Meet the Team
At Avant, our 50+ employees are our most valuable asset, each bringing unique skills and dedication that drive our success. Our team spans a diverse range of positions, from field operations—including skilled and general laborers, foremen, carpenters, and site superintendents—to office roles in project management, accounting, human resources, and administration. Together, they form the foundation of Avant, upholding our commitment to quality, efficiency, and excellence in every project.

Company Culture
At Avant Construction Group, we believe the strength of our work starts with the strength of our team. Our culture is built on trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to doing what it takes—for each other and for our clients. We foster an environment where people are empowered to lead, grow, and take ownership of their impact. That dedication was recognized in 2023 when we were named a Top Workplace by the Florida Times-Union, a reflection of the respect, integrity, and purpose that shape our everyday work.
“At Avant, work feels a lot like family. Laughs are shared as often as ideas. Whether we’re collaborating on a challenging project or in an intense game of pickleball, strong relationships and genuine connection keep our people moving forward together.”
Leadership Team
The individuals below form Avant’s Leadership Team, entrusted with overseeing company operations and driving successful team management. They lead strategic planning, financial management, business development, team performance, and subcontractor and vendor relationships. Additionally, they foster client relationships to support Avant’s growth, sustainability, and success.
Alan Cottrill
President + Chief Executive Officer
Alan Cottrill
President + Chief Executive Officer
Alan is the founder of Avant Construction Group, started in 1997 as River City Contractors. After spending his youth working on construction sites as a laborer, he eventually started his own company and established his reputation in Jacksonville doing federal and state renovation projects. Alan’s continued success and growth has catapulted his organization into the Avant team he now operates. With over 30+ years’ experience in the industry, he has pursued a well-rounded education in the different market climates that influence the field of construction. From building multiple high-end, chef-driven restaurants to designing and building oceanfront luxury homes, Alan has become an expert in adapting to clients’ needs. He has successfully demonstrated his ability to create a space that highlights his clients’ mission and vision. In his community, Alan leverages his construction expertise and insights as a bridge to impact local nonprofits and philanthropic organizations. He currently sits on the Board of Directors at Build Up Downtown and City Rescue Mission.
Ellen Cottrill
Director of Community Engagement
Ellen Cottrill
Director of Community Engagement
As the Director of Community Engagement at Avant Construction Group, Ellen leads the company’s strategic efforts to enhance community relations, manage corporate sponsorships, and oversee the Community Give-Back Program. Her role is pivotal in building relationships with local non-profits, community organizations, and key stakeholders in Jacksonville. Through the development of outreach initiatives and employee engagement programs, Ellen ensures that Avant maintains a strong and positive presence within the community. Having served on numerous non-profit boards over the years, Ellen has established and maintained much of the family culture we have at Avant and inspired growth in each employee.
Shiri Brandenburg
Chief Financial Officer
Shiri Brandenburg
Chief Financial Officer
Shiri brings over a decade of experience in the accounting industry, inclusive of public and private sector organizations. In previous roles, Shiri managed multi-million dollar non-profit portfolios, oversaw capital improvement projects, established and enhanced company-wide reporting procedures, and participated in strategic planning initiatives. She brings a growth mindset to Avant, overseeing all construction project budgets, company financial reporting and overall goals. In her community, Shiri serves as Treasurer on the Build Up Downtown Board of Directors and on the Audit and Finance Committee for Daniel Kids.
Barry Underwood
Vice President of Pre-Construction
Barry Underwood
Vice President of Pre-Construction
Barry brings a 20+ year track record of driving business growth and achieving corporate objectives. He leverages his positive approach to empower staff, adaptability to changing environments, and exceptional communication and problem-solving skills to oversee a team of project managers and field staff, establish company policies and procedures, negotiate contracts with subcontractors and clients, and ensure project success. Barry’s expertise in construction management, project bidding, strategic management, and meticulous attention to detail have been instrumental in managing organizational operations and contributing to Avant Construction’s significant growth and success in the industry. Barry serves on the Board of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Florida’s architectural, historical, and archaeological heritage.
Derek Cece
Vice President of Commercial Construction
Derek Cece
Vice President of Commercial Construction
Over the course of his career in construction, Derek has focused his knowledge on Trade Management. Over the course of his career, he has specialized in green construction and building science. In previous roles, Derek served on the design development team and worked on LEED, Passive House and Living Building Challenge projects. He also brings experience managing in-house tradesmen across 5 main industry concentrations: Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls and General Trades Technicians. As Vice President of Commercial Construction, Derek is responsible for overseeing the initiation, execution and completion of all construction projects, as well as managing the members of the Construction Teams.
