Leadership Team

Ken Fender

VP, Greater DC Region General Manager

Kenneth (Ken) Fender leads Baker’s Greater DC Region – a unit with $300+ million in annual revenue from projects as diverse as turnkey, high-rise frame projects; intricate design-build projects; and rehabilitation projects. Ken is vigilant in producing high-quality projects on time in a safe environment for crews, clients, and project partners. Ken also heads up Baker’s design assist efforts with valued clients and is heavily involved in various preconstruction and constructability processes.

Born and raised in southwest Ohio, Ken interned with Baker during his senior year at Bowling Green State University. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in architecture from BGSU, Ken accepted a full-time position with Baker in January 1990. He worked his way through the Baker organization, eventually relocating from the Midwest to Washington, D.C., in 2009.

Ken has served on several local construction trade industry organizations’ boards, including Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI). He lives in D.C. with his wife and two children.

Kerri Smith

VP, Southeast Region General Manager

Kerri Smith leads Baker’s Southeast Region. She is responsible for the region’s overall operations, including developing strategic objectives and direction and establishing and delivering the annual budget. Her strong presence and passion for living and promoting the company’s core values of People, Honor, and Grit guide her and her team.

Kerri graduated from Walsh University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. As a member of Walsh’s basketball team, she spent countless hours honing not only her athletic skills but also reinforcing the values she learned growing up on a farm in Russellville, Ohio: resilience, authenticity, humbleness, and gratefulness. After a brief foray in sales, Kerri found herself gravitating to an industry and company that shared those same values and joined Baker in 2004.

Kerri lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with her husband and two sons and enjoys anything outdoors.

Martin Jordana

VP, Southern Region General Manager

Martin oversees the day-to-day operations of Baker’s Southern Region.

Martin began his career with Baker as a field engineer in 1985 at the Nowlin Tower project in San Antonio, Texas, and has called Baker home ever since. After a challenging start amidst the Texas recession of the mid-1980s, Martin has grown with the company. He has served in several capacities, ranging from preconstruction and project management to leadership. He has worked on a variety of projects across the U.S. and the Caribbean, including warehouses, industrial facilities, commercial buildings, high rises, convention centers, stadiums, and nuclear facilities.

Martin received a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Montana in 1984. He calls Houston home, where he resides with his wife and three children.

Matt Ray

VP, Northern Region General Manager

Matt Ray oversees commercial, institutional, and industrial operations in Baker’s Northern Region.

Raised on a dairy farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Matt learned early on the value of planning, preparation, and teamwork. The experience instilled in him the lifelong character traits of hard work, grit, and determination. That philosophy translated well to the construction industry, where Matt got his start working for his father’s residential construction company during high school and college. After graduating cum laude from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Matt embarked on his career in commercial, institutional, and industrial construction. After working his way up in the industry over a 20-year period, Matt joined Baker in 2021.

Matt is a professional engineer licensed in the State of Michigan. During his leisure time, he and his wife, daughter, and son like to hike, bike, boat, swim, and take part in other outdoor activities. Matt volunteers as a troop master for Trail Life and enjoys hobby farming and other hands-on projects.

Norm Holden

VP, Great West Region General Manager

Based in Colorado, Norm Holden is responsible for operational oversight of Baker’s Great West Region and DL Baker’s business endeavors in Northern British Columbia. An authentic and passionate executive leader, Norm leverages common sense, confidence, and earned grit, which has aided in the success of several high-performing operational teams.

Born and raised in rural New Hampshire with the personal values of a no-nonsense New Englander, Norm got his start in the concrete construction industry in 1985. He cut his teeth in the residential and light-commercial concrete market before joining Baker Concrete in 1992. Norm earned his Executive MBA in 2017 from the University of Denver — Daniels College Business and has a degree in Architectural Engineering from New Hampshire Technical Institute.

Norm serves on several local construction trade industry organizations’ boards, including Associated General Contractors of Colorado and the Construction Education Foundation. Norm lives near Denver with his wife, Jean, and together they have three grown children.