About ACOT Values
ACOT Associates Group is a valued-oriented Engineering and Construction Management firm delivering unparalleled solutions including: "(Cost Estimating, Project Management, Document Control, Construction Inspection, engineering design of Roadways, Bridges, Stormwater Drainage, Sanitary Sewer, Emergency Disaster Relief, Commercial and Housing projects.)" ACOT is a legacy firm and is currently one of the fastest growing, a world leading engineering companies in the United States. ACOT employs an array of seasoned, qualified professionals.
MISSION:
ACOT Associates Group is a people-focused engineering and construction management services firm dedicated to providing world-class, innovative, and sustainable solutions to our customers. We strive to unmask the mysteries of engineering and construction management systems so our customers can utilize them to their fullest potential.
Vision
To be a leading engineering and construction management company committed to providing superior customer service through sustainable integrated professional standards. We strive for moderate growth, and annual profitability, without sacrificing our high quality of service.
Our Values
- Quality – Provide the most up-to-date knowledge and services by following US Army Corps of Engineering Quality Model
- Integrity – Emphasize respect and honesty and ceaselessly do what is right for our clients, staff, and community
- Client-focused – Clients are our most valued asset and our delivery of services is always centered around their needs
- Communication – Strive for clear, honest, and easy communication between all parties
Value Proposition
Our Client Service Liaisons create and maintain a personalized and satisfying experience for each client by focusing on relationship development and explaining engineering terminology to non-engineers. We treat our customers, and employees, as part of our own family and utilize customer service, communication, and trustworthiness to build a sense of community.
Meet Our Leadership & Team
D. SOLOMON AKINDURO, PH.D., PMP, PMI-RMP, LEED AP
President/CEO
With over 35 years of experience, Dr. Akinduro specializes in integrating construction management and engineering design services across all project phases—from planning and design to construction and occupancy.
Dr. Akinduro has worked with Fortune 500 companies in the United States for more than 30 years and spent an additional decade with large corporations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Throughout his career, he has played key roles in major projects, including airports, stadiums, correctional facilities, educational institutions, medical facilities, industrial/warehousing, commercial developments, public housing, water and wastewater facilities, roads, highways, bridges, and hydraulic drainage studies and design.
He has been instrumental in solving complex challenges for project owners during planning, design, and construction. His expertise spans cost estimating, project scheduling, project management, value engineering, construction engineering, and risk management.
Dr. Akinduro earned his bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island and a postgraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1992. He completed his doctorate in 2006.
He is an active member of professional organizations, including the American Consulting Engineers Council, the American Association of Cost Engineers, the American Society of Professional Estimators, and the Project Management Institute. He also served as the President of the Engineers Club in Memphis, Tennessee.
Len Braner
Executive Vice President
Len Braner is Executive VP of Special Projects for ACOT Associates Group, LLC. Mr. Braner focuses on facility design for various purposes including warehousing, cross docking, manufacturing, and specialty applications. In addition, Mr. Braner leads the engineering disciplines related to outfitting and equipping facilities to meet customer use cases as well as the design and build of custom equipment for defined applications.
Mr. Braner has over 30 years of manufacturing leadership experience and has participated in facility development (Greenfield & Brownfield) for multiple organizations globally. He has led multi-national organizations and teams, revolutionized product design for manufacturability and automation.
Rick Sanchez
Vice President
Rick Sanchez brings 39 years of executive leadership, marked by innovation, strategic growth, and consistent profitability. Known for bold thinking and out-of-the-box strategies, he has led major initiatives across sectors including education, military housing, energy, and aviation.
Rick pioneered the No Capital Outlay LED lighting model for Florida Public Schools—an AI-driven public/private partnership that set a new standard for sustainable infrastructure. At Lend Lease, he modernized U.S. military lodging through a 50-year procurement initiative. He also transformed Blair Sign Company into a global leader, driving profitability through new divisions in Lighting, Logistics, and Global Procurement.
As a global consultant for BP, Rick managed a $758M rebranding budget, achieving $257M in savings and earning top procurement honors. At United Airlines, he turned an outsourced department into a profit center during bankruptcy restructuring. Earlier, he doubled Eagle USA Airfreight’s revenue in 15 months, contributing to a successful IPO.
Rick’s career began at Roadway Express, where he became the youngest office manager and a key national negotiator. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Management from Missouri State University and completed executive education at Harvard Business School.
A visionary and results-driven leader, Rick is passionate about strategic design, engineering, and sustainable growth.
Akin Akinduro
Director of Construction Services
Mr. Akinduro has 25 years of construction professional experience working on many signature projects in Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois. Prior to joining ACOT Associates Group, LLC, Mr. Akinduro worked for Michael Baker International’s Construction Management Division for over four years. During this time, he served as a Project Manager, Assistant Resident Engineer, and Senior Field Engineer Inspector, contributing to major infrastructure projects. His work included the renovation of multiple Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) stations, Illinois Tollway Authority resurfacing projects, airport developments, CTA transit power stations, and various projects for the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Throughout his career, Mr. Akinduro has successfully overseen large-scale projects, including airport expansions, university science buildings, Electrolux manufacturing facilities, new train transit stations, transit power stations, hotels, federal courthouse buildings, commercial and residential developments, bridge deck pavement replacements, and road construction projects.
His expertise extends beyond the United States, having contributed to several international projects in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai as a senior field engineer on the Mall of Egypt project with WSP. His experience on that project enabled him to take on other significant roles, including serving as a field engineer on the Zayed International Airport project in Abu Dhabi and as a resident engineer on the Riyadh Metro Line 5 project in Saudi Arabia for AECOM.
Mr. Akinduro holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Construction Management from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois.
