Meet Our Team
PDSI leverages years of hospitality executive and hotel project management experience to deliver a fresh, balanced approach to each project. With a wide spectrum of talent, including technical expertise and unrivalled hotel project management capabilities, we lead our projects by effectively managing the concerns of the owners, managers and contractors throughout the project’s entirety.
“The key issue for us was to identify a project leader who could handle the authority and responsibility for aggressively pursuing our capital projects. We found that in PDSI. They are second to none in listening to our needs and delivering projects to fit those needs and allowing us to concentrate on our core businesses.” — Michael Rudan, Founder,
Rudan Holdings
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Ralph C. Engelberger / Founder and President
Mr. Engelberger founded Project Development Services, Inc. (PDSI) as a platform to create the premier client advocate firm in the hotel real estate development and renovation business and to become the industry’s preferred employer. As President, he is responsible for all firm policy and procedure, the management, growth and profitability of the company, all strategic initiatives, and cultivating new and existing client relations. read more
Since PDSI’s founding in 2001, Mr. Engelberger has led the company to over 100 hotels with a total project value in excess of $1.5 billion. With over 25 years of experience in hotel development, he has built long term relationships with key executives from most major hotel development firms and has gained extensive, unparalleled experience.
Prior to PDSI, Mr. Engelberger enjoyed a successful global development project management and engineering career. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is also an active member of U.S. Green Building Council, The Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, North Buckhead Civic Association, Hands on Atlanta, Project Management Institute and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Engelberger earned his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Alabama with continuing education studies at Harvard University, MIT and DePaul University.
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Angie Fife / Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Fife, the Chief Financial Officer for Project Development Services, Inc., provides financial management expertise for PDSI and its clients. Ms. Fife’s responsibilities as CFO include leading teams to establish financial controls, analyzing accounting and project cost reporting and controlling the funding and payment processes. As one of PDSI’s founding partners, Ms. Fife has overseen PDSI’s double digit growth since its inception and has been integral to gaining PDSI’s clients’ confidence in financial controls. read more
Prior to joining PDSI she worked in the investment banking and restaurant industries. Ms. Fife is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in Finance and Economics. She has actively been involved with the Girl Scouts of America as well as several local community service organizations. Ms. Fife is a member of the Southeastern Regional Council for MedShare International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the efficient recovery and redistribution of medical supplies to underserved healthcare facilities Internationally.
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J. Clif Dierking / Vice President
As Managing Director for the Baltimore office, Mr. Dierking is responsible for owner representation and project management services for hospitality, corporate, and mixed-use projects, as well as tactical responsibility for all key accounts. Mr. Dierking plays a vital role in providing support to clients and onsite management teams in the development of project scope, schedule, budgets and due diligence efforts. read more
Prior to joining PDSI, Mr. Dierking worked as In-house Architect and Development Manager for 180s LLC where he coordinated the relocation efforts for the company’s World Headquarters and Distributions Center in Baltimore and the European Sales Office in Aix en Provence, France. Mr. Dierking served as Senior Project Manager of Technical Services for Six Continents Hotels, where he managed the execution of major capital investment projects and developed architectural and engineering programs. He was also responsible for driving brand distribution and real estate values for the InterContinental Hotel and Crowne Plaza Hotel brands.
Mr. Dierking’s educational background includes a B.S.B.A. from the University of Hawaii and a Master’s in Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Mr. Dierking is a registered architect in Maryland and Guam with an impressive background in the hospitality industry, management and architecture disciplines.
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Donald Leonard / Vice President
Mr. Leonard brings more than 28 years of design, project management and construction experience to his role at PDSI. As Vice President of Operations he leads the Atlanta-based PDSI team’s efforts to serve our clients in the planning and execution of their projects in order to achieve their development and redevelopment goals. read more
Prior to joining PDSI, Mr. Leonard served as Vice President Technical Services of InterContinental Hotels Group for more than nine years. His responsibilities with IHG included design and construction of new-build hotels, capital planning, and execution of major renovation projects for all company-owned, leased and managed hotels in the Eastern U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.
