Executive Officers

Wade Bushman

Chief Executive Officer

WADE BUSHMAN joined YOUNG & Associates in 2010 as a Building Consultant and quickly worked his way to Partner, then Executive Partner, overseeing our Southeast region and now Chief Executive Officer. Throughout his 28 year career, Wade has been responsible for procuring and managing complex design-build projects and insurance property losses including residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental structures and facilities. He is well versed in cost estimating, loss documentation, environmental loss management, restoration and mitigation oversight, new construction and repair bid package management, dispute resolution as umpire and referee assignments, and catastrophe assignment management and estimating. He is experienced in professional consulting services including repair and replacement estimating, negotiation of mitigation, restoration and re-construction needs, conflict settlement services, and scope of work control and scheduling management. Wade has introduced a streamlined construction management approach to the insurance industry to ensure prompt reporting and cost estimating while maintaining accuracy. His experience on multi-million dollar industrial projects, along with his dynamic leadership skills, complements the Executive Team at YA.

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Justin Kapisak

President

JUSTIN KAPISAK joined YOUNG & Associates in 2010 as a building consultant. Since then he has quickly progressed through a wide variety of assignments and positions. In November of 2019, Justin assumed the position of President of YOUNG & Associates. His impressive background includes the management and supervision of major large losses in Latin America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and all across the United States. His project experience includes municipalities, education, hospitality, gaming, and manufacturing. Before joining YA, Justin worked on major projects for one of the largest general contractors in the United States, where he specialized in construction management and project analysis. As President, Justin is responsible for all aspects of daily operations for YOUNG & Associates.

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Richard Dethlefs

President, YAES

Rich has been an executive at YOUNG & Associates since 2017, heading up our Northwest property consultant group. In January 2009, Rich founded YA Engineering Services, our partner professional engineering firm. Rich is a licensed professional and structural engineer with over twenty-five years of experience working with the insurance industry performing structural investigations, repair designs, litigation support, and code upgrade analyses. Experience includes the evaluation, cause analysis, litigation support and courtroom testimony in various projects including the collapse of a 210-foot tower crane in Bellevue, Washington; claims related to the Seattle Tunnel Project; Seattle Sea Wall builder's risk claim; Carpenter's Tower construction defect and corrosion damage litigation in Seattle, Washington; collapse of the Robinson Road Bridge in Nampa, Idaho; dozens of condominium defect claims and progressive rot claims in western Washington and Oregon; Dillingham, Alaska water tank roof collapse; evaluation of failure of the Homer, Alaska sea wall; non-destructive testing and evaluation of concrete bridge piers for the Korean High Speed Rail Authority construction of the South Korea High Speed Rail System; modeling, evaluation and load testing of post-tensioned concrete parking garage beams at Miami International Airport; evaluation of cracking and damage to concrete water containment structures including the Seattle Public Utilities underground water reservoirs, Lake Michigan Water Filtration Plant, and the Post Point Water Treatment plant in Bellingham, Washington; and evaluation of earthquake damage to dozens of structures following the 2001 Seattle earthquake, including the SODO Center / Starbucks Building in Seattle, Washington. In addition, Rich has experience on over 100 fire damage and/or code-upgrade analysis projects.

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Mike DeLuca

Chief Financial Officer

Michael DeLuca joined YA as Chief Financial Officer in 2021. Michael began his career in public accounting and has since served in various corporate finance roles. Immediately prior to joining YA, Michael was CFO for an auto tool and equipment distributor based in Florida. Michael graduated from Boston University, received an MBA from Florida State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant. Michael is a hardworking, team-focused leader that brings extensive financial knowledge and experience to the YA executive team.

Mark Cantalamessa

Managing Partner

Mark Cantalamessa is the Managing Partner for YOUNG & Associates based out of the Pittsburgh office. Mark oversees all aspects of our services in the upper Midwest Region through the additional regional offices and associates located in Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati. Through these offices, we service North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio as well as the western half of Pennsylvania. Mark joined YA as Senior Vice President in 2020. A leader in the property claims industry with over 36 years of experience. Mark has served in various capacities over his career including Director of Business Development for one of the industry’s leading investigative accounting & litigation support firms, Meaden & Moore; Senior Vice President, Equity Partner and Global Client Executive for J.S. Held; Senior Vice President of Claims and Director of Risk Consulting for one of the industry’s leading wholesale insurance brokerage firms, NAPCO; Vice President and Middle Market Property Claims Leader for the industry’s leading insurance brokerage firm, Marsh; National Business Development Manager and National Account Executive for two of the industry’s leading restoration and reconstruction firms, Interstate Restoration and Flagship PDG; Senior Claim Representative for one of the industry’s leading insurance carriers, Travelers (formerly Aetna).

Lyn Crabtree

Managing Partner

Lyn Crabtree joined YOUNG & Associates in 2014 as a Building Consultant and worked his way to Partner in 2019, overseeing our Southeast Region. Lyn is a licensed Architect who started in the construction industry in the late 1990s, working at a mid-sized architectural firm in Nashville, TN. He served as Project Architect for many large, complex projects such as the $100 million MTSU Science Building, the $90 million MARS petcare Research and Development facility, and the $60 million High Rise – Terrazzo Residential Tower. With YOUNG & Associates, Lyn has consulted on a variety of losses, including Winston Medical Center in Mississippi, a community hospital that had a direct hit by a tornado. The loss was in excess of $18 million. These complicated projects involved a complex team of consultants, which Lyn coordinated. His ability to efficiently lead and manage all aspects of the process while listening to the client is exceptional. Lyn has also completed additional IICRC certifications, including the Master Water Restorer and Master Fire & Smoke Restorer.

