INTERN ARCHITECT/DESIGNER

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1993.

Ms. Banjac is an Intern Architect and Designer whose responsibilities include the design and documentation of both small and large projects within the office. She has been involved with many building types including offices, commercial, residential, churches, and a variety of industrial projects.

Prior to joining Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc. in February 1998, she worked on a number of commercial, industrial, and bank projects in Russia as an Associate Architect with “Kosovoproject” – D. P. Agora, Belgrade, Yugoslavia from July 1996 to September 1997. Prior to this experience, she worked from April 1993 to July 1996 as an Assistant Senior Designer for Matex Engineering, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. In this capacity, she worked on several residential, industrial, religious, bank, and commercial projects.

JOHN BATTEY
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SPECIALIST

Bachelor of Science in Building Construction Management Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 2004

Mr. Battey is a Construction Administration Specialist who is responsible for the construction administration of a large percentage of projects throughout the office.

Prior to joining Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc. in his current role, Mr. Battey worked for this firm as a Draftsman on various types and sizes of projects. This experience provides the company with flexibility to staff projects as needed. John also held an internship position with R. Berti & Son Contractors, Inc. in Lockport, Illinois. In that position, he was responsible for project estimation, bid solicitation, project administration and project documentation.

MICHAEL KREN
INTERN ARCHITECT

Bachelor of Science, Architectural Studies, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 2003.
Member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society

Mr. Kren is an Intern Architect whose responsibilities include design development and construction documentation on both large and small projects in the office.

Prior to joining Thomas A. Buchar and Associates in August 2006, he was employed by David Wayne McEachern Architects Ltd. of Joliet, Illinois as a Draftsman Supervisor. His responsibilities included the management and coordination of mechanical and electrical information for use in construction documentation, and the production of colored plans and elevations for client review. Prior to this, he worked as a Draftsman on both large and small commercial projects for Healy, Bender, and Associates in Naperville, Illinois.

KALEB W. YANKO
STUDENT INTERN

Currently enrolled as a fourth year student in the School of Architecture University of Illinois at Chicago Mr. Yanko is a student intern whose responsibilities include the development of construction documents for various building types including commercial, residential, educational, industrial, churches and offices. In addition, he is skilled at the production of colored and 3-dimensional renderings.

In his six years of experience, Mr. Yanko has contributed in many aspects pertaining to the production of design development drawings and construction documents.

VINCENT CONTRERAS
STUDENT INTERN

With over four years experience in the precast concrete industry and glass/mullion systems, Mr. Contreras brings a valuable background to his student internship at Thomas A. Buchar & Associates, Inc. In his final year of the Pre-Architecture program at Joliet Junior College, Mr. Contreras will be transferring to the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago later this fall.

Mr. Contreras currently assists in the development of construction documents for commercial, residential, and industrial projects.

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