Alex Karahknov, CPE
VP Director of Preconstruction Services
Mr. Alex Karakhanov has over 30 years of experience in estimating and project management. Throughout his international and domestic career, he has played key roles in numerous challenging projects as an estimator, scheduler, project manager, owner’s representative, and project and document control director for Fortune 500 companies nationwide. His extensive experience has earned him high praise from many clients.
Alex is a certified professional estimator and is conversant with project management practices and procedures. His successful estimating experience, combined with his self-motivation and ability to set effective priorities, allows him to achieve both immediate and long-term goals. He maintains strong relationships with clients, consistently meeting project deadlines while achieving the highest quality standards. His proven ability to manage budgets and planning ensures that projects are completed on time.
He is skilled in effectively monitoring and utilizing software such as Bluebeam Revu, Procore HSCC, and Microsoft Office, as well as estimating software like Timberline and MC2, allowing him to build and maintain estimating assemblies for high-volume projects.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Moscow, Baku, USSR
M.S. degree in Construction Management from Washington University, St. Louis, MO (1996)
Brandon DeYoung, PE
Mechanical/Product Development/Facility Flow
13+ years of manufacturing and operational experience has built a career on an array of electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems to execute automated applications of robotic painting, welding, adhesive dispensing and more. Throughout the execution of these projects, the continual learning process has generated operational excellence in process design, value stream mapping, MRP integration, Kaizen, lean manufacturing, as well as engineering and operational management.
Being versatile in the application of these skills has generated an improved state for my employers, our customers and vendors, as well as my own career. 13+ years of manufacturing and operational experience has built a career on an array of electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems to execute automated applications of robotic painting, welding, adhesive dispensing and more. Throughout the execution of these projects, the continual learning process has generated operational excellence in process design, value stream mapping, MRP integration, Kaizen, lean manufacturing, as well as engineering and operational management. Being versatile in the application of these skills has generated an improved state for my employers, our customers and vendors, as well as my own career.
Education: BS in Applied Science, Western Michigan University with Emphasis in
Manufacturing Engineering Technology, 2008-2012.
Michael Borg
Electrical/Robotic Engineer
Michael, with over 10 years of experience in Electrical/Robotics engineering, leads the robotic division of our special projects at ACOT. He has a passion for automation, manufacturing, robotics, and engineering. I take pride in my work ethic and am constantly looking to expand my set of skills and knowledge as I pursue my goals both professionally and personally. I feel that every day is an opportunity to learn something new and have new experiences.
Michael’s experience also includes performing and coordinating construction, programming, and personnel training of PLC-integrated, HMI-controlled industrial multi-robotic and external axes MIG welding cells for producing high-volume steel mid-mile delivery solution components. He has also designed and executed retrofitting and expanding communications and controls capabilities of legacy automation equipment for conveyor-based manufacturing processes and provided a variety of systems design input while performing construction and testing of automated machinery. His expertise extends to pneumatically controlled manual weld fixtures, HMI/PLC-controlled dynamic pneumatic/electronic robotic weld cell fixtures, electronic/pneumatic/hydraulic wireless guided heavy-duty AGV control systems, and automated sheet metal de-coiling and installation as part of a product manufacturing process.
Education:
Purdue University Northwest
Bachelor of Science, Major: Mechatronics Engineering Technology – Minor: Industrial Robotics (2019 – 2023).
Nick Forbes
Process Design Engineer
As a Manufacturing & Process Engineer at ACOT, I apply my mechanical engineering background and skills in process automation to optimize manufacturing processes and improve efficiency.
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University, where I developed a strong foundation in mechanical technology and engineering principles. I am passionate about applying my skills and knowledge to create innovative solutions to overcome complex engineering challenges.
Education:
Purdue University
Bachelor of Science – BS, Mechanical Engineering (2017 – 2021).
Richard Archambault
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
With over 27 years of experience in the manufacturing and maintenance sectors, I have built a strong foundation in machinery construction and upkeep. Currently, I serve as a Machine Builder at ACOT Associates Group, LLC, where I apply my expertise in assembling and maintaining complex machinery as part of the special projects team.
Previously, at Utilimaster and Automation Engineering LLC, I honed my leadership skills as a Maintenance Supervisor, overseeing critical operations and ensuring the reliability of specialized equipment. My core strengths lie in precision craftsmanship, problem-solving, and maintaining high standards of operational efficiency.
Automation Engineering’s commitment to innovation and quality aligns with my passion for excellence. The company specializes in cutting-edge automated assembly and testing technology across various industries. Our goal is to enhance clients’ processes by understanding their unique needs and delivering tailored solutions. With a team of skilled Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineers, as well as Technicians, we transform innovative concepts into reality, driving efficiency and progress in industrial automation.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical/pneumatics/hydraulics/stress loads engineering from Purdue University in 2000.
Rob Carmichael
Electrical/Robotics
Group Leader for the design electrical portion of automation and test equipment. I generate electrical schematics, control panel, and system electrical layouts using AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical.
Rob has over 30 years of experience as a leader in electrical and robotics engineering to lead ACOT’s electrical division. He creates electrical bills of material for system and panel components, programs PLCs (AB All Logix Systems, Micro800 System), programs HMIs (PanelView+, PanelView 800, EZ Automation), and programs Servo Controllers (AB Kinetix, Oriental, Yaskawa). He also designs, integrates, and programs robot systems (ABB, Motoman) and designs the electrical portion of automation and test equipment.
Rob completed his BS degree from Purdue University in 1994.
David Overy
Mechanical/Pneumatics/Hydraulics/Stress Loads
David has 6 years of experience in mechanical engineering, working on various designs, pneumatics, hydraulics, and stress loads for buildings and automation manufacturing projects. He graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.