Nov 14 H. J. Russell & Company Expands to New England and Hires Derrick Chery as Director of Operations, Boston
H. J. Russell & Company (Russell) announces the opening of their Boston office and the hiring of Derrick Chery as their Director of Operations for the construction group within the region. Derrick most recently worked as a senior construction project manager for New England Development, Inc., a Boston-based real estate development firm where he was most notably involved in the development of phase one of Allston Yards. Prior to that, he was the senior project manager at Suffolk Construction Company where he led phases one and two of the redevelopment of Orient Heights, an affordable housing community, and the building of One Greenway and The Eddy residential apartment homes.
In his role with Russell, Derrick will be responsible for the overall growth of the company’s construction group in Boston and will work out of the newly established Russell office located at 55 Seaport Blvd., Boston, Mass. He will report directly to Atlanta-based Michael Swick, VP of Operations for the construction group at Russell, and will be responsible for directing all business functions for the firm’s Boston construction team, including business development, marketing, pre-construction, estimating, scheduling, field operations and project management.
An industry veteran with a background spanning more than 15 years, Derrick has an array of construction experience with various structures, including multi-family and mixed use, offices, retail, higher education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
“Derrick’s deep knowledge of the region and industry experience in Boston specifically, coupled with his operational acumen, helps us elevate Russell’s presence and increase our footprint to build structures and communities in the area,” said Michael. “We appreciate how instrumental he will be in representing Russell and serving the construction needs of the community as we put a stake in the ground to expand beyond our existing markets of Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and New York.”
“I’m excited about the opportunity to help Russell expand its business and increase jobs in the Boston area, a place I’ve called home for my entire life, and for me to be a change catalyst for the industry in this market,” said Derrick. “Joining the Russell team gives me an opportunity to inspire and excite new talent within the construction industry, and through my leadership I hope to expand the culture of H. J. Russell & Company into the city that I love—Boston. I’m honored to be a part of an organization with such a rich legacy that has the ability to tackle complex projects while enriching communities simultaneously. Representing a company that was literally built on the shoulders of a business legend, the late Herman J. Russell, Sr., and continues to be family-run, led by his youngest son, Michael B. Russell, Sr. is a true honor of a lifetime.”
Originally from Canton, Mass., Derrick received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in construction management from Boston’s Wentworth Institute of Technology.