Blake Kapisak

Managing Partner

Blake Kapisak joined YOUNG & Associates in 2017, bringing with him a diverse range of experience in Project Management and Operations. Blake has demonstrated the insight needed to expertly develop project scopes, control project schedule, budget, perform job monitoring, and reporting for projects of over $250MM. His professional background in Project Management and Operations allows him to quickly adapt to any project environment, regardless of the construction phase. As a Regional Consultant with YOUNG & Associates, Blake has consulted on a variety of losses including residential, multi-family, high-end residential, commercial, valuations, retail, apartments/condominiums, hotel and resorts, and manufacturing.

Kevin Kapisak

Managing Partner

Kevin Kapisak joined YOUNG & Associates in 2015. Since 2000, Kevin has focused his career entirely in the field of construction, real estate, and property claims. He has spent time out in the field, classroom, and various upper management roles on major construction projects ranging from $1M to $365M. While a majority of Kevin’s experience has been managing complex construction projects and claims, he has also personally invested in dilapidated early 1900’s single and multi-family properties that he has enjoyed restoring to their original glory. As Partner, his role capitalizes on his vast experience by managing a team of consultants specializing in the use of scheduling, estimating, and coordinating outside specialty consultants to evaluate large and complex losses. Kevin’s diverse knowledge from the construction management, real estate, and insurance claims perspective, gives him a unique and progressive vision in the scoping, reporting, estimating, and investigation into property damage losses for YOUNG & Associates clients.

Jack R. Kennedy, III

Managing Partner, Investigative Services

Jack R. Kennedy, III joined YOUNG & Associates in 2022 as Managing Partner of YA Investigative Services. His impressive background includes over 30 years of combined public safety, military, investigative and management experience. He is an experienced licensed investigator and executive leader with a demonstrated history of working in the forensic investigation industry. He has conducted and supervised investigations for numerous insurance carriers, law firms, corporations, government agencies, and high-net-worth individuals. He has the professionalism and expertise to work with clients and investigators to ensure each investigation is handled properly and is prepared for potential litigation. Additionally, he has extensive experience in business operations, growth, recruiting, retention and training of the most qualified investigators in the industry. As Managing Partner, Jack is responsible for the daily operations of YA Investigative Services.

Dan Kirkland

Sr. Vice President, Operations

DAN KIRKLAND (VP of Operations) joined YOUNG & Associates in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, bringing his career experience as a commercial construction manager and estimator to the YA team. In 2012, Dan assumed the role of Operations Manager at a national level and coordinates our national consultant team and systems development. Dan is a native to the Pacific Northwest, has a degree in Construction Management from the University of Washington, and currently resides with his family in the greater Seattle area.

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Bill McConathy

National Director - Business Development

Bill McConathy joined YOUNG & Associates in 2018 as the National Director of Business Development. Since Bill has taken on this role for the company, he has helped create and manage our strategic business development and marketing efforts across the country and continues to lead our staff within the division. Bill’s past positions throughout his career includes many years of proven leadership, entrepreneurship, operations management & sales management experience. He has worked in several different capacities within the insurance claims industry for over 24 years and has a various background to include commercial & residential contracting, emergency mitigation, restoration, TPA and independent adjusting services. Bill has a proven track record of leading, mentoring & training successful business development teams within his tenure to help companies create strong long-term client relationships for company growth goals and retention.

Mike Vujica

Vice President, Recruiting

MIKE VUJICA is the Executive Partner for YOUNG & Associates based out of the Chicago office. Mike oversees all aspects of our services in the upper Midwest region through the additional regional offices and associates located in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Ann Arbor Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. Through these offices, we serve North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Lower and Upper Michigan, Ohio, as well as the western half of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining YOUNG & Associates in 2005, Mike had over 25 years in the commercial construction industry providing estimating, procurement, project management and oversight of all types of large scale construction projects, including but not limited to; heavy and highway civil projects, public transit systems, water/wastewater treatment facilities, high-rise commercial/residential, health care/critical care facilities, and higher education both public and private.

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Rick Whitworth

Managing Partner

Rick Whitworth joined YOUNG Associates in 2010. He has prepared estimates, schedule analyses, and scope assessments for projects throughout Texas and the surrounding region, including Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri. Rick provides consultation on property and builder’s risk losses for a variety of projects, including commercial, institutional, retail, multi-family, and high-end residential projects. On large, complex losses, Rick manages and coordinates teams of consultants, engineers, hygienists, and other experts. Before joining YOUNG & Associates, Rick worked for 13 years in commercial construction project management. He has worked in architecture, general contracting, and owner representation on a variety of project types, including tenant improvements, single-family homes, medical office buildings, call centers, branch banks, data centers, schools, and libraries. Rick obtained an undergraduate degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University before obtaining two graduate degrees in Architecture and Construction Management from the University of Washington.

Shane Woytko

Vice President, YA University

SHANE WOYTKO has been a part of the YOUNG & Associate team since 2004. His vast knowledge of the construction industry stems from his years of work as a Construction Project Manager in both the private and public sectors. As an Executive Partner, Shane oversees our four Texas offices, as well as our offices in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Shane has been integral in several of YA's large cost consulting projects over the years, including during the 2004 Florida Hurricanes, 2005 Florida and Gulf Coast Hurricanes, and the 2008 and 2017 Texas and Gulf Coast Hurricanes. He has established an industry-leading team and is an integral member of YA's Executive team.

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