Meet our team

Employee-Owned for a reason.

Harman Construction is a design-build general contractor made up of about 65 individuals—20 in our Harrisonburg office and 45 working in the field. Though our backgrounds and interests differ, you’ll find common themes of family, faith, and pride in our work run strong throughout our company. We come together under the example of our leadership, upholding the Valley tradition of hard work grounded in fairness and integrity. This common ground has led to a steady growth over Harman’s nearly 50 year history. What began as a spin-off to CEO Carl Harman’s family farm supply business, Harman Construction now has an annual volume consistently around $45 million.

Harman Construction transitioned into an employee owned company in 2019. Becoming an ESOP is a great way to preserve the company’s legacy providing a smooth transition of ownership at a fair price while maintaining the existing management, values and workforce. The company receives tax benefits and the employees ultimately benefit from stock shares allocated to them over time. Everyone wins!

LEADERSHIP

Wayne Witmer

  • email: wwitmer@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 103)

    Wayne joined Harman in 1990, the day after returning from his honeymoon. Married with four children, Wayne enjoys family, travel, sports, and music.

    Wayne holds a business administration degree from Eastern Mennonite University and worked his way up from project management and business development to president and CEO. “Communicating with employees and clients to make sure that goals and expectations are met is very important,” says Wayne. “I work hard at making that a priority.”

    Active in the industry and community, Wayne is past president of AGCVA Valley District, Has served as AGCVA state board member and has served on the Butler Building Systems national advisory council. He is a current member of Harrisonburg Rotary Club board and the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity Board. Faith and trust in God is what keeps him focused and inspired to lead well in all he does.

GARY MCBRIDE

  • email: gmcbride@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 110)

    Gary earned both his B.S. in business administration and M.S. in administration from James Madison University. Gary is active in the Association of General Contractors of Virginia, Valley District, serving many years on the executive committee and as president from 2009 – 2013.

    Gary’s philosophy is that “Leadership is not about being in charge, it is about taking care of the people in your charge”. Gary feels that taking care of your people will result in a dedicated and high-quality workforce delivering exceptional buildings for our community. Married with two grown children and three grandchildren, Gary enjoys the beach, big dogs –specifically labs and golden retrievers, golf, biking and travel. Gary is an avid Virginia Tech fan and spends much time with his family attending basketball and football games.

Nancy bowers

  • email: nbowers@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 114)

    Prior to joining Harman in 1997, Nancy earned her accounting degree—cum laude—from Eastern Mennonite University. She also graduated from the U.S. Army Military Police Academy and from the Defense Language Institute with a focus on German.

    Nancy is thankful for the five and a half years she spent in Germany—experiencing the culture to the fullest! “From my military days, I learned the importance of team work and unity within an organization and being a member of the Harman Team I am thankful that we have been blessed with a great team of talented and creative people through which great things can be accomplished.”

    These days, Nancy spends time in various roles at Antioch Church of the Brethren where her husband is pastor. She also enjoys time spent with family, playing piano, and gardening.

    Even after all her years at Harman, Nancy continues to learn and adapt to industry changes, trusting in God to continue blessing the work at Harman.

Travis Layman

  • email: tlayman@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 122)

    With a family history rich in construction, contracting, and design, his career was influenced early in life. Early on he learned some basics of estimating and contracting while running Layman Brothers Yard Work with one of his brothers back in the 80s.

    In talking to Travis, family, faith, community, and an active lifestyle are major themes. Travis and his family have involved in the community since he moved back after graduating from Furman University in 1993, where he graduated with a B.A. in business administration.

    In 2002 Travis joined Harman Construction. In the recent past, Travis chaired the Rockingham County Bicycle Advisory Committee and was a Board Member of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, and helped with the Shen-Rock Mountain. Recently Travis and his family and others founded the non-profit Songs for the Valley to host concerts in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and surrounding area. Travis enjoys spending time with his family, being part of Horizon Christian Fellowship, outdoor recreation, and volunteering with Songs for the Valley.

Ryan Strite

  • email: rstrite@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 120)

    Ryan joined Harman in 2004 as a project manager before switching to business development seven years later. His past experience managing projects strengthens his ability to help clients put together projects that are well thought out. In his current role, Ryan often hears that he makes the planning process easy—helping communicate and set attainable and realistic expectations.

