Over 1000 projects and growing

Seth Simmons

With over 30 years in construction, Seth has owned and operated several companies, including Southwest Design Building for over 10 years and Southwest Facility Maintenance. He has successfully managed multiple user and multiple location projects for repeat clientele, as well as challenging stand-alone projects. He brings leadership for staff and operations, as well as direction for all design-build operations, program management, project management, condition assessment services and construction processes to Sigma Southwest. He possesses a unique understanding of design, authority and city review processes many contractors don’t have because of the years previously spent with a design-build firm, as well as the necessary construction processes and administration.

Having worked with Dan Hinkson at Sigma Contracting 30 years ago, and with both maintaining a personal and professional relationship over the years, they have come full circle to be able to work with each other again.

In his spare time, Seth can be found restoring old trucks, and participates in and occasionally hosts ‘ratrod’ events region-wide.

Gino brings over 25 years of experience and expertise in the construction industry to Sigma Southwest. Starting his career in the residential arena he soon moved into the commercial market, in particular the hospital market working for a variety of companies as project manager and construction manager. He then became a Sr. Project Manager/Estimator for multifamily projects, completing over a dozen pre-construction projects and then awarded the completion of many of those projects. He subsequently moved into the operations side while helping with project management to the various project teams in the field.

With Gino’s field and operations experience, he knows what it takes to make a successful team focused on the needs and satisfaction of the client. Overall, his main goal is to ensure that clients receive the highest-quality services that successfully fulfill their needs as well as meet and exceed their expectations.

In his spare time, Gino enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters and enjoying all that life offers.

Melinda Hinkson

In her years with Sigma Contracting and now at Sigma Southwest, Melinda Hinkson wears many hats. Her visibility and mentoring of others in the Valley’s commercial real estate industry are what set her apart.

Melinda’s primary duty is to actively seek expansion of Sigma’s portfolio of projects through her business development and marketing efforts. She is able to utilize her professional strengths across various industries in a successful career that spans more than four decades

She has been active in numerous industry groups including the AAED, AIA, AZCREW, ACMLA, CRENAB, CoreNet Global Arizona and Valley Partnership.  In addition, she is LEED accredited and feels strongly about the comfort and efficiencies it promotes.

The personal accomplishments of which she is most proud is raising a happy and wonderfully connected family, and successfully and synergistically working together with her husband Dan. She and Dan met when teenagers and have been married over 40 years. Born in Farmington, MO and raised in St. Louis, Melinda earned her BS in Medical Technology working in hospital laboratories and on a trauma team before moving into medical sales to help put Dan through the Del Webb School at Arizona State University.

When not attending an industry event or working, Melinda enjoys family activities with their kids and seven grandkids, boating, scuba diving, skiing, and traveling. What people might be surprised to know about her: Melinda had quite a musical background, playing the violin and accordion back in the day, and played guitar and sang in her church choir for many years.

The best business advice she’s been given: “Life is not a spectator sport – go for it. We all know that nothing ventured is absolutely nothing gained. Also, do unto others as you would have them do unto you is applicable to our business as well as our personal lives.”

The best business advice Melinda has shared: “Having been in a marketing/business development role for well over 30 years, I have been able to assist and mentor many others over the years. Like the advice I was given, I try to convey to take the risk and go for it, and never settle to be the spectator.”

Bill Santoro, Estimating

Bill Santoro possesses more than 30 years of construction experience in his role as Chief Estimator, with 25 years at Sigma Contracting and now part of Sigma Southwest.

He has worked in various capacities including Field Supervision, Project Management and Estimating. Prior to joining the Sigma team Bill was owner of a concrete company. As a previous small business owner, he gained valuable experience that allows him a fuller understanding of business management and cost controls. This is valuable when contributing on biddability and constructability reviews.

Bill has applied this experience to his years at Sigma in both Project Management and Estimating. With his breadth of experience and various roles within the industry, Bill has a comprehensive understanding of the needs and intents of Sigma clients.

Bill possesses a great work ethic and diligence when reviewing documents uncovering any missing information or details, conflicts between the drawings and specifications, or any needed clarifications. He has a strong reputation for being fair and honest with subcontractors, which often leads to preferred pricing from that industry.

Bill was born in Sacramento, California, then moved numerous times as the child of a father in the military.

