Leadership changes at major engineering and construction organizations can influence how infrastructure programs are managed across multiple markets. Burns & McDonnell has announced a transition involving its Americas North Region and Transmission & Distribution Group as the firm continues work across energy and infrastructure markets.
Jamey Bertram, an executive vice president, will become general manager of the Americas North Region. His responsibilities will cover the firm's Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast and Upper Midwest regions.
Bertram will succeed Jerry Fan, who plans to retire in January 2027. Fan joined Burns & McDonnell in 2007 and has held a series of leadership positions involving major energy and infrastructure programs.
Jake Merriman, a vice president, has been appointed general manager of the Transmission & Distribution Group. He succeeds Bertram, who has led the group since 2023.
During his tenure leading the T&D Group, Bertram oversaw more than 4,000 engineering, construction and technical professionals and supported utility programs involving transmission, distribution and grid modernization.
Merriman joined Burns & McDonnell in 2011 through the T&D Group. His previous responsibilities included leadership of the company's underground and overhead electric transmission business and T&D services for a major client.
He also led Burns & McDonnell's Central Texas offices in Austin and San Antonio and previously managed environmental services for the South Central Region. During his time leading the Austin office, the team expanded its staff by 170%.
Fan's career at Burns & McDonnell included responsibility for large utility and infrastructure programs. In 2014, he led the completion of a $1 billion program management initiative for a major utility.
He later helped oversee more than $10 billion in capital improvement projects across the northeastern United States and Canada. Fan became leader of the Northeast Region in 2020, assumed responsibility for the Americas North Region in 2024 and was promoted to executive vice president in 2025.
Bertram joined Burns & McDonnell in 2001 and previously managed international project development and delivery for the T&D business. He remains officer-in-charge for Pacific Gas & Electric and Xcel Energy and joined the Burns & McDonnell board of directors in 2024.
The leadership changes come as Burns & McDonnell continues to work across electrical infrastructure, construction and other infrastructure markets. The firm reported $8.6 billion in revenue in 2025 and contributed to more than 25,000 projects worldwide.
For utilities, owners and infrastructure developers, leadership continuity across regional operations and transmission and distribution services is particularly relevant as major capital programs require long-term engineering, construction and project management capabilities.
Source: Burns & McDonnell.
