Don’t just rely on what we can do for you.

Rely on who we are.

CEO Joe McGuinness is passionate about helping communities grow and thrive. The former Mayor of Franklin, Indiana, he has spent most of his career helping connect people through transportation and infrastructure projects.

In 2017, Governor Eric Holcomb appointed Joe as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation — the first former mayor to serve in the role. During his five years as Commissioner, Joe managed billion-dollar projects with long-lasting impact, including the completion of Interstate 69 from Evansville to Indianapolis, the largest single investment in public transit in the state’s history. As Mayor of Franklin from 2012 to 2016, Joe led projects that helped rejuvenate Franklin’s downtown.

Born in Franklin and raised in Greenwood, Indiana, Joe earned a master of business administration degree in accounting at Indiana Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology at Franklin College, where he also played football. Joe serves on the board of the Johnson Memorial Health Foundation and is a member of the Franklin College Alumni Council. When he’s not at work on infrastructure projects or serving communities, Joe enjoys playing golf, watching Chicago Cubs baseball and spending time with his wife, Anne, and teenage children, Will and Ella.

How did you get into the infrastructure business?

When I became Mayor of Franklin I quickly learned about the importance of roads and utilities for residents, businesses and future growth. I started taking an active role in reconstructing our aging infrastructure, working closely with key stakeholders to reimagine Franklin and invest in downtown in the I-65 corridor. I’m proud of the team we assembled to get things going, including Avenew’s Vice President of Solutions Engineering Travis Underhill, who I hired as our city engineer. It means a lot to me to have been part of Franklin’s solid resurgence over the past 10 years. I want to bring everything I’ve learned from my experience to our clients.

What are your goals at Avenew?

We want to listen to our clients and build strong relationships so we can help them reach their goals. That includes listening to local residents and developers so we can ensure each project reaches its full potential. We bring a lot to the table, and we’re always open to identifying opportunities where we can evolve to better assist the people and communities we serve.

Why should people choose to work with you and Avenew?
I’ve been blessed to have successes at the state and local level. At INDOT, I managed the I-69 project, Indy’s North Split Reconstruction and many others. As a former mayor, I’ve helped transform a community I care about. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned to help others succeed.

Vice President of Solutions Engineering Travis Underhill has been keeping infrastructure and transportation projects moving for more than two decades. He puts his vast experience in the public and private sectors to work to help Avenew’s clients make their vision a reality.

The Michigan native relocated to Indiana to serve as City Engineer of Franklin, Indiana, in 2012. In 2017 he became Deputy Commissioner at the Indiana Department of Transportation, where he managed teams in capital and local programs, district operations, asset management, engineering and innovation. Travis contributed to Indiana’s Interstate 69 project, Indianapolis’ North Split Reconstruction and many others. In Franklin, he managed planning and engineering, and collaborated with street and utility departments on major reconstruction projects, including the revitalized Courthouse Square and King Street Gateway. Travis began his career in the private sector and frequently draws upon his experience in site development, project management and design.

Travis earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan Technical University. Active at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Greenwood, Indiana, he serves as a football coach and president of the parish men’s group. When he’s not at work or serving his community, Travis enjoys traveling to visit family and spending time with his wife, Jamie, and school-age children, Josie, Tommy and Henry.

Why do people choose to work with you?
As I’ve grown in my career, I’ve found that helping folks be successful keeps everyone happy. I build strong, meaningful relationships working side by side with people, solving problems in the mud. I set high expectations for myself and others, and people are often intrigued by that. Deep down, we all want to be better tomorrow than we are today. I also take time to applaud success and call attention to growth and improvement. Giving people credit not only makes them happy in the moment, it allows them to reflect on their achievements. Success is contagious.

How will you make an impact in your role?
So much of our industry is plagued by the “we’ve always done it that way” mindset. I like to challenge that, and I support people who want to become agents of change within their organizations. Trying new things helps us find new solutions to old problems in the transportation and infrastructure marketplace. When we help our clients solve problems, we free up their time so they can focus on their highest priorities.

