Who we are
and what we do

As Gallant’s President and Owner, Jim sets the direction and the tone for the organization. He is a true reflection of our core values and genuinely cares about people and relationships. 

Jim owes his work ethic and love of construction to his dad, Matthew J. Stahl. Jim grew up as the 11^th of 14 children and the youngest of six brothers. From the age of eight, Saturday was Jim’s day to work with his Dad for his construction, civil engineering and real estate businesses. If Jim was not playing sports, or going to school, he was likely working for the family.

Jim started his career with Gallant shortly after graduating from Ball State University with a degree in Construction Technology. After three years with Gallant as an Assistant Estimator, Jim left Gallant to work for the Walgreen Company and subsequently, Jones Lang LaSalle. During this time, while working full time and raising a young family with his beautiful wife Kristi, Jim earned his MBA in 2010 from the University of Notre Dame. 

He came back home to Gallant in 2020, being trusted to take the organization forward as the President and Owner. He has great respect and appreciation for those before him who built the foundation that Gallant continues to stand on today.  

Jim cares about people and understands that how we operate as a company is pivotal to our success. Keeping processes simple, staying true to our core values, encouraging personal and professional growth for our employees, and giving back to the community.  

He brings a unique perspective to Gallant. From a laborer to representing Fortune 50 organizations, Jim recognizes that it takes the field and office teams working in concert to consistently execute at the highest level for our clients.  

Jim’s professional contentment comes from consistent great execution with great-fit clients and watching the Gallant team grow and succeed as people and professionals.   

Donna is all about people. She loves to connect, network, mentor, and serve people to make the world a better place and the construction industry rich in diversity for the future. 

As Vice President of Business Development since 2004, Donna is the driving force in Gallant client relationships. She has extensive experience in commercial construction from the general contractor side as well as from the architectural and end user perspectives in earlier roles. Donna cultivates and maintains connections with national and entrepreneurial clients including retailers and restauranteurs, hospitality, automotive, industrial and specialty chain companies as well. Her ability to listen to what is needed and deliver results beyond expectations continues to enhance the Gallant reputation for excellence. 

When clients call, Donna greets everyone with a smile in her voice and a willingness to help. That energy is evident from the very first contact and continues as she supports clients throughout the life cycle of their property. Her long-term focus is on building life-long relationships with a solutions-oriented attitude. In addition to business development, Donna is key to the Gallant leadership team. Involved in strategic planning, goal setting and measuring outcomes, Donna works closely with President Jim Stahl to set the stage for future growth. The two leaders have been friends for decades and enjoy challenging each other to achieve success. 

Donna’s business education was garnered over the four decades she has spent within the construction industry. She is an advocate for women in the trades – and everywhere else - and a champion for every Gallant employee. 

Although Donna often claims that Gallant is her home, she is a resident of North Barrington, Illinois. She loves to spend time with her family, including traveling and entertaining friends with her husband; Jeff, and celebrating life’s milestones with her four grandchildren. 

Donna Says - 

Gallant 'found' me and I found Gallant 18 years ago. Their core values are my core values; their culture is my culture. This is my home. 

Drew serves on the Gallant leadership team as the Director of the Construction group.  His numerous, diverse responsibilities include pre-construction, risk mitigation, team growth, operations, profitability, and customer relationships. He is involved in overall strategy and business plan execution.

Drew has incorporated a logistics mindset unique to Gallant. Rather than seeing a project finish line as the date construction is done, the Gallant team recognizes the “owner occupancy” date as our completion date. Drew empowers and encourages the Gallant team to engage more fully in client relationships to ensure the Owner is ready to operate their new facility.

A graduate of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Engineering, Drew started his career in 2005 at Walsh Construction, based in Chicago and was promoted throughout his tenure to a program manager. Drew joined Gallant in 2020. 

Grateful for the positive culture at Gallant, Drew has embraced the company’s family atmosphere, where people really care and support each other. Within his leadership position in the organization, Drew continues to mentor his team with the same approach.

Living in Crystal Lake with his wife (Jenna) and children (Talan, Evan and Cora), Drew has found at Gallant a work/lifestyle balance that he loves. He feels truly blessed to have found a company in his hometown that continues to motivate him, while providing peace and satisfaction in his life.

