Houston – October 02, 2026 -- Vortex Companies has promoted Brandon Gerber from Chief Estimator to Senior Vice President, Estimating, giving him oversight of estimating and preconstruction functions across the trenchless water and sewer infrastructure rehabilitation provider.
Gerber takes on expanded leadership over bidding and preconstruction nationwide
In the new role, Gerber will report to BJ Kerstiens, EVP, Services, and work with Services division leadership and operations personnel to align bidding activity with company capacity and core capabilities. Ryan Graham, Chief Operating Officer of Vortex Companies, said estimating is critical to winning the right work, managing risk and delivering profitable projects, crediting Gerber with instilling that discipline into estimating teams across the country.
A 20-year industry veteran moves up through internal promotion
Gerber joined Vortex in October 2018 as Senior Estimator and was later promoted to Chief Estimator before this latest elevation. Kerstiens said Gerber's combined background in project management and estimating brings a real-world perspective to bid preparation and proposal review, calling his career progression within Vortex an example of internal talent development.
Gerber said his focus in the expanded role will center on equipping estimating teams with the information and tools needed to make sound decisions and ensuring commitments made during the bidding process carry through to project delivery teams.