An architect by profession, Mr. Leonard held previous positions as Associate Partner in the New York City office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP and Project Director with the John Hardy Group in Atlanta. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and received his B.S. of Architecture from The Ohio State University. Mr. Leonard has also moderated and participated on panels at the Hotel Design Expo & Conference, the International Hotel / Motel & Restaurant Conference, and the Americas Lodging and Investment Summit.
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Brian K. Mashburn / Vice President
As Managing Director of the Orlando office, Mr. Mashburn manages our team of associates who act as owner’s representatives for hospitality projects throughout the United States. This involves assisting the team with initial development of project scope, budget and schedule, and overseeing the team’s management during the successive project phases, up to and including project closeout. In addition, Mr. Mashburn is involved in the day-to-day interactions with our clients, insuring their overall satisfaction. read more
Before joining PDSI, Mr. Mashburn was Senior Project Manager for CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc. During his tenure at CNL, he was responsible for design and construction management efforts for both renovation and new construction projects. Prior to CNL, Mr. Mashburn served as Project Engineer for Lincoln Property Company of Florida, Inc. where he was instrumental in the successful rollout of the AutoNation USA concept. Mr. Mashburn’s education includes an MBA from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Florida.
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Brian McCarren / Director of Project Accounting
As Director of Project Accounting for PDSI, Mr. McCarren provides leadership and vision that is crucial to the success of each project. To assure all goals are met, Mr. McCarren uses his skills and knowledge in financial planning, cost evaluation and resource management. Working closely for the CFO, he is responsible for quality control and acts as an independent project auditor from start to the completion of a project. Mr. McCarren also oversees day-to-day management of projects while continually tracking budgets, maintaining project insurance and permitting federal and state regulations. read more
His previous experience includes several years in the non-profit sector where his responsibilities included team management, budgets and publications.
With a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition and graduate studies as a Teaching Fellow, Mr. McCarren brings a wide array of talents to the PDSI team.
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Kelly Rosborough / Project Accountant
Ms. Rosborough plays an integral role in the formation, development and administration of all accounting support functions for PDSI’s team of Project Managers and Project Directors. This includes assisting in the coordination and control of the budgeting process for development of project budgets and the translation of those budgets into project cost reports. read more
As Project Accountant, Ms. Rosborough provides PDSI clients with the added assurance that all project accounting is accurate, timely and in line with best practices in the business. By constantly updating each project’s cost report to track all commitments and payments made throughout the life of the project, she is able to apprise clients of the exact status of their budgets at any given moment. She also processes all vendor payments and saves clients valuable time by acting as a direct link to the Project Manager for any questions relating to invoicing. Prior to joining PDSI in 2007, Ms. Rosborough graduated from Appalachian State University in 2005 with a B.S.B.A concentration in Marketing. Upon graduation she worked with Aspen Marketing Services, Inc. for one year. During her time at PDSI she has learned to embrace the “black and white of accounting” and discovered a newfound passion for solving accounting issues.
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Keith Baker / Project Director
Mr. Baker joined the PDSI team in 2006 and works closely with Mr. Dierking out of PDSI Baltimore. As Project Director, he is responsible for owner representation for hotel renovations and a multitude of new building projects. In addition, Mr. Baker develops scope of work documents and conceptual project budgets based on property needs. He also negotiates and secures services for all A&E team members, consultants and construction teams. Mr. Baker’s daily responsibilities include all coordination activities and the tracking and reporting of project budgets and progress. read more
Mr. Baker brings a background in construction management to PDSI after working at Southway Builders Inc. as Construction Superintendent. At Southway Builders, Mr. Baker organized and directed scheduling, subcontractors, and utility companies while acting as primary liaison to architects, designers, owners and developers on both residential and commercial projects. Educated at Georgetown University, Mr. Baker earned his degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.
