Cleveland, OH – March 23rd, 2026 –After more than 16 years with Nexus Engineering Group and more than four decades in the construction and development industry, Project Director Jim Donelan is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, technical expertise and lasting contributions to complex building and facilities projects.
A graduate of Cleveland State University, Donelan joined Nexus in 2009 and became a key leader supporting major capital projects at a refinery facility in Oregon, Ohio. What began as a short-term assignment supporting the construction of a new laboratory building evolved into more than a decade of dedicated service helping manage and deliver improvements across the site’s facilities.
Before joining Nexus, Donelan held leadership roles with Vintage Development Group and Associated Estates Realty Corporation, where he directed construction and development efforts for residential and mixed-use projects across multiple states. Earlier in his career, he managed the design and construction of the $250 million Society Tower project in downtown Cleveland, a landmark 57-story office development connected to the historic Society for Savings Building and totaling more than 1.3 million square feet of Class A office space.
Reflecting on his time with the firm, Donelan said joining Nexus was one of the defining opportunities of his career.
“My two lucky breaks in life were landing a job with the developer for the Sohio World Headquarters building and landing a job at Nexus,” Donelan shared. “To be able to watch the growth in talent and professionalism in the Nexus organization — from a server in President & Co-Founder Jeff Herzog’s basement to landing on the ENR Top 500 design firms — has been truly amazing. I’m honored and blessed to have been a small part of that journey.”
Over the years, Donelan led construction management efforts for numerous large-scale projects. His deep knowledge of building construction and ability to guide complex initiatives from concept through commissioning helped ensure successful delivery across a wide range of facility upgrades and expansions.
Throughout his career, Donelan built a reputation for steady leadership, collaboration and practical problem-solving. His professional experience spans every stage of development — from land sourcing and engineering coordination to construction management and project commissioning — along with expertise in project controls, regulatory compliance, contract negotiations and team leadership.
“Jim embodies a very rare combination of integrity, family values, work ethic, intelligence and great personality. Jim is not just a valued Nexus Team member; he is a trusted friend and confidant. We were onsite with a client for almost 10 years and spent a lot of time together including countless dinners and discussions over those years in Perrysburg, Ohio,” says Herzog. “Best wishes to Jim, his wife Nancy and their family as they transition into his retirement.”
In retirement, Jim is looking forward to spending more time with family, chasing his grandkids and finally organizing his workshop. Nexus thanks Donelan for his years of dedication, leadership and mentorship. His contributions to the company, its clients and the many projects he helped deliver will leave a lasting impact across the organization.