    Ryan graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a B.A. in business administration and is a member of the Rockingham/Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce, Augusta County Chamber of Commerce, and recently served as an Elder at New Beginnings Church.

    During college, Ryan studied in Guatemala and Cuba for a semester. He also spent a summer as an Alaskan fishing guide, so it’s no surprise he is an avid sportsman spending his free time fishing, bow hunting, and playing any type of team sport. Ryan also enjoys time with his wife and two children.

Josh Byler

  • email: jbyler@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 131)

    Josh Byler joined Harman Construction in 2025 as our Executive Vice President, bringing a strong background in project management, leadership, and operations. A 2007 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in elementary education, Josh spent eight years teaching in Harrisonburg before transitioning to the construction industry. In 2015, he joined Blauch Brothers Mechanical, where he served as a project manager, senior project manager, and ultimately operations manager of construction.

    Josh is passionate about teamwork, problem-solving, and delivering high-quality projects that meet customer expectations. He values communication, honesty, and integrity, working to ensure that every team member has the tools they need to succeed.

    Beyond work, Josh enjoys coaching basketball, baseball, and softball. He serves as chair of the board for the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir and as president of the TA Knights AAU Basketball Association. A lifelong sports fan—especially of Penn State football—he loves spending time with his wife, three children, and two dogs. He also enjoys home improvement projects, working outdoors, and staying active in the community. Raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania, Josh developed a strong work ethic early on, later gaining hands-on experience in custom home building and cabinetry.

    His deep-rooted passion for construction stems from the industry's collaborative nature and the satisfaction of delivering exceptional results.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT & SAFETY

John Bazan

  • email: jbazan@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 116)

    As the operations manager I enjoy seeing our jobs progress from start to finish. I visit all of the jobsites on a weekly basis to help the superintendents with coordinating their needs of equipment and manpower. Teamwork and communications are important parts of our job here at Harman. We strive to work together to complete the projects for the customer, and I help to facilitate that process.

    I also oversee the safety program for Harman Construction. The safety of our employees and subcontractors is very important to me. I want everyone to be able to complete their duties in a safe manner and to then go home to their loved ones every evening.

    I’ve been certified in the following: OSHA 500 Trainer, OSHA 510, American Heart Association Heart Saver Instructor (First Aid, CPR, AED), OSHA 30-Hour, OSHA 10-Hour, excavation and trenching safety, and confined space safety.

    Outside the office, I enjoy motorcycle riding, camping, hiking, and spending time with my wife. We have two sons and two grandchildren that we thoroughly enjoy spending time with.

Dustin Harper

  • email: dharper@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 129)

    Dustin, a Harrisonburg native, graduated with a business management degree from Messiah College and extensive experience working for a top-three, national contractor.

    The dynamic aspect of construction and seeing the process through each day is what Dustin loves most about his job. A true people-person, he believes a project’s success is directly related to building strong relationships with co-workers, subcontractors, and clients. Dustin places a strong personal value on working with honesty, so it’s no wonder his clients enjoy his professionalism, foresight, and leadership throughout his projects.

    Dustin enjoys spending time outdoors, snowboarding, and mountain biking, or attending local music festivals and relaxing to good music.

Eric Cash

  • email: ecash@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 105)

    Eric possess strong leadership and management skills with over 20 years of managerial experience. He maintains excellent people skills in all aspects of the job and is able to effectively work in a team environment. His past experiences as a Fire Lieutenant and Paramedic have provided him with a unique ability to remain calm under the most stressful of situations. Eric is a graduate of the University of Richmond where he completed a B.S. degree in Emergency Management with a focus on human behavior during disasters.

    Outside the office, Eric is an avid big game hunter and a gifted bowler, holding a 213 average and achieving the perfect 300 game. Eric also is an accomplished actor and play write having performed in dinner theater plays since he was 8 years old and in 2018 began writing comedy plays for the Crimora Players, a comedy play group who’s show proceeds are donated to community members suffering from major medical issues and struggling with medical expenses.

Kevin Campbell

  • email: kcampbell@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 118)

    A Salem, VA native, Kevin received his degree in Business Administration from Roanoke College. Kevin has since worked in a variety of careers including his work as a police officer and construction manager in Roanoke, VA. With his passion for construction, playing with Carter CAT vehicles since childhood, Kevin is excited to join the Harman team where it is a family environment. He thoroughly enjoys working closely with all those involved in each of his projects, and building relationships with co-workers, subcontractors, and clients. His dedication to the success of each project ensures a positive outcome for all involved.

