EEI Announces Leadership Transition
EEI, a national leader in facility systems consulting, has announced a strategic leadership transition as Jeff Nichols steps down from his role as CEO/president. Having now successfully guided the firm through its reorganization and rapid expansion and identified his successor, Nichols will assume a more focused role as vice president of business development and strategic growth.
Blake Hickok, formerly EEI’s chief financial officer, has been appointed CEO/president. Jeremy Wescoat, a seasoned executive with nearly three decades of experience, will succeed Hickok as chief financial officer. Both Hickok and Wescoat are based in EEI’s Denver office. Nichols will continue to serve from the firm’s Seattle, Washington office.
“Jeff’s transition reflects EEI’s commitment to an evolving leadership team while staying true to the values and technical rigor that have defined our success,” said Hickok. “His continued influence will be instrumental as we grow and expand our reach and impact for clients. I’m committed to advancing EEI’s national presence while ensuring our team remains supported by a strong employee ownership culture.”
Hickok brings a long history of leadership at EEI, having previously served as both chief financial officer and chief operating officer. In these roles, he led initiatives that strengthened performance, profitability, and operational resilience. His broad management expertise includes corporate visioning, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and ESOP implementation and stewardship—making him a key architect of EEI’s national impact. Known for his emotional intelligence and systems-thinking approach, Hickok has developed scalable processes and controls that support current operations and position the firm for continued expansion.
Wescoat joins EEI as chief financial officer, bringing nearly 30 years of experience across finance, accounting, operations, and administration in the professional services, consulting and global communications industries. He has successfully scaled organizations, executed complex acquisitions, and aligned cross-functional teams to achieve long-term success and operational excellence.
McWhinney Names Jason Cruce Executive Vice President of Hospitality Development
McWhinney announced the appointment of Jason Cruce as executive vice president of hospitality development. Cruce will oversee all aspects of hospitality development, including project staffing, negotiations with hotel brands, evaluation of national market opportunities, design and construction, financing, and transition to asset management.
With more than 20 years of experience in transforming hospitality destinations, Cruce has delivered over $2 billion in mixed-use commercial real estate, 5,000+ boutique, luxury and lifestyle hotel keys, and 20+ restaurants and nightlife venues, alongside retail-fit-outs and corporate office tenant improvements. Notable hospitality projects led by Cruce in the U.S. and internationally include SLS Hotels at Beverly Hills, CA and Baha Mar in the Bahamas, Sahara Las Vegas, Treehouse Silicon Valley, CA and 1 Hotels in West Hollywood, CA, Nashville, TN and Hanalei Bay, HI.
In his new role, Cruce will lead McWhinney’s hospitality development team, spearhead negotiations with hotel brands, and carry projects through the full life cycle—from design and construction to operations. This includes overseeing the selection of exemplary architects, designers and project staff seeking to deliver destinations that meet market expectations. Collaborating with investors and partners, Cruce will strive to advance McWhinney’s brand pillars through each project and help drive the company’s long-term growth strategy.
“Jason’s appointment marks an important step as we continue to grow McWhinney’s hospitality portfolio,” said Will Little, chief development officer at McWhinney. “He knows how to take complex projects from vision to reality, which is central to our mission of creating places people love. With Jason’s leadership, we’re well-positioned to pursue new opportunities and deliver destinations that meet the highest standards of design, innovation and guest experience.”
Cruce joins McWhinney from Starwood Capital Group, where he served as senior vice president and head of hotel development. His career also spans leadership roles at Dakota Development/sbe and Hilton Worldwide, as well as founding consulting practices focused on luxury hotel development and global design standards. Cruce officially assumed his new role at McWhinney on Oct. 1, 2025.
“I’m proud to join McWhinney and contribute to the continued growth of its hospitality platform,” said Cruce. “What drew me here is the caliber of the team and its reputation across the commercial real estate industry for thoughtful, long-term vision. This is a place where destinations are created that perform for partners, resonate with guests and strengthen the markets in which they operate. I’m grateful for the opportunity to build on that record and to work alongside Will and our partners to advance a portfolio that sets McWhinney apart.”
Chief Executive Officer Willis Wiedel Retires from Encore Electric
Encore Electric Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Willis Wiedel retired from Encore Electric effective on October 1, 2025. After 48 years in the electrical industry, Wiedel has helped to build a legacy company that is founded on values and culture.
Wiedel has been a leader and mentor in the industry for over three decades, serving in various roles including chief estimator and overseeing pre-construction and project management at Cupertino Electric, as well as leading Service and Special Projects and serving as president at Riviera Electric. In 2003, Wiedel co-founded Encore Electric and has since championed the company’s values of honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior.
“Willis built more than a company—he built a culture of trust, integrity, and heart. His quiet wisdom shaped leaders, his values shaped Encore, and his legacy will shape its future,” said Encore Electric President Andy Gordon.
As a leader, Wiedel has always seen value in developing and promoting people from within the company. He has personally mentored many of the current leaders at Encore Electric and played a significant role in shaping their careers.
“Willis is an incredible visionary, always looking forward at the bigger picture of the company. This allowed other senior leaders to work on the day-to-day business, knowing that his insight and thoughtfulness was building the road map to where we were going in the future. Willis made sure that our teams and leadership decisions always kept Encore’s people and customers as our number one priority. He helped build a strong group of legacy leaders that will now lead the company into the future,” said Executive Vice President Marlin Linder at Encore Electric.
Wiedel is known for his humility, openness to others, and being a visionary who has consistently upheld the merit shop philosophy in both principle and practice. Though Wiedel is stepping away, his impact at Encore Electric will be felt for generations, through the leaders he mentored and the culture he helped build.