As a Marine, Michael’s call sign was“Rhino”. He has since learned Rhino continues to suit him as rhinos are calm, observant and charge when challenged. 

Michael Rihani transitioned from a military career as a Marine to a career in facilities management in a most unsuspecting way. A casual conversation at his father’s workplace resulted in a right place, right time situation: he was hired on the spot to field calls for the maintenance division of the national janitorial company where his father worked.

Known for his unflappable demeanor and quick problem-solving skills, Michael became a successful go-to person for the company as it grew. He very effectively leveraged subcontractors to deliver prompt, top-quality service to clients with a nationwide site portfolio. 

With the successful operations mode and personable approach, Michael began working direct with clients and following their programs across the country over the next 10 years. Assignments took him around the country as his team fielded thousands of calls a month.

While working full time, Michael completed a Bachelor’s in Business Management at Robert Morris University of Chicago. He appreciated the opportunity to incorporate knowledge from his studies into his workday and to start his professional career early in management. Michael is currently pursuing his Executive MBA at Notre Dame.  

While janitorial services were challenging, Michael was looking for an industry that was more fulfilling for him. Always having had an interest in the construction industry, Michael joined Gallant Building Solutions in 2017 to lead Facilities Services. He has since breathed new life into the division and has focused on expanding the facilities services offering and executing consistently at the highest level.

Under Michael’s leadership, Gallant Facilities Services has been restructured to expand their nationwide operations and service offerings. Each day, the facilities team handles repairs, maintenance projects, programs and emergency calls for hundreds of client sites, for the grocery, gas station, restaurant, retail, entertainment and healthcare industries.

In the consistently frenetic environment of facilities services, Michael lives by the credo ‘there is always beauty in the chaos.  Stay calm and you will be able to sort through the chaos’.

Michael and his wife, Jacqueline, live in McHenry County. The couple love to travel, cherish their families, and spoil their two Yorkies. Michael is also a collector of coins, watches and is a Formula 1 racing fan. His favorite team is Red Bull.

Tim’s role on the leadership team focuses on initiating and managing business development and sales strategies.

Tim joined the Gallant organization in April of 2022 and is the liaison between operations and sales. Areas of focus for Tim include targeting new construction relationships in strategic markets, expanding facilities management opportunities nationally, and ensuring that the sales team has the necessary tools to successfully meet and exceed their goals.

After completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Business Management from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Tim happened into the flooring installation business. While working in a sales role for a retail flooring company, Tim was recruited by a large Chicago area landscape company for a role in business development. That position segued to a similar role at a Wauconda-based company where Tim eventually managed 14 sales and operations people.  

Circling back to the flooring industry, Tim became sales manager for a wholesale manufacturer in 2009. As Midwest regional manager, Tim served retailers, architects, flooring designers, contractors, and distributors in 18 states.

Over time, Tim felt that the weekly business travel was keeping him from his family and began searching for opportunities in related fields. He found an opportunity – and a great fit - at Gallant Building Solutions.

Gallant represented Tim’s own values of caring about others and being authentic. The emphasis on serving others to achieve the best for all resonates with Tim.

Working at Gallant allows Tim, a Crystal Lake native, to spend more time with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children, Grace, Emme, and Lanie playing golf, attending dance recitals and just hanging out with his favorite people!

Tim’s perspective on Gallant -

Gallant respects the individual. Our culture allows each individual the freedom to think uniquely and to work outside the box. I love the Gallant atmosphere.

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Stella brings the love every single day. As the Chief Happiness Officer, Stella is tasked with driving the emotional well-being of each member of the Gallant family. 

Born in 2018, Stella is a purebred Boxer and is described as thoughtful, intelligent and aware. A four- legged Mary Poppins, Stella maintains a sweet demeanor while keeping a watchful eye on her pack. 

Stella is typically the first face you see when you arrive at the Gallant office. She makes her rounds throughout the day, developing relationships with every individual in the building…and collecting a few treats along the way. 

In her spare time, Stella likes to play with her neighborhood Boxer friend, Harley, and go on weekend sleepovers with her dog parents who live in town. 

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