YA Group launches planning and construction advisory division

YA Group, a Nashville-based building consulting and forensic engineering firm, has launched a new planning and construction advisory services (PCAS) division.

The division will expand the firm’s offerings into pre-construction planning, owner’s representation, and capital project advisory – augmenting current offerings in forensic engineering and architecture; damage assessments and cost consulting; government grant consulting; and accident reconstruction and biomechanics.

The PCAS division is built on the prior acquisitions of Trophy Point and Encore, which together have more than 70 professionals with expertise in scheduling and cost estimation and longstanding relationships with public agencies and corporate project owners.

“Expanding into pre-construction and construction advisory services is a natural evolution for YA,” said Wade Bushman, CEO of YA Group. “Our clients are navigating increasingly complex project environments, and this new division allows us to support them earlier in the process with the precision and expertise they expect from our team.”

Rich Chudzik, former president of Trophy Point, has been appointed as head of the PCAS division. Additionally, Charlie Luthanen will lead the scheduling service line and Josh Telenko will lead the estimating services line.

“I am honored to lead this new division and help strengthen YA’s growing impact across the project lifecycle,” said Chudzik. “By integrating talent from Trophy Point, Encore, and YA Group, we are creating a unified team with unmatched capability in planning, scheduling, and advisory services.”

YA Group recently appointed a new CFO, COO, general counsel, and head of corporate development. The firm, which has approximately 600 professionals, was acquired by private equity firm THL Partners in 2024.