Our Champions

The people on the front lines and behind the scenes are the heart of Champion.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Carlos M. Hernandez

Chief Executive Officer

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As President of Champion, Carlos Hernandez has grown the company to be a leader in heavy construction, specialty services, road and bridge, and military industries. He and Champion are firmly committed to their mission of delivering high-performance services to the public and private sectors while always maintaining the highest degree of safety, quality, and integrity.

As president, Hernandez leads efforts in business development and building relationships. He also supports the sales, estimating, project management, staffing, and partnerships activities. Hernandez believes that team members are the backbone of the organization and leans into staff development by ensuring that his teams are well-trained and possess the tools to be successful.

His interest in construction started at an early age through his father. He took that passion, founded a specialty coatings company, and led the organization prior to purchasing Champion in 2012.

Before his professional pursuit of construction, Hernandez served in the United States Marine Corps. From there, he led a highly decorated law enforcement career in South Florida that spanned more than a decade. Hernandez holds a bachelor's degree in professional administration from Barry University. He also holds certifications as SSPC Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI) Level 2, SSPC Quality Control Supervisor (QCS), and Florida Department of Transportation Advanced Maintenance of Traffic (MOT).

Hernandez is an active community member and has lent his support to United Way, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots, New World School of the Arts, DANCE NOW, Miami Children's Theater, and more.
Kyle Hough

Chief Operations Officer

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Kyle Hough, executive vice president, is a passionate industry leader with more than 20 years of experience in industrial coatings, including a wide range of industries, from power, pharmaceutical, and stadiums, to food and beverage, theme parks, and commercial construction.

Hough is a proven leader who excels in business and customer growth. He strives to remain ahead of the industry trends and continues to push the boundaries and set standard industry-wide expectations.

After becoming an apprentice with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades at a young age, Hough has worked his way up through the industry’s ranks. He has written articles for Coatings Pro Magazine and the Journal of Protective Coatings & Linings.

Hough is an SSPC-certified Level 3 Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI), a C 3 Supervisor/Competent Person, a Protective Coating Specialist (PCS), and a Master Coatings Inspector (MCI).

When not working, Hough enjoys spending time with his wife, Tracey, and their two adult sons.
Charles Jeffrey “Jeff” Gibbons

Chief Business Development Officer

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Jeff Gibbons, Chief Business Development Officer, leads the Champion Specialty Services division. He is a seasoned construction executive with more than 30 years of experience at all management levels of construction, maintenance, modifications, demolition, and plant upgrades serving the power industry — hydro, fossil, and nuclear, along with other industrial markets.

Gibbons is involved in strategic planning, presentations, and execution related to sales, marketing, proposal writing, estimating, and contract negotiations. He has experience in industrial business market areas, encompassing conventional power, nuclear power, pulp and paper, chemical, food and beverage, U.S. Department of Defense, and Department of Energy industries. He is also responsible for maintaining and strengthening client relationships and developing new business opportunities.

A proud Florida State University alumnus, he is a previous winner of the Bechtel Annual Award, issued for being one of the Top 50 Subcontractors in the world. Gibbons is a member of SSPC, NACE, NACE Nuclear, and NRCA. When he’s not championing our capabilities, he enjoys playing golf, working out, and spending time with his wife Shirley and their two adult children.
Jenny Guzman

Chief Administrative Officer Champion Corporate
Jim Arnold

Chief Financial Officer Champion Corporate
Duane Hough

President of Champion Industrial

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Duane Hough, President of Champion Industrial, leads our military outreach and has extensive knowledge and experience in project management, scheduling, estimating, negotiations, budget development, strategic planning, and project closeout.

In his role as vice president, Hough focuses on business development and overseas expansion, as well as oversight of quality assurance.

We Champion Quality “Our clients expect the highest-quality work, and we deliver. The longevity of the work we do is important to them, and so it’s important to us.”

