Perniconi named Pankow Foundation executive director

Source: Charles Pankow Foundation, Vancouver, Wash.

The Charles Pankow Foundation (CPF) has appointed a new chief, Mark Perniconi, P.E., successor to Robert Tener, Ph.D., P.E., who retired in May after nearly seven years in the post.

CPF is named for a key innovator in cast-in-place and precast concrete building methods, as well as design-build project delivery. Perniconi envisions the foundation as a strong leader in the construction industry, where the amount of privately funded research is limited. “To get better buildings, we need to have better methodologies and technologies shared with everyone interested. CPF can take a leadership role on research projects and get the results faster than larger government entities can,” says Perniconi, who aims to use the Internet and social media to greater advantage for disseminating research results.

“We look forward to working closely with [Mark] as the foundation continues its high-caliber construction research for the 21st century,” affirms Richard Kunnath, P.E., CPF president and executive chairman of Charles Pankow Builders in Altadena, Calif. Under Perniconi’s direction, CFP will take a more focused approach to the research it funds, Kunnath notes, adding, “We’ll be supporting fewer grant initiatives, but we’ll put greater effort into ensuring we take the research as far as possible, and make the results widely known and meaningful.”

Perniconi holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, Charles Pankow’s alma mater. His early career included work on numerous underground utility projects throughout Central California with the W.M. Lyles Co. and its sister company, Kaweah Construction. In 1985, Perniconi began working for the Pankow Companies, where he managed all real estate activities, and collaborated closely with Charles Pankow on matters of company-owned commercial real estate assets, as well as on development opportunities. Relocating to the Pacific Northwest, he joined the C.E. John Co. and managed the redevelopment of several major retail assets in Portland, Ore. Under Perniconi, the CPF central office will shift from Claremont, Calif. to Vancouver, Wash.