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Chris Cortellini / Project Manager
Mr. Cortellini brings 30 years of construction experience across a wide range of projects to PDSI. His depth of expertise ensures that PDSI clients can focus on the “big picture” knowing they can implement single or multiple projects with ease and entrust the details to a professional partner who can manage all of the processes involved. From design scope development and coordination, design review and approval, and bid solicitation and evaluation to contract development and administration, purchasing coordination of FF&E, quality control and much more, Mr. Cortellini has demonstrated his full capabilities in a variety of PDSI managed projects. read more
Prior to joining PDSI, Mr. Cortellini served as Project Manager for Sunstone Hotels. Before that he held several construction and project management related positions including Operations Manager and Senior Projects Manager for WELBRO Building Corp. and Project Manager for Federal Construction Co. / Trafalgar Construction. While at WELBRO, Mr. Cortellini was part of the team that constructed the RDV Sportsplex, a multi-use health and sports facility that includes the Orlando Magic training facility, physicians’ offices, ice skating rinks and a health club.
Mr. Cortellini received a BS in Building Construction from The University of Florida as well as an AA in Building Construction from St. Petersburg Junior College. He has also taken Supervisory Leadership classes from Rollins College and holds a Class A General Contractor license.
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Chloe Cunningham / Sr. Project Manager
Her background in real estate development and interior design underscores Ms. Cunningham’s ability to manage the design and construction process for renovations of PDSI’s client assets. In this capacity she has developed and led major projects including multiple Courtyard Marriott Reinventions for Inland American Lodging Advisors as well as numerous renovations for Barceló Crestline. read more
Recently, Ms. Cunningham relocated to Seattle, WA and led the opening of the PDSI Seattle office in the waterfront district of downtown Seattle. Prior to joining PDSI in 2008, Ms. Cunningham had established her own design and real estate consulting business in Baltimore, MD. Combining her business qualifications with an eye for uniquely designed projects, she pursued real estate development opportunities with local developers who needed outside expertise in managing their development projects. While holding the position of Business Manager at e.magination network, llc in Baltimore, MD she led the reorganization of the company’s office space plan and designed and built a “User Centered Design Studio” for observation of users of the end product software development. The experience of running her own business and consulting on numerous development projects has given Ms. Cunningham valuable insights into what is required to manage projects efficiently and profitably.
Ms. Cunningham received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from The College of William and Mary in 1999. She furthered her education in her current field with additional studies in Architecture and Design at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).
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Michael Oyervides / Project Manager
With more than three decades of hotel renovations experience, Mr. Oyervides brings a high degree of expertise and professionalism to his role, including over 16 years of project management. His primary responsibilities include assisting owners in verifying, developing and budgeting the scope of work; creating, researching and securing quotes from qualified sub-contractors; and making recommendations for the selection of all project team members. Mr. Oyervides also coordinates and oversees all relevant phases of the project to ensure all work is completed within budget and that quality control measures are maintained. In addition, he serves as liaison between project team members and owners including onsite property management. read more
Before joining PDSI, Mr. Oyervides worked for a general contractor specializing in hotel renovations. Starting as a project superintendent, he assumed a project management position after two years, handling multiple projects concurrently. Prior to that, Mr. Oyervides was a consultant to the hospitality industry, serving as an owner’s representative to oversee projects as well as contracting to handle drapery installation plus FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) coordination and installation
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Julie Rivera / Project Manager
Her firm grasp of the profitability and productivity dynamic underscores Ms. Rivera’s abilities to develop and administer the scope of work, project budgets, scheduling, design, construction, and FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) documents and contracts on behalf of PDSI’s clients. She also acts as the coordinator between all project consultants to ensure delivery of the project on schedule and within budget while ensuring all work is completed in accordance with approved plans and specifications. read more
Prior to joining PDSI, Ms. Rivera was an accomplished Retail Planning Manager with more than ten years experience in planning and allocation for Fortune 100 companies including The Coca-Cola Company and The Walt Disney Company. She project managed the rehab of the Coca-Cola Store in Las Vegas, NV and was a key member of the project team that developed and implemented the World of Coca-Cola retail store in Atlanta, GA. Prior to this, Ms. Rivera project managed the $7.5 million multi-phase World of Disney rehab in Orlando, FL and worked closely with Hasbro, Inc. to create the retail location for Disney’s $12.5 million Once Upon a Toy project.