Lawrence Prince
Senior Project Manager
Lawrence Prince
Vice President of Residential Construction
Lawrence has a background in large-scale, multi-million-dollar residential projects along with extensive commercial experience. He is adept in managing client interactions, change order estimating, trade partner contracts, and implementing new construction software that optimizes overall company performance. At Avant, Lawrence has spearheaded several new construction technology initiatives, as well as developed processes and procedures that ultimately optimize Avant’s resources and set the standard for new team members. He plays an important role alongside company leadership to navigate business operations and make improvements where needed for strategic growth.
Tori Collins
Director of Human Resources
Tori Collins
Director of Human Resources
ori developed Avant’s Human Resources department, creating and growing the role into a vital function within the company. She now serves as Human Resources Director, managing all aspects of human resources, including employee recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, performance reviews, compliance, and workplace policy development. She works closely with leadership to cultivate a strong company culture and ensure compliance with employment laws and safety regulations. Tori supports the finance team and is a key liaison between field staff and office operations. Her ability to juggle multiple priorities across departments ensures seamless day-to-day operations and contributes to the company’s overall efficiency and team cohesion.
Andrea Little
Director of Marketing & Communications
Andrea Little
Director of Marketing and Communications
Andrea brings a diverse background of experience working in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Her past experience has been with companies in the public sector focusing on municipal, state and federal entities as well as private sector developers and contractors. As Director of Marketing and Communications, Andrea’s responsibilities include overseeing all internal and external communications, managing company qualifications, competitor and market analysis, and presentation preparation. She also works with the operations team to ensure company processes are efficient and consistent throughout the organization. Andrea’s role at Avant is to best showcase the skills, expertise, and dedication of our team to our clients and the public.
Construction Team
Our construction team is the backbone of project execution, ensuring that each venture is delivered with precision and efficiency. Led by seasoned professionals with a deep understanding of the industry, these individuals are responsible for overseeing every phase of the construction process, from pre-construction planning to final handover. They work closely with leadership to align resources, manage budgets, coordinate with subcontractors and vendors, and maintain communication with clients, ensuring that each project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality.
Tim White
Senior Project Manager
Tim White
Senior Project Manager
Tim brings 18 years of diverse construction experience spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Canada, and the US. Equipped with a diploma in Construction Project Management and a red-seal Journeyman, he transitioned from a Bricklayer to a seasoned Project Manager, overseeing commercial, institutional, and infrastructure projects. His expertise lies in negotiation, investor relations, and building strong team relationships.
Peter Rexroth
Project Manager
Peter Rexroth
Project Manager
With almost two decades in the construction business, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge on new and renovation construction projects, specifically relating to commercial work. Peter’s experience has included projects such as: McIntnyre’s Bar, Fry Road Retail Center, and Heights Water Works located in the Houston / San Antonio areas. Peter is a consistent and reliable Project Manager, assisting in construction team operations and trainings on a weekly basis as well as the company’s Safety Committee.
Robin Barnes
Project Manager
Robin Barnes
Project Manager
Robin is a key project manager who has been with our team for many years, specializing in commercial and residential renovations. She has led projects from minor office build-outs to large-scale transformations, including nonprofit headquarters and business centers. Robin now oversees the modernization of rental units in high-traffic areas, managing labor, scheduling, budgeting, and timelines. She coordinates subcontractors across multiple sites, ensuring quality and reliability in the team members we bring on to each job site. Her expertise in logistics and project organization ensures good quality, updated spaces for Avant’s residential properties.
Chris Wood
Project Manager
Chris Wood
Project Manager
With over 14 years of experience in commercial construction, Chris has managed diverse projects across healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and institutional sectors. He specializes in preconstruction services, contract management, scheduling, and cost control, ensuring seamless project execution. He effectively coordinates subcontractors and project teams and is committed to efficiency and client satisfaction.
Victor Souza
Project Manager
Victor Souza
Project Manager
Victor is a Project Manager for Avant’s Residential division, specializing in custom homes and unique builds. He brings a background working on high-end, luxury homes and has a valuable insight into design considerations that optimize floorplans. Having worked in different roles within a typical construction team, Victor understands the processes needed to get a project from conceptual estimate all the way through to completion. He values building relationships with his clients and his team members, ensuring a productive working relationship and a cohesive vision that keeps the team moving forward in the same direction.
Larry Gaskins
Project Manager
Larry Gaskins
Project Manager
With over a decade of experience in the construction industry and a specialized background managing multiple building site operations simultaneously, Larry brings a strong background in compliance, inspections, subcontractor quality, and safety standard adherence. He is diligent in navigating scope challenges, managing project budgets, and minimizing exposure to risks in his project.