Hough is an SSPC certified Level 3 Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI), a Level 2 Bridge Coating Inspector (BCI), a Level 2 Concrete Coating Inspector (CCI), a C 3 Supervisor/Competent Person, a Protective Coating Specialist (PCS), a Master Coatings Inspector (MCI), and a SSPC BCI instructor. He previously served as a project manager/foreman for a large national contractor. In this capacity, he managed scheduling for projects, determined labor requirements, and oversaw team members.

Prior to joining Champion, Hough served in the United States Marine Corps, where he led, trained, and counseled Marine Corps infantry. A decorated veteran, he has conducted combat and humanitarian operations throughout the world. Hough is husband to Julie and father to four children. Outside of work, he enjoys working with philanthropic organizations such as No Kid Hungry.
Anthony Maracic

President of Champion Infrastructure

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Anthony Maracic, President of Champion Infrastructure, has significant experience in the steel and painting industry that spans a four-decade career. Prior to joining Champion, Maracic served at every level of a large bridge painting contractor based in New York, starting as an apprentice and working his way up to partner.

While he has been involved with many large-scale projects, including the George Washington Bridge and the 1,776 foot antenna of Manhattan’s Freedom Tower, Maracic was most notably awarded what was the largest US paint project bid to date at that time – the $168 million Queensboro Bridge project. He prepared the estimate and then directed the entire project to its successful conclusion, exceeding owner and GC expectations.

Maracic is an active member of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (both the former SSPC and NACE). He is also a founding committee chairperson of FOP Ashley’s Cure, a nonprofit organization that supports research for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP).

When he’s not providing exceptional expertise and service to Champion’s clients, Maracic enjoys spending time with his wife Joanne, visiting with his four daughters, and watching his son play collegiate baseball.
Kelly Powers

President Champion Specialty Services

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Kelly Powers has more than 25 years of power & energy industry experience on major construction projects and programs in the government and commercial sectors. He has a proven track record of strong business growth and project/commercial performance.

Powers attributes his history of success on endeavoring to be a servant leader, always focusing on the needs and support of those for which he is responsible.

Prior to Champion, Powers worked as a Program Manager for Aircraft Carrier Nuclear Propulsion (joint DoE/DoD program), Corporate Functional Area Manager of Capital Projects for Entergy Nuclear, Vice President of Major Projects for Entergy Services, and President of Williams Industrial Services Group.

Mr. Powers holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Masters in Nuclear Engineering earned through Naval Postgraduate training. He also holds Project Management Professional (PMP) and Program Management Professional (PgMP) certifications from the Project Management Institute.
Nancy Denison

Vice President, Roofing & Structural Rehabilitation Champion Industrial

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Nancy Denison has 40 plus years in the heavy construction business since graduating from the University of California at Berkeley. She began her career with a nationwide specialty steel company known for high profile metal panel manufacturing and installation projects, where she quickly moved from the drafting department to project management. Her early PM experience included the company’s largest specialty panels and decking project at the McCarren International Airport Expansion in addition to Coalstrip MT Coal plant roofing and siding fabrication and installation project. She also achieved significant experience on glass, glazing and curtain/window wall fabrication and installation projects. Nancy later transitioned to estimating and construction management of company’s roof remediation projects that included enclosure system, blasting and painting, structural steel removal and repair, roof decking and roofing replacement over operating machinery.

One of Denison’s greatest professional successes came with starting her own drafting service company, which provided design and erection drawings, that allowed her to engage on projects from concept to completion - including several large hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. She is extremely proud of her experiences working in the field which allowed her to gain invaluable hands-on experience and appreciation for the men and woman executing her projects. She champions teamwork and the satisfaction of completing a job safely, correctly, and profitably.

Denison is a Collegiate National Championship Rower and continues to compete regularly since college – and she’s still winning medals. She and her partner Dave, a retired ironworker, have a small 5-acre vineyard that produces 3 varieties of wine grapes. She also enjoys artistic painting, horseback riding, and hot air balloon rides.
Mat Bryant

Vice President of Operations Champion Industrial
Andrew Wieber

Vice President of Operations Champion Infrastructure
Rusty Gasser

Vice President of Operations Champion Specialty Services