Expert Construction Services
History of Herman/Stewart Construction
Herman/Stewart was founded in 1990 and has grown to specialize in restaurants, large and small retail, car washes, fitness clubs, and hospitality construction. Based in Lanham, Maryland, Herman/Stewart has completed work across the United States and is proud to say that much of its core management has been with the company for more than 25 years. In September 2019, Herman/Stewart successfully transferred ownership from its founder Raymond J. Herman to longtime employees Terry L. Varner (President), and Matthew D. Whitney (CFO).
Herman/Stewart has built an excellent reputation as a construction company that brings exceptional value to the table based on our commitment to understanding and exceeding our client requirements, quality workmanship and value engineering. Licensed throughout the United States, Herman/Stewart has access to an extended network of subcontractors and suppliers that enable us to be very competitive in price.
Aa a general contractor, we are proactive in finding solutions that best achieve our clients’ goals and have built a wide range of projects of all sizes for a diverse client base. From conceptual estimating and site surveys through construction, Herman/Stewart puts our clients’ needs first working to provide the highest level of standards.
Who We Are
Terry L. Varner, President
Terry Varner has a vast range of experience in restaurant, retail, hotel, and hospitality construction. His construction career began in 1980 as he worked his way through the ranks, spending time as a superintendent, estimator and project manager. In 1990 Terry joined Herman/Stewart as a superintendent, but he quickly moved from the field into the office to serve as a project manager before being promoted to vice president in 1993 and to president in 2018. Terry is a joint owner of Herman/Stewart Construction and Development, Inc.
Terry truly understands all aspects of a commercial construction project. He is a hands-on leader and ready to roll up his sleeves to solve the most complex issue. He is known for his accessibility to clients and staff alike. As president, he continues to establish relationships with restaurant, retail, and hotel chief executives in the United States and abroad.
Matt Whitney, Chief Finance Officer
Matt Whitney received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration in 1985 and his CPA in 1988. After spending eight years as a controller in the residential construction market, he joined Herman/Stewart Construction in the early 1990s and is responsible for the financial planning, monitoring and achievement of the company’s corporate goals. Matt is a joint owner of Herman/Stewart Construction and Development, Inc.
Mike Durrwachter, Senior Vice President | Herman/Stewart Construction, Lanham, MD.
Mike attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA where he received both an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management in 1991.
His early commercial construction career included multiple estimating and project management positions working on public and private construction before joining Herman/Stewart in 1997 as a Project Manager. He has been involved in numerous retail renovations, roll-outs and restaurant projects before being promoted to Vice President.
Chris Lamon, Vice President | Herman/Stewart Construction, Lanham, MD.
As a graduate of the University of Maryland, Chris brings over 35 years of expertise in client management with the past 15 years in commercial construction, specializing in helping restaurant, retail, and hospitality brands grow through ground-up builds and tenant space renovations. He works hard to deliver exceptional client service—guiding projects seamlessly from contract to completion.
Beyond his professional role, Chris served on the Board of Directors for The Summit School, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering students with learning differences to succeed academically and in life.
Benefits of using Herman/Stewart Construction
- Quality Workmanship: Herman/Stewart is committed to delivering construction projects to clients that meet the highest standards of quality in the industry.
- Proactive Problem-Solving: As general contractors, Herman/Stewart is proactive in finding solutions that best achieve clients’ goals. They take a collaborative approach and are committed to understanding and exceeding clients’ requirements.
- Competitive Pricing: Herman/Stewart is licensed throughout the United States and has access to an extended network of subcontractors and suppliers, enabling them to be very competitive in pricing.
- Long-Term Relationships: Herman/Stewart is committed to building long-lasting relationships with clients, employees, subcontractors, and vendors, which has been a core part of their ideology since the beginning.
