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Leadership built on engineering and field experience.

Practical execution, led by people who have built in the real world.

Leadership

Leadership built on engineering knowledge, field experience, and practical execution.

James LombardiFounder, Ironcrest Structural Engineering

James Lombardi

Founder | Structural Engineer | Construction & Development Professional

Professional Profile

James Lombardi is the founder of Ironcrest Structural Engineering, a City of Industry, California–based firm specializing in structural engineering, steel and ironwork, construction coordination, and project development. The firm supports building owners, contractors, developers, and project partners through engineering services, project planning, construction support, and technical documentation.

Originally from Trinidad and Suriname, he earned his degree in Civil Engineering from The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, and continued his studies at the University of California, Berkeley. That academic grounding, together with his professional experience, shaped his command of structural systems, construction management, project coordination, and applicable U.S. building standards and codes.

His career spans structural engineering, steel erection, independent contracting, construction, project development, and architectural and construction design. This multidisciplinary background informs how he evaluates project requirements, coordinates technical disciplines, and aligns engineering objectives with practical construction methods.

His experience extends across industrial and infrastructure projects, including the Highgate Industrial Complex, structural steel packages for manufacturing and highway projects, and steel erection for facility expansions. These projects share a fundamental requirement: designs must translate accurately from drawings into components that can be fabricated, transported, and erected as intended. That understanding sharpens his focus on constructability, coordination, and the relationship between engineering design and on-site execution.

At Ironcrest, he leads the coordination and development of engineering and construction-related services, with a focus on structural and steel systems, project planning, construction execution, and professional design documentation. Combining engineering knowledge with hands-on field experience, he helps clients turn concepts into practical, buildable, and well-coordinated projects.

His approach considers not only how a structure is designed to perform, but how its components will be fabricated, how the systems will work together, and how the project will ultimately be delivered under real-world conditions.

Leadership & Approach

He believes successful projects depend on sound engineering principles, careful planning, effective collaboration, and close coordination between design and construction. Under his leadership, Ironcrest helps clients navigate complex project requirements and advance projects from initial planning through design coordination and construction.

His professional philosophy centers on practical engineering solutions, technical diligence, clear communication, and a thorough understanding of the realities of construction. By bringing design intent and field considerations together, he supports efficient project delivery and builds lasting relationships with clients, contractors, and project partners.

Selected Achievements

Served as engineer of record for the structural steel package on the Highgate Industrial Complex, coordinating fabrication, shipping, and erection sequencing across a multi-phase build.
Led steel erection for a facility expansion completed without a single lost-time incident over an 11-month schedule.
Built Ironcrest’s internal field-to-office coordination protocol for shop drawing review, reducing rework-driven RFIs on steel packages.

Awards

Recipient of the Steel Fabricators Association of Southern California (SFASC) “Project Coordination Commendation.”
Awarded the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Engineers (TTIE) Student Chapter Prize during his undergraduate studies at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer mentor for a Los Angeles-area high school pre-engineering program.
Volunteer reviewer for a regional science and engineering fair.

Education & Affiliations

B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
Continued studies in structural engineering and construction management, University of California, Berkeley
Member, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

Executive team

The people who run the work.

Ironcrest’s executive team brings engineering, construction delivery, operations, and finance together under one standard of execution.

Richard Bennett

Chief Operating Officer

Chicago office

Richard Bennett serves as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing day-to-day operations across all divisions. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Raised in Columbus, Ohio, he spent summers working for his uncle’s general contracting business before entering the industry full time. Over a 22-year career, Bennett has held roles in field engineering, project controls, and regional operations management, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Operations at a national heavy civil contractor before joining the firm. He is a member of the Associated General Contractors of America and serves on the board of a regional workforce development nonprofit. Bennett is based in the firm’s Chicago office.

Michael Harrington

Director of Structural Engineering

New York office

Michael Harrington is Director of Structural Engineering, responsible for the firm’s structural design practice across commercial, institutional, and transportation projects. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, an M.S. in Structural Engineering from Michigan Technological University, and a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. A native of Rochester, New York, he grew up in a family of tradespeople and developed an early interest in bridges and building frames. Harrington has 18 years of experience, previously spending a decade at a structural design consultancy where he led high-rise and long-span bridge teams. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in eight states and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Structural Engineering Institute. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and taught as an adjunct instructor for several years. Harrington is based in the firm’s New York office.

David Whitmore

Director of Construction & Project Delivery

Philadelphia office

David Whitmore is Director of Construction & Project Delivery, responsible for field operations, scheduling, and project execution. He began his career as a carpenter’s apprentice in Philadelphia and worked his way up through the trades before earning a B.S. in Construction Management from Dunwoody College of Technology through its evening program. Whitmore has 20 years of industry experience, including roles as superintendent, general superintendent, and project executive on hospital, stadium, and higher-education projects. He joined the firm after leading delivery on several large public-sector builds. He is a member of the Associated Builders and Contractors and a frequent presenter on schedule recovery and field leadership. Whitmore is based in the firm’s Philadelphia office.

Catherine Reynolds

Chief Financial Officer

Chicago office

Catherine Reynolds serves as Chief Financial Officer, with responsibility for finance, treasury, bonding, and risk management. She holds a B.A. in Economics from St. John’s College and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Born and raised in Boston, she came to the industry through investment banking coverage of the engineering and construction sector before moving to the operating side. Reynolds has 19 years of finance experience, the last 12 in construction and infrastructure, most recently as Vice President of Finance at a regional infrastructure group. She is a member of the Construction Financial Management Association and a CFA charterholder. Reynolds is based in the firm’s Chicago office.

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