Meet The Team
Our team of experts combines many years of knowledge and experience in new construction, design, build, and retrofit/renovation projects.
Donovan Meckes
Owner and President
Background: Donovan has been actively engaged in the supervision and installation of detention equipment since 1990 where he began working as a corporate officer for Meckes Enterprises until 2006. Over the last quarter of a century in the detention industry, Donovan founded Detention Equipment Specialties in 2006 and acquired Universal Security Products in 2018, developing and implementing innovative high-level strategies to help the businesses grow. Donovan then acquired the construction division of SFDEC in 2020, founding Southern Folger Contracting. He has continued building on his foundation of companies and is now expanding nationwide.
Hobbies: Boating, Mountain Biking, Golfing, Snow Skiing and Traveling.
Suzanne Meckes
Secretary
Background: 22 years in Management in the Automotive Collision Industry. Transferred to the Detention industry 7 years ago assisting with employee relations and travel.
Hobbies: Snow Skiing, Boating, Traveling and being outdoors
Kristina Reynolds
Chief Financial Officer
Background: Kristina is an Executive MBA Graduate with an Undergrad Emphasis in Entrepreneurship and Minor in Communications. 12 years of customer service experience is the solid foundation that led to her role with Donovan. She has played an active role in the company’s growth, working through multiple acquisitions and company transitions. She has an active role in the finances, as well as managing the office and personnel.
Hobbies: Crafting, event planning, traveling, and camping.
Paul Cahoy
Vice President / Sr. Project Manager
Background: As a Vice President and Senior Project Manager, Paul manages his assigned projects as well as overseeing Project Managers. He has gained valuable field experience early on in his career and has continued to build on that foundation managing projects. He has an active role in pre-construction & estimating, engineering, and managing personnel for our company.
Hobbies: Enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, playing sports with his son, and camping.
Matt Heinrich
Head of Technical Service Division
Background: Worked in the detention industry for 15 years. Started with designing detention products and have since moved on to project engineering.
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and daughters, playing PC games
Derek McCoy
Senior Project Manager
Background: Worked in the detention industry for 20 years. Started out in detention equipment manufacturing and then moved into manufacturing engineering and project management.
Hobbies: Watching sports, working on vehicles, and playing video games
Yurithsi Nino
Project Manager
Background: Started working in the construction industry as a Field Supervisor after earning an Architectural degree in 2011 eventually moving up to an Assistant PM. Has worked in the detention industry since 2019.
Hobbies: Cooking and spending time with family.
Gloria Flores
Project Manager
Background: Attended High School and Community College in San Antonio, TX. Have been working in the Detention Equipment Industry for the past 12 years.
Hobbies: Bowling, Fishing and Camping
Mariana Nevarez
Assistant Project Manager
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Mateo Calderon
Project Engineer
Background: Coming Soon.
Mike Acker
National Accounts Director
Background: Mike comes to us with over 25 years of Sales Management, business development, and customer service experience in government, telecom, and automotive industries. He brings a strong focus on building relationships with our customers along with vendors and is always happy to help and answer any questions about your projects.
Hobbies: Fly fishing, snow skiing, golfing and wine making
Kat Balster
Director of Business Development
Background: Coming Soon
Michael Thornton
Regional Sales Manager
Background: Born and raised in San Diego. Started working at age 16 and have not stopped. Work history and company roles include Sheetmetal mechanic, Nuclear certified Mig and Tig welder, heavy plate manufacturing, Plant Manager, Office Manager, Global Sales Manager for Armor Safe Technologies, Regional Sales Manager Southern Folger Detention Equipment Company, and current Regional Sales Manager for Southern Folger Contracting Inc.
Hobbies: Woodworking, metal working, ocean sports including fishing, hanging out and traveling with my wife of 30 years.
Cameron Statler
Regional Sales Manager
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Joey Zamora
Field Operations Manager
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Jesse Dominguez
Accounting Lead
Background: I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the small city of Clayton. I am currently an enrolled student at the University of Nevada, Reno studying business administration with a concentration in accounting. Southern Folger Contracting, Inc has been my place of employment for almost a year. My focuses within the company are financial analysis and job costing.
Hobbies: I enjoy watching sports and eating out with family and friends. Football games are always a gathering time in my household as we love to watch the Raiders play. I also enjoy many outdoor activities such as snowboarding, boating, etc.!
David Berry
Tax and State Compliance
Background: 15 years of experience in local government working as a civil servant. With nearly a decade of that experience working as an officer of the court, primarily focusing on compliance and adherence to laws at the federal, state, and local levels.
Hobbies: Art, Photography, Leather smithing, Hunting, Fishing
Diane Bryant
Senior Payroll Specialist
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Amanda O’Connell
HR & Travel Coordinator
Background: Coming Soon
Amanda Toscas
Office Administrator
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Noemi Pulido
Payroll Administrator
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Trevor St. Clair
Certified Field Tech & Trainer
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Ruben Camas
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Daniel House
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Zach Dominguez
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
John Cantrell
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Daniel Smith
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Adam Smoot
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Robert Crump
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Eddie Ponce
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Francisco Cabrera
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Juan Molina
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Alan Castillo
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Joel Figueroa
Certified Field Technician
Background: I have been in the Construction field since 1995. I have had the opportunity to work on very large projects such as: The Golden One Center, Stockton Ball Park, Tahoe Hospital etc. I have 17 years’ payroll experience working with Union Contractors.
Hobbies: Gardening, taking care of my new animals and Husband , Traveling, Spending lots of time with Friends and Neighbors in Grass Valley and just enjoying life.
Over 100+ Years of Industry Experience
Do you have a detention project you need built? Contact us today and get a FREE quote. Work with a company that you can trust with over 100 years of combined industry experience and expertise.