Our people are Nexgeneral Construction’s greatest asset. We believe the best client building experience is a result of hiring, training, retaining, and empowering the best leaders.
Meet a few members of the Nexgeneral team below!
Phillip Kliewer, President
Phillip knew early on he didn’t want to work an office job, so he jumped out of helicopters to fight forest fires for a few years. These experiences taught him how to push himself to do anything and relate with anyone. After obtaining his B.S. in Construction Management, Phillip was highly recruited and chose to work at Matt Construction in Los Angeles.
A Valley kid at heart, he returned to apply what he learned in his hometown.
Phillip’s strength lies in his ability to communicate, lead teams, plan ahead, set expectations, and empower those around him to achieve their full potential. He determines a project’s success not only by “on time and under budget” but also by whether or not relationships have been strengthened. When Phillip isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family, in the outdoors, and finding the best restaurants.
Ed Smith, General Superintendent & Safety Officer
4.3 BILLION dollars. That’s how many dollars worth of work Ed has managed as a superintendent during his career. A few of his project highlights include the East Medical Plaza, a four-story medical office building for Community Regional Medical Center, Leprino Cheese plant- the largest cheese plant in the world, Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino's renovations & additions, and Fresno Chaffee Zoo's award-winning sea lion exhibit.
While his resume is impressive, Ed is most thankful for the friendships he has built in the construction industry. Ed values relationships so much that he constructed the “Legacy Barn” on his property where he often hosts events and serves delicious BBQ. About 5,000 photos of friends and family line the barn’s interior walls.
Gabe Escalera, Director of Operations
Gabe likes solving things. Puzzles as a kid, construction projects now. Raised in the Central Valley, Gabe earned his B.S. in Construction Management at California State University, Fresno. Gabe is thrilled to join the Nexgeneral leadership team to make a difference in the lives of clients and co-workers. Working in the Bay Area and Central Valley, Gabe has developed his skills as a project manager.
Gabe has experience on a number of high intensity, high expectation projects totaling over a million SF in office Tenant Improvement (TI), ground-up commercial, and medical projects. He brings an incredible work ethic and passion for empowering others who are new to the industry. Moments with family and friends are precious to Gabe, but he also cherishes time with his dog in a duck blind, waiting on daybreak.
Casey Smith, Field Engineer
Casey Smith was born and raised in Kingsburg, California. He has valuable experience in project management and understands the unique operations of private and public healthcare and education projects.
The satisfaction of seeing tangible manifestations of a team's hard work has fueled his passion for the construction industry.
Casey’s strength lies in his ability to communicate, lead teams, plan, and keep projects moving efficiently while simultaneously working with multiple trades. When he isn't working, he enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time outdoors.
Interested in starting a project with the Nexgeneral team? Contact us below!