Ghafari Strengthens Leadership Team with Five Promotions

DEARBORN, MI – Global architecture and engineering firm Ghafari Associates (Ghafari) is excited to announce the promotions of five leadership team members – a move that underscores the firm’s deep investment in growing talent from within. From founding a regional office to pioneering new service offerings, each individual has shaped the direction of the firm and the teams around them.

Scott Heywood, AIA, NCARB has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Alabama Office. Heywood joined Ghafari in 2014 as the founding member of the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama operation. Over the past 12 years, he has played a critical role in establishing Ghafari’s foothold in the Southeastern U.S., forging deep client relationships across the higher education, healthcare, and industrial sectors, building a trusted contractor network, and growing the Birmingham office. He was also instrumental in the firm’s recent acquisition of BBG&S, a strategic move that doubled the size of the Birmingham team.

Chris Costis, PE steps into the role of Vice President, Structural Engineering. Over his 15-year tenure with the firm, Costis has led the structural design for some of Ghafari’s most complex automotive and industrial projects, both domestically and internationally. He has been deeply committed to mentoring staff, managing resources, and maintaining rigorous quality standards. Beyond project delivery, he has also spearheaded enhanced structural detailing as an expanded service offering for the firm.

Andrew Cottrell, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP has been named Vice President, Design. Since joining the firm in 2015, Cottrell has significantly transformed Ghafari’s design practice, enhancing the quality of commercial, retail, and manufacturing projects both domestically and internationally. His work has consistently advanced the firm’s design reputation, earning recognition from peers and industry leaders alike. Additionally, he advocates for the integration of virtual and augmented reality technologies into the design process, positioning Ghafari at the forefront of innovative design visualization and communication.

Greg Enos, PE, LEED AP takes on the role of Vice President, Electrical Engineering. In his two decades with the firm, Enos has built a reputation as one of Ghafari’s most versatile engineering leaders. His experience spans electrical design oversight, domestic and international project leadership, resource management, staff development, quality assurance, and direct client engagement. Enos also oversees the ICT + Security team, providing strategic leadership and operational direction to support integrated technology and security solutions across the firm’s core market sectors.

Scott Bernth, PE, LEED AP, CEM has been named Director, Mechanical Engineering, Aviation + Mission Critical. Since joining the firm two decades ago, Bernth has established himself as a technically skilled and people-focused leader, applying his expertise across all facets of mechanical design on global projects in many sectors. His impact extends well beyond project delivery; he has played an important role in developing the next generation of engineers, managing resource planning, and holding the firm’s North American mechanical engineering teams to a high standard of quality.

“At Ghafari, we are committed to supporting the development of our team members and helping our colleagues advance at every stage of their careers,” says Kouhaila (Ki) Hammer, Ghafari’s President + CEO. “Each of these individuals has made a significant impact on our firm and the teams they work with. Their leadership, dedication to mentorship, and commitment to delivering quality work with demanding schedules for our various clients have strengthened Ghafari from within. We look forward to witnessing their continued impact in the years ahead.”