Lee Walker
Assistant Project Manager
Lee Walker
Assistant Project Manager
As a 16-year Navy veteran, Lee bring unique, practical skills leading programs and company operations. In his capacity as an Assistant Project Manager, he has assisted in managing projects and personnel and ensure that work orders are completed on time and on budget, while meeting industry standards. This includes planning pre-construction operations and sequences, design review meetings, and contract negotiation.
Scott Callaway
Director of Business Development and Sales
Scott Callaway
Director of Business Development and Sales
With over two decades of military service and experience as a Project Manager, Scott brings leadership, operational insight, and a strong client focus to his role. He leads strategic growth by developing client and vendor relationships, and identifying new opportunities. His field background gives him a practical edge in aligning business goals with project realities. Scott also manages CRM tools and ensures a high level of client satisfaction.
Shawn Mollitt
Director of Program Management Office (PMO)
Shawn Mollitt
Director of Program Management Office (PMO)
With over 20 years’ experience with the DOD, Shawn’s leadership skills and focus on safety and training have proven to be of monumental aide in the field. His authority and ability to drive a team has given great success to his workforce housing projects. In his role as the Director of the PMO Office, Shawn oversees Avant’s OSHA and site safety components of every project site and overall company asset management. He also works with our Leadership Team to optimize field and office operational logistics.
Fresnel Hernandez, Jr.
Estimator
Fresnel Hernandez, Jr.
Chief Estimator
Fresnel brings a wealth of architectural expertise to the Avant team, specifically in CADD software. By seamlessly integrating designs and ideas into plans before they reach the architect’s desk, he crafts a unique design-build experience, blending innovation with standard construction practices for our clients’ benefit. Fresnel leads our bidding team under the Pre-Construction department to ensure we’re giving our clients the most accurate estimates. He works with clients in the initial design phases of projects to develop conceptual budgets, along with clients who need full hard bids for full sets of plans.
Admin Team
These individuals play a critical behind-the-scenes role in keeping our operations organized, efficient, and responsive. This group includes professionals who support nearly every facet of the business. From tracking company finances to coordinating communication and maintaining accurate project documentation, their work ensures our field and management teams have the tools and information they need to succeed.
Trisha Myers
Executive Assistant
Trisha Meyers
Executive Assistant
Trisha plays a pivotal role in supporting Alan and the leadership team at Avant Construction. With administrative experience across various industries, she excels at streamlining operations and ensuring the executive team’s priorities are met. Trisha manages the coordination of tasks, meetings, and client interactions, making the leadership team’s lives easier and more efficient. In addition to her executive support, Trisha represents Avant daily, interacting with key clients, vendors, and third-party partners like banks, lenders, and insurance companies. She often attends executive meetings, capturing critical details and, at times, running meetings to ensure they stay on track and efficient. Her organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to navigate complex administrative tasks make her an invaluable asset to the Avant team.
Gauddy Santos
Senior Project Analyst + Government Liaison
Gauddy Santos
Senior Project Analyst + Government Liaison
Bringing over 15 years of experience to Avant’s team, Gauddy has worked in building and construction, design, development, and property management roles. She has a thorough understanding of regulatory compliance and assists our team in developing an execution plan for managing funding and incentive obligations and protocols. She is also our permitting coordinator and manages all municipal requirements affiliated with permits.
Sandra Ward
Accountant
Sandra Ward
Accountant
Sandra serves as Avant’s Accountant, managing essential day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable and receivable, general ledger maintenance, cash flow management, and bank reconciliations. Sandra’s meticulous attention to detail ensures accurate financial records and compliance with accounting principles and company policies. Collaborating closely with other departments, Sandra ensures seamless project invoicing and expense tracking, contributing to the financial integrity and smooth operation of Avant.
Maria Ortez
Estimating Coordinator
Maria Ortez
Estimating Coordinator
Maria joined Avant in 2016 with a Business Administration degree. Through dedication and hard work, Maria quickly developed skills in drywall and painting while also learning English through the ESOL program at FSCJ. Over the years, Maria expressed an interest in transitioning to the office, leading to a hybrid role where she split her time between the field and office. After several months, she advanced to Estimating Coordinator, a position she holds today. Maria works closely with subcontractors in both English and Spanish, sourcing quotes for new bids and helping to keep projects organized. She also manages our JSEB bidding process, ensuring the correct requirements and documentation are adhered to.
Gili Woodhams
Marketing Associate
Gili Woodhams
Marketing Associate
As a Marketing Associate at Avant, Gili plans and oversees marketing campaigns that promote Avant’s brand and services. She manages a variety of marketing initiatives, including employee engagement events, jobsite signage, and ensuring brand consistency across all platforms. With a focus on both online and offline engagement, Gili works to enhance Avant’s reputation and visibility while fostering a positive company culture and community connections.