Ray Hook

VP of Preconstruction

Ray Hook is the Vice President of Preconstruction at Trinity Group Construction.   With more than 35 years of experience as an estimator in a wide variety of projects, Ray prepares budgets for clients and works with developers as well as architects pricing the design and development of specific projects in the Mid Atlantic market.

Ray’s expertise involves using historical estimating data and value engineering to budget a wide variety of base buildings and tenant improvements (office, multi-family, retail, data centers, hotels, restaurants, churches, tilt up construction, and auto dealerships).

Ray is a Northern Virginia Native, who went to JEB Stuart HS and graduated from Lynchburg University with a degree in business.  Ray has participated in the Washington Building Congress (WBC), Association of General Contractors (ABC) and National Association of Industrial Office Properties (NAOIP).

During Ray’s leisure time, he is a car enthusiast, a sailor and a golfer.

Robert Nichols

President

Robert Nichols is the president of TRINITY Group Construction. His role is to oversee all operations of the firm, assist the CEO in creating a game plan for the direction of values of the firm, and then execute that game plan. Prior to ascending to presidency of TRINITY, Robert was a principal and ran the operations of a local Loudoun County-based firm that grew to almost $200 million per year over 19 years.

Mr. Nichols is a native Washingtonian, having grown up in McLean, graduating from McLean High, and then George Mason University. He has been a long-time supporter and coach of youth sports in Northern Virginia, and he has been a board member for the Washington, DC-area Boys & Girls clubs in years past. An outdoors lover with a passion for fishing, Robert lives in Leesburg, Virginia with his wife, Brooke, and their dog, Barney.

Education

• George Mason University

Steve Galles

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Galles is TRINITY Group Construction’s chief financial officer. He is responsible for managing and overseeing all financial, administrative, and information technology functions at TRINITY. In addition, he handles all treasury, tax, and risk management functions for the company. Steve is part of TRINITY’s executive management team, which is responsible for establishing TRINITY’s long-term goals and strategic direction.

Previous to his position at TRINITY, Steve was an executive with a regional general contractor, which grew to over a $175 million in revenues and was ranked as one of the leading general contractors in the Mid-Atlantic region by ENR. He was responsible for designing and implementing all accounting and financial policies and procedures for the firm.

In addition to his operational experience as a controller and financial officer, Steve spent 5 years with a national consulting firm advising and implementing financial systems and reengineering financial operations for large institutional and government organizations.

Mr. Galles earned a Bachelor of Administration degree in information systems technology at James Madison University and earned his MBA in finance at George Mason University.

Education

• James Madison University, B.A. in Information Systems & George Mason University, M.B.A. in Finance

Paul Taylor

Project Executive

With nearly 30 years of progressive experience in commercial construction, Mr. Taylor’s experience includes all phases of construction management, from conceptual estimating to bidding, project execution, and on to closeout.

Mr. Taylor specializes in active project management of base buildings and tenant improvements while contributing to marketing, estimating, and membership in associations. He has served as an executive in charge of construction divisions with oversight of project executives, project managers, and estimators, as well as managing staff, subcontractor relations, recruiting, and contract negotiations. Mr. Taylor has provided oversight of multiple tilt-up industrial projects and self-performed tilt-up construction including: tilt-up flex condominiums, tilt-up manufacturing build-to-suit, tilt-up warehouse/distribution, office buildings, dormitories, parking garages, major capital improvement, and design-build projects.

Prior Experience

• Previous to joining TRINITY Group Construction, Mr. Taylor was a senior. vice president with Jones Lang LaSalle, TUCON Construction Corp, and E. E. Reed Construction, LLC.

Education

• University of Texas, B.S. in Architectural Engineering with Honors

Professional Affiliations

• LEED AP BD&C
• OSHA 30 HOUR & CPR
• National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
• Associated Builders and Contractors

Mil “Flip” Wallen, III

Chief Executive Officer

Now a highly-successful company, TRINITY had humble beginnings as the personal endeavor of founder and CEO, Mil (Flip) Wallen. After working for 23 years in the commercial real estate industry for a general contractor, Flip decided to strike out on his own and started his company in 2002. He credits his wife for the name, saying it stands for faith, family, and career, which he tries to keep in that order.

Though the move was risky, Flip’s reputation in the industry jump started his company and put it on the fast track to success. Known for his years of expertise in areas such as office buildings, high-tech facilities, industrial and R&D buildings, tenant fit-out facilities, retail centers, and preconstruction services, Flip’s quality of work paid off for TRINITY, and more and more clients began to entrust the company with their multimillion dollar projects. Before its second year of operation, the company was awarded a $23 million project, and shortly thereafter, a $20 million build-to-suit facility, along with its first concrete-frame multistory project.

Flip stays active and involved in several industry groups. He currently serves on the board of directors for NAIOP Northern Virginia and is past chairman of the Associated Builders and Contractors General Contractors Council. He gives back to the community through the Lions Club and a very special trip to Russia once a year. Flip’s fundraising efforts for this worthwhile cause help to provide clothes and medicine for Russian orphans and fund maintenance repairs for their dormitory and school.

A graduate of James Madison University with a BBA in Management Information Systems, Flip’s proclivity toward the latest technology trends helps keep TRINITY’s internal processes fresh, new, and competitive with industry standards.In 2008, TRINITY was named one of Virginia’s Fastest Growing Companies – a testament to the loyal client base the company has developed under Flip’s leadership.

Education

• James Madison University, B.B.A. in Management Information Systems

Professional Affiliations

• National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
• Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) – DC Chapter
• Washington Building Congress (WBC)