Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Florida’s Matthew Zwack Named as Successor to President David Dale

Owen‑Ames‑Kimball (O‑A‑K) Company, a preeminent general contractor with a longstanding presence in Southwest Florida, announces that Matthew Zwack, currently vice president of operations for O‑A‑K Florida, will assume the role of president in January 2021. Zwack will succeed current president David Dale. Dale will remain with the company through the end of 2021 to facilitate the transition.

Dale joined O‑A‑K in 1989 and was promoted to the Board of Directors in 2004. In 2008, he became president of O‑A‑K Florida. The Business Observer named O‑A‑K Florida 63rd in the top 500 companies from Tampa to Naples in 2019. O‑A‑K reported $290 million in revenue, up 7.41% from 2018.

Dale grew O‑A‑K Florida into the go-to airport contractor in the region. O‑A‑K has worked on numerous aviation projects ranging from runway extensions to terminal construction at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Naples Municipal Airport, Marco Island Executive Airport, Immokalee Regional Airport, Labelle Municipal Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers.

High-profile projects under the direction of Dale include the new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), the transformation of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in Fort Myers into the Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s Collaboratory, the construction of the 62,000-square-foot Family Health Centers medical building in Lehigh Acres, the construction of the 164,000 square foot Lehigh Middle School, the 36,000 square foot Heights Early Learning and Education Center, Sam Galloway Ford Sales & Service improvements and additions, and the construction of the 77,800 square foot Scanlon Auto Group dealership.

"I have enjoyed the 31 years with a great company, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead it for the last thirteen,” said Dale. “I am very proud of what my team has accomplished. Being an employee-owned company, our employees are the most vital and essential asset. We have laid out a vision for the company that will guide O‑A‑K Florida for many years to come, and with Matthew Zwack as president and the rest of our core team in place, I have great confidence about the future success of O‑A‑K,” said Dale. “Matthew, stepping into the role as my successor is part of our multi-phase succession plan. His leadership, personal style, and experiences across our business qualify him to step into this role. He is well-respected by our clients and employees, and he embodies the company's core values.”

Zwack joined O‑A‑K Florida in 2005 as an assistant superintendent and was promoted to job site superintendent, overseeing both public and private work. He served as the chief safety officer and general superintendent, overseeing all superintendents within O‑A‑K Florida. He was appointed to the O‑A‑K Florida board of directors in 2016. In 2019, Zwack was named Vice President of Operations. Zwack has been responsible for the overall safety, schedule, quality and on-site activities of every O‑A‑K Florida project for the past five years. He is a LEED Accredited Professional Certified for Building Design and Construction.

"I am humbled and excited by this opportunity to lead O‑A‑K Florida,” said Zwack. “At a time of extraordinary growth for our 129-year-old company, I am committed to working alongside our talented employees to uphold our values and serve our clients with teamwork and integrity. I am energized by this challenge and look forward to guiding O‑A‑K Florida’s continued success.”

An employee-owned company, O‑A‑K Florida, Inc.’s Board of Directors is comprised of members from the company’s Florida operations. Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. O‑A‑K’s Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, established in 1891. The Florida operation has offices in Collier and Lee counties. Its headquarters are in Lee County, located at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about O‑A‑K at www.owen‑ames‑kimball.com.