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Chris Schwandt / Project Manager
Mr. Schwandt serves as Project Manager and is responsible for strategic planning and budgeting, facility operations and construction management. While ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations on each project, he is also responsible for regulatory compliance, contracts and capital budgeting. read more
Mr. Schwandt came to PDSI with over twenty years experience in construction and project management. Working at Classic Residence by Hyatt in Chicago, Mr. Schwandt ensured that all projects met regulatory and engineering quality control standards. He also held positions with Vencor Hospitals as Director of Plant Operations prior to becoming a multi-site Director of Plant Operations and Environmental Sciences. With Vencor, Mr. Schwandt served as manager of construction, renovation, building maintenance, housekeeping and security.
Mr. Schwandt’s educational background includes project management and extensive training in understanding and implementing federal quality control standards and regulations.
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Joel Tate / Project Manager
Mr. Tate brings a decade of project management and engineering knowledge to his position at PDSI. His background and experience gives him the ability to enable clients to forecast project costs to ensure their projects are delivered within internal budgets and schedules. Mr. Tate’s responsibilities include developing and managing project scope, budget and schedules; design and construction coordination and administration; strategic planning; and problem solving unforeseen circumstances – all with cost effective solutions. read more
When he joined PDSI in 2008, Mr. Tate demonstrated the ability to communicate project expectations and intent on all levels, from owner to designer to contractor. He honed his strong organizational skills and his ability to manage multi-faceted projects in his previous position as Project Manager for the Penrose Group, a Virginia developer specializing in Class A office buildings and upscale condominiums and apartment buildings. Prior to this, Mr. Tate served as Office/Field Engineer for Performance Contracting, Inc. where he was directly involved in all aspects of managing commercial, institutional and industrial construction projects.
Mr. Tate earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Michigan State University in 2002. He has been a member of the American Institute of Constructors since 2002 and has received OSHA training certification in the MSU Construction Safety Course. He also completed the Confined Space Entry Training Course at Michigan State.
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Nicole Griffin / Assistant Project Manager
Her background in interior design gives Ms. Griffin an excellent basis for an overall understanding of the processes involved with supporting PDSI project teams and clients. Her primary function is to assist Project Managers with coordination of furniture, fixtures and equipment design specifications; purchase orders; and expediting projects with interior designers, purchasing agents and warehousing. She also works with Project Managers and the accounting team to coordinate contracts and invoices. read more
Before joining PDSI in 2008, Ms. Griffin pursued an education that equipped her with a variety of skills well suited for her current position. After graduating with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts / Life Sciences in 2004 from Harrisburg Area Community College, she went on to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree Summa Cum Laude in Interior Design. Prior to graduation, Ms. Griffin successfully completed a summer internship / employment program at Lowe’s Home Improvement Store working as a design associate. Upon graduation, she then worked at the EXPO Design Center assisting customers in planning kitchen designs and creating cost estimates.
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Abby Weber / Project Coordinator
Ms. Weber plays an integral role assisting PDSI’s team of Project Directors, Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers in the administration of documents and contracts for their projects. As Project Coordinator, she provides PDSI clients with a consistent, knowledgeable contact for assistance at any time. In addition to coordinating Consultant Team proposal requests, contract administration and design team management, Ms. Weber acts as liaison between the PDSI project management team and project consultants. She also coordinates FF&E (furniture, fixtures & equipment) design specifications and purchase orders required for projects as well as assists managers and directors with the development of project scope of work, budget and schedule documents. read more
Before joining PDSI, Ms. Weber worked with a broad range of architecture and design firms, contractors and property managers doing business development for all types of market segments, including hospitality. Her most recent positions included Sale Representative for Bentley Prince Street, a commercial carpet manufacturer; Coordinator for Haworth Showroom, commercial office furniture manufacturer; and Sales Assistant for Knoll commercial office furniture manufacturer.
Ms. Weber graduated from Appalachian State University in 2005 with a B.S. degree in Apparel & Textiles with a minor in Marketing. Her computer proficiency, excellent communication skills and detail oriented organizational skills make her a perfect fit to coordinate a wide range of PDSI projects.