What’s an experience that shaped you?
I’m the oldest of nine kids, and I put myself through college. Engineering internships didn’t quite pay the bills then, so I poured concrete and built houses. That experience taught me a lot about how things work in the field and helped me become a better engineer. I understand how things are built, and I can relate to the people doing the building.

With a diverse career in both public and private industries, Craig has a heart to serve local governments and deliver unique solutions to difficult problems associated with their transportation assets. He has a diverse background and is known for providing out of the box solutions to solve complex transportation issues. He has worked for and with City, County and State agencies and has transformed organizations and communities.

Adam is an engaging, interpersonal and confident client development and relations professional with over 17 years of experience. His background in construction and community development helped provide him with a diverse skillset to compliment the Avenew team.  He is passionate about building relationships, philanthropy, company culture, community engagement, and creative thinking. 

What do you believe is unique about Avenew?
There are many aspects to Avenew that I believe are unique, but the first that stands out is the concerted effort to attract talented individuals who excel in their profession while also complimenting the strong culture built by those who are already here. It’s the latter part of that sentence that I feel employers tend to overlook.

What about your work motivates you?
My fascination with understanding what drives others and attempting to establish a working relationship, that isn’t superficial, are a few of the exciting and motivating challenges. Also, being able to connect-the-dots and helping to bring a clients vision to reality is rewarding on so many levels.

Is there a quote that helped shape how you approach work?
A quote that’s always resonated with me came from a mentor very early in my professional life and during a time when I felt overwhelmed with what was on my plate. He was essentially asking how everything was going (professionally and personally) and I responded with the generic term I believe is overused in work settings: “busy.” His response was, “Adam, there’s a difference between being busy and productive. You’ll begin new chapter of life when you truly understand the difference between those two words.” The simplicity of his message made a resounding impact!

Sara Heck helps Avenew’s clients complete projects on time and on budget. A strong communicator, Sara approaches her work strategically, developing out-of-the-box solutions that result in high-quality service and support.

Before joining Avenew, Sara spent four years as a project manager at the Indiana Department of Transportation. She contributed to several noteworthy projects, including reclamation, restoration and bridge replacement projects on state roads and pavement restoration on interstate and local highways. Previously she worked in risk management and data analytics at Defenders (now ADT), using her analytical skills to uncover technical issues and keep projects moving.

What do you love about Avenew?
I chose to work at Avenew because Travis and Joe focus on relationships and Avenew’s goals align with its clients’ goals. Organic, ever-changing goals are exciting and provide new perspectives with each turn. As a project manager, I have the opportunity to work closely with people at the local level. Previous positions took a high-level approach, but in this role I can help people as much as I want to. I want to leverage my strengths to help our clients reach their goals – to take out the guesswork and give people confidence that their projects are on track.

What’s a standout moment in your career?
As a risk analyst at Defenders (now ADT), I revived interest in the company’s customer satisfaction survey by uncovering a technical issue that resulted in lower customer ratings. My efforts revived interest in the survey, and I was granted a lead position to develop and transform it. Later, the company’s executive team rewarded me for my efforts to create a nationwide report that monitored how technicians spent their time in the field. I uncovered errors in the process that could have had legal ramifications. Those experiences showed me how small errors can make a big impact. They gave me perspective that informs the work I do today.

How did you get into this business?
I entered the civil engineering industry when my husband, Eric, told me about a project manager opportunity at the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Crawfordsville District. I got the job, and after spending the first year getting to know the ins and outs of the industry, I developed a passion for the consultants, engineers, locals and other customers I worked with to deliver projects. I got promoted quickly, and I felt like I offered great value to my team and to the motoring public of Indiana. That feeling has kept me in the civil engineering world. Everyone I’ve met in this field has made me feel welcomed and valued for my skills.

As the Solutions Delivery Manager, Charlie is prepared to deliver the most cost-effective solution while looking into every possible treatment to best fit the customer needs. He will provide clear lines of communication to form cohesion and collaboration amongst the team involved with the project.  Charlie strives to provide the best possible solutions that to any customer and or project needs.