Nexus Invests in Engineering Leadership to Support Continued Growth

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Graphic announcing engineering discipline manager promotions at Nexus Engineering Group. Five professional headshots are displayed on a burgundy background in a two-row layout. The top row features three individuals labeled Process Discipline Manager, I&C Discipline Manager, and I&C Discipline Manager. The bottom row features two individuals labeled Electrical Discipline Manager. Each photo includes the individual's name and discipline manager title in white text over a blue banner at the bottom of the image.

Nexus Invests in Engineering Leadership to Support Continued Growth

Cleveland, OH – August 2026 – Nexus Engineering Group, a full-service independent engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) firm, is proud to announce the promotions of Scott Wedding, Rick Surdy, Craig Piunno, Austin Rhoads, and Nicole Gerenda and the hiring of Antonie van Niekerk to key engineering discipline leadership roles across the organization. These promotions and hire reflect Nexus' commitment to developing internal talent, strengthening technical leadership, and supporting continued growth throughout the company.

The appointments build upon the recent promotions of Steve Wilson and Gary Ventimiglia to Engineering Director roles, which have created opportunities to further strengthen and evolve the Engineering leadership team within Nexus.

"Nexus has always been an organization that is focused on being a great place to work," said Jeff Herzog, President and Co-Founder of Nexus Engineering Group. “Part of that commitment is providing our talented engineers with opportunities to advance and grow in their careers. These promotions and hire reinforce our commitment to developing future leaders from within our organization and better position our team for future growth."

The new leaders will oversee the departments for their respective disciplines, helping to guide engineering and project execution, support team member learning and development, and advance the firm's commitment to safe, innovative, and high-quality engineering solutions.

Craig Piunno, Instrumentation & Controls Discipline Manager – Toledo

Promoted to Instrumentation & Controls Discipline Manager in Toledo, Craig Piunno brings more than 10 years of experience in electrical engineering, automation, instrumentation, and process control systems. Since joining Nexus, he has played a key role in continuous improvement initiatives and instrumentation system design while helping clients improve reliability and operational performance. Piunno’s promotion follows the transition of the previous Discipline Manager to a new role supporting a major project for Nexus in the Power & Energy space. He will lead the Toledo I&C team while continuing to advance technical excellence within the discipline.

Antonie van Niekerk, Instrumentation & Controls Discipline Manager – Cleveland

Antonie van Niekerk has recently joined Nexus as the Instrumentation & Controls Discipline Manager for the Cleveland office. With more than 23 years of experience delivering automation, control systems, and safety solutions, van Niekerk brings extensive leadership experience across chemical, petrochemical, and manufacturing environments. His background in process safety, automation systems, and multidisciplinary engineering leadership will support continued growth within the I&C team and among Cleveland engineering firms. His hiring follows the advancement of Steve Wilson to Engineering Director, strengthening the firm's leadership structure while creating new opportunities for discipline growth and development.

Austin Rhoads, Electrical Discipline Manager – Toledo

Promoted to Electrical Discipline Manager in the Toledo office, Austin Rhoads brings more than 14 years of experience in electrical design, engineering, BIM coordination, and multidisciplinary project execution. Throughout his career, he has developed expertise in power system design, CAD and Revit modeling, and technical leadership across industrial and manufacturing environments. His promotion follows the retirement of Electrical Discipline Manager Alan Kohart and reflects Nexus's commitment to developing leaders from within. In his new role, Rhoads will lead the growth and development of the electrical discipline while supporting project delivery across the region and expanding Nexus's presence among Toledo engineering firms.

Nicole Gerenda, Electrical Discipline Manager – Cleveland

Promoted to Electrical Discipline Manager, Nicole Gerenda will lead Nexus' growing substation engineering efforts as the firm continues expanding its services and support for utility and power infrastructure clients. Gerenda brings experience in substation design, transmission planning, power system studies, protection and control systems, and multidisciplinary project execution. Since joining Nexus, she has contributed to the delivery of reliable power infrastructure solutions for utility and industrial clients. Her promotion comes as part of a newly created leadership position designed to provide additional structure, mentorship, and technical oversight within the expanding electrical team. The role reflects continued growth driven by increasing client demand in the Power & Energy sector and Nexus's commitment to investing in specialized leadership to support that growth.

Scott Wedding, Process Discipline Manager – Toledo

Promoted to Process Discipline Manager in the Toledo office, Scott Wedding brings more than a decade of experience supporting oil, gas, petrochemical, and industrial projects. Throughout his career at Nexus, he has developed expertise in process equipment design, hydraulic analysis, process simulation, and troubleshooting complex operating systems. Known for his collaborative, client-focused approach, Wedding will lead the Toledo Process Engineering team while supporting the continued growth of the region's engineering operations. His promotion follows the advancement of Gary Ventimiglia to Engineering Director.

Rick Surdy, Process Discipline Manager – Cleveland

As Process Discipline Manager in Cleveland, Rick Surdy will lead a growing team supporting projects across the chemical, oil and gas, and power & energy sectors. Surdy has extensive experience leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts, process hazard analyses, process simulations, and major capital project execution. His technical background and leadership experience position him to support the continued growth and development of Nexus' process engineering capabilities.

These promotions represent an important step in strengthening Nexus' engineering leadership and management structure as the company continues to grow among Midwest engineering firms. By investing in experienced technical leaders and creating opportunities for career advancement, Nexus remains committed to delivering exceptional value to clients while fostering a culture of excellence, mentorship, and continuous development.

About Nexus Engineering Group

Nexus Engineering Group is a full-service, independent engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with offices in Toledo, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Midland, Michigan; and Oak Brook, Illinois. Founded in 2005, Nexus partners closely with clients to support project goals from concept through startup, delivering practical, reliable solutions across the refining, petroleum midstream, chemical, manufacturing, power & energy, and renewables markets.

Nexus integrates engineering, procurement, and construction management services to help clients plan and execute complex projects with confidence. Through close collaboration and a client-first approach, Nexus supports informed decision-making, manages project risk, and delivers practical solutions that enhance safety, reliability, and long-term project value.

August 21, 2026