He is active with the American Society of Certified Professional Estimators. He received Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Nebraska. He also has completed numerous courses at the Construction Estimating Institute.

When he’s not reviewing documents, Bill enjoys traveling and taking part in family activities. Bill is also a numismatist, which means he collects coins.

The professional accomplishment of which he is most proud is when projects come in under budget and ahead of schedule.

The best business advice he has been given: “Before starting a construction project, always have a solid understanding of the client’s expectations.”

The best business advice Bill has to share: “The understanding that if you see any issue or problem on a project, know that the client will see it as well.”

That’s the voice of experience talking.

Doug Deboef, Estimating/Project Management

Born in Goodland, KS, Doug has been in AZ since 1989. With over 20 years in construction, Doug has been active with Southwest Design Building and now with Sigma Southwest for 3 years. His duties include estimating as well as project management, and he works to create and send bid packages as well as manage projects from start to finish.

Previously, Doug owned his own business, and was an active Superintendent, Foreman, and both rough and trim Carpenter. This varied background gives him the experience to draw on to successfully estimate and manage projects for a successful outcome.

Over the years Doug has achieved some interesting skills, including JAVA programming, and bringing his golf handicap from a 20 to an 8.

Sandy Jordan, Project Manager Assistant

Sandy Jordan is driven by a competitive spirit, both in her professional role as Assistant Project Manager and personally as owner of a fighting arts school.

Sandy has been with the Sigma team for 17 years and carries the torch to Sigma Southwest. Sandy is responsible for communicating with owners on matters related to billing, lien releases, and change orders. Additional duties include owner draws, processing subcontractor draws, and helping superintendents and project managers with a variety of project-related issues. She has created quite a reputation with clients in the industry for accurate and timely reports.

Sandy has been a martial arts school owner in the Chuck Norris System for 28 years and a 5th degree black belt. She is also a 1st degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and a certified instructor in Krav Maga. In addition, she offers equestrian riding instruction with her horses.

A native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sandy moved to Phoenix when she was 14. She earned a Bachelor of Science in environment agriculture resources. When she’s not in the office or the fight school, Sandy enjoys horseback riding and is a board member for the Wickenburg Saddle Club.

The best business advice she’s been given: “Limits exist only in the mind.”

The best business advice Sandy has shared: “Performance = ability x motivation x opportunity.”

Juan Carlos Herrera was born in Caracas, Venezuela. With a degree in Civil Engineering and Project Management education, and over 30 years of construction background, Juan Carlos has a vast history of experience and expertise to draw on. His duties with Southwest Design Building and now with Sigma Southwest are as Superintendent and Project Engineer.

In his previous years Juan Carlos has helped manage the adaptation and reconstruction of more than 400 gas stations, the completion of a gas processing plant, and a gas pipeline both offshore and onshore for the gas processing plant. He is well suited to help manage complex as well as simple projects for a successful outcome.

When not working, Juan Carlos likes working out at the gym, riding his bike, traveling, kayaking and relaxing at the beach. He also enjoys listening to music, watching good movies and interesting reads.

Juan Carlos is extremely proud of his family and the children he has raised, the life he has been able to afford them, and the education and degrees he has attained. When meeting people they quickly see that he is not a person to hide anything about himself, he is a very authentic and peaceful person.

The best business advice he has been given has interestingly been about Japanese business philosophies – their companies are considered as their baby that they must feed (invest in) until maturity. This feed/investment is not only in material assets but also in the training of its HR to make it sustainable.

The best business advice he will share is that all processes can be improved. This follows the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement.

Jennifer Kirby, Business Administrator

Jennifer Kirby was born in Lancaster, CA but has lived in Arizona most of her life. With her ABA and upcoming SHRM certification, Jennifer has overseen the office management, HR and accounting and contract management for Southwest Design Building and now Sigma Southwest for over eight years.

With a ‘can-do’ attitude and the ability to rapidly master and implement new methods and procedures, Jennifer has been able to help create processes to successfully coordinate and manage successful operations flow for a growing operation.

Jennifer considers her children as her best personal accomplishments, never forgetting the most important priorities in life. People might be surprised to learn that she used to race dirt track cars in her young teens.

The best business advice Jennifer’s received was from an (almost) famous man (Seth Simmons) who said to her “Just Trust Me” and so far it’s all been good!

The best business advice she would share with others is “when you fall down just pick yourself up again”.