New Kansas City Sports Practice Leaders at a Glance
DESIGN Niemuth is the new design director with responsibility for the office’s creative product and the firm’s design profile within the industry. He was the lead designer on the latest NBA arena to open in the U.S. - Memphis’ FedExForum (2004). He also was lead designer for the University of Connecticut’s new Stadium at Rentschler Field. He has been with Ellerbe Becket for 10 years. His academic background includes a bachelor of architectural studies and masters degrees in architecture and urban planning/urban design from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
MARKETING Poston, who for nearly a decade guided the firm’s collegiate and university sports practice now has responsibility for all of Kansas City’s sports business development efforts. He has nearly 20 years of professional experience in a wide variety of sports planning and feasibility projects, including project manager for the University of Oregon Autzen Stadium Renovation and Expansion. He earned a bachelor of landscape architecture degree from Kansas State University.
OPERATIONS Brown is in charge of day-to-day office operations, Human Resources and corporate culture. He has spent 15 years at Ellerbe Becket as an architectural director. He has held primary leadership roles on the Fleet Center in Boston (NBACeltics and NHL Bruins), the Office Depot Center in Fort Lauderdale (NHL Panthers) and the new Charlotte Arena, scheduled to open this fall as the home of the NBA Bobcats. Brown earned bachelors and master’s degrees in architecture from Iowa State University.
FINANCIALS Duethman has operational responsibility for the office’s financial performance and project profitability. For more than a decade he has managed large-scale Ellerbe Becket sports projects both in the United States and throughout the world. He currently is project manager for John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia. Duethman graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor of environmental design.
STAFFING Beichley manages project staffing and recruitment. He is a senior project manager with extensive experience on collegiate stadiums and arenas. His latest project is the DeVos Fieldhouse
at Hope College in Michigan, scheduled to open later this year. He also managed stadium projects at the University of Missouri, Southern Methodist University and Texas Tech. He holds a bachelor of architecture degree from Kansas State University.
TECHNICAL Peterson will provide technical guidance on complex, large-scale projects. He has a thorough understanding of all aspects of construction administration, an extensive background in structural engineering and knowledge of the design/build integrated services process. His Ellerbe Becket project experience includes Madison Square Garden in New York City, America West Arena (home of the NBA Suns) and Bank One Ballpark (MLB Diamondbacks) in Phoenix, and Qwest Field in Seattle (NFL Seahawks). He is an architectural engineering graduate of the University of Kansas.
All are Ellerbe Becket Associates, a term for employee owners that represent the firm’s emerging leaders and technical or professional experts. “I’m blessed to be working with a group of outstanding individuals, seasoned sports industry visionaries and veterans in their own right,” said Ellerbe Becket’s national director of sports Bill Crockett “This group brings an optimistic view of the future evolution of the industry, great professionalism and commitment to service.”
An innovator since its founding in 1909, Ellerbe Becket is a leader in architecture, engineering and the construction industry with office locations worldwide.
Contact: news@ellerbebecket.com
