For Josh Rewa, a career in construction felt almost destined. With both his father and grandfather in residential building, his early fascination with watching things take shape naturally grew into a professional pursuit. After starting in Architectural Technology at Ferris State University, he quickly realized drafting wasn’t for him and pivoted to Construction Management, earning his bachelor’s degree. Rewa began his career with Rockford as an intern, working on projects at Hillsdale College and Ferris State. From there, he spent eight years out of state on federal government projects in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia, gaining exposure to a wide variety of infrastructure work including electrical substations, stormwater pump stations and heavy civil projects. This experience not only honed his technical skills but also shaped his affinity for large, complex industrial projects.
When Rewa returned to Michigan, he rejoined Rockford and managed a Meijer distribution center, the largest project in the company’s history at the time, where his background in heavy civil, mechanical and electrical systems proved invaluable. That project also reinforced his passion for design-build, a delivery method he first encountered in college and later mastered through his federal work. “Design-build puts you into a collaborative seat,” Rewa said. “You’re working with field foreman, professional engineers, architects, owners, and trades, coordinating and integrating all the moving parts for a successful outcome.” Today, Rewa is DBIA-certified and sees design-build as central to the future of industrial construction, with nearly half of all projects nationwide projected to be delivered this way by 2028.
Equally important to Rewa is technology. A self-described “technology advocate,” he has been a driving force behind Rockford’s BIM and VDC service offerings. “BIM and VDC fit really well into what we’re doing daily with heavy mechanical and heavy process projects,” Rewa said. While industrial building shells may be simple, the MEP systems are highly complex. Rockford now supports VDC on 90% of its industrial projects, using interior scanning and curated models to fully integrate trades before shovels hit the ground. “It’s huge,” said Rewa. “We know what we need to know with no surprises from the start.”
Rewa also sees retrofitting as a defining trend in the industrial market, particularly within battery and advanced manufacturing. With cost savings and speed-to-market at the forefront, more clients are retooling existing facilities instead of building new ones. This comes with challenges; working in active facilities, managing outages, fitting oversized equipment into existing structures and meeting stringent clean room and dry room standards. Rockford has become an expert at containment, 5S cleaning and maintaining ultra-dry environments critical for battery component production. “Outages are always one of the biggest challenges,” Rewa said. “You’re working with the ebb and flow of their production, keeping them operational while executing highly technical tie-ins.”
Looking ahead, Rewa believes Rockford Industrial is uniquely positioned at the intersection of Michigan’s manufacturing economy and the future of construction. “Michigan is a manufacturing state, from EV to aerospace,” Rewa said. “Our team supports these facilities that, in turn, support the state’s economy. It gives us a front-row seat to industries that are quietly powering Michigan forward.” For Rewa, the impact goes beyond any single project. It’s about building trust with clients, leading with candid collaboration and driving innovation that keeps Rockford — and Michigan — at the forefront of industrial construction.