    When he’s not busy at work, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids. He also loves anything Hokie (particularly Virginia Tech football), golf, and going to the beach.

Daniel Bazan

  • email: dbazan@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 126)

    Daniel joined Harman Construction in March of 2022 as a Project Manager. A Verona native, Daniel earned a degree in History from Liberty University. After working in a variety of industries ranging from transportation and aviation to agriculture, his interest in problem solving and bringing plans to completion has led him to the construction industry.

    “As a new member of the Harman team, the most exciting aspects of Harman are being able to learn something new and that the company is family- oriented”, says Daniel.

    When he is out of the office, Daniel enjoys spending time hiking, swimming, reading, and camping with his wife and two children. They often spend time volunteering with their local church in order to give back to the community.

Kristian Moore

  • email: kmoore@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 134)

    Kristian grew up in Timberville and graduated From Broadway High School. He went to Christopher Newport University to study Communication. He has a variety of different experiences from managing the Broadway Community Pool, doing painting and light construction, and bartending in downtown harrisonburg. Kristian takes safety very seriously and his main goal is to make sure everybody gets to go home safely at the end of the day.

    When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, watching football and basketball, playing golf, snowboarding, hunting, camping, and fishing.

Design & Estimating

Travis Layman

  • email: tlayman@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 122)

    With a family history rich in construction, contracting, and design, his career was influenced early in life. Early on he learned some basics of estimating and contracting while running Layman Brothers Yard Work with one of his brothers back in the 80s.

    In talking to Travis, family, faith, community, and an active lifestyle are major themes. Travis and his family have involved in the community since he moved back after graduating from Furman University in 1993, where he graduated with a B.A. in business administration.

    In 2002 Travis joined Harman Construction. In the recent past, Travis chaired the Rockingham County Bicycle Advisory Committee and was a Board Member of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, and helped with the Shen-Rock Mountain. Recently Travis and his family and others founded the non-profit Songs for the Valley to host concerts in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and surrounding area. Travis enjoys spending time with his family, being part of Horizon Christian Fellowship, outdoor recreation, and volunteering with Songs for the Valley.

Donnie Smith

  • email: dsmith@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 106)

    With his degree in architectural drafting, Donnie joined Harman in 1998. “Seeing a completed job that I produced the drawings for is rewarding,” he says. Donnie is task focused and often hears it is a pleasure to work with the design department.

    Outside the office, he likes hunting, fishing, and playing softball. Donnie also enjoys spending time on the lake with his wife and his dog.

David Hughes

  • email: dhughes@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 104)

    David and his family live on an acre of his wife’s grandfather’s farm. Her parents, uncle, and her triplet siblings each have an acre for their families as well. Though David says they are, “far enough apart that we are not constantly up in each other’s business,” it seems pretty fair to say David’s positive, upbeat attitude and calm demeanor are assets not just to his professional estimator role.

    David graduated from West Virginia University. His history minor is fitting of his interest in living history with specific interest in the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War. He is also an avid soccer fan and enjoys playing in the local rec leagues.

Jacque Zook

  • email: jzook@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 112)

    Jacque grew up in Broadway. The nerd of the family, she always enjoyed working with numbers. When her dad told her the most obvious options for a good math job were accounting or engineering, she looked at her CPA father and chose engineering.

    After graduating from Virginia Tech, she decided the best way to use her engineering degree was to teach English in Africa. She eventually put her degree to its intended use when she moved back to the Valley and is now a licensed structural engineer.

    Outside of holding the lives of people in her hands with a single stamp, Jacque enjoys sipping on coffee, earning a laugh from her nephews, and keeping her wood stove well fed in the winter.

Business Development

Ryan Strite

  • email: rstrite@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 120)

    Ryan joined Harman in 2004 as a project manager before switching to business development seven years later. His past experience managing projects strengthens his ability to help clients put together projects that are well thought out. In his current role, Ryan often hears that he makes the planning process easy—helping communicate and set attainable and realistic expectations.

    Ryan graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a B.A. in business administration and is a member of the Rockingham/Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce, Augusta County Chamber of Commerce, and recently served as an Elder at New Beginnings Church.

    During college, Ryan studied in Guatemala and Cuba for a semester. He also spent a summer as an Alaskan fishing guide, so it’s no surprise he is an avid sportsman spending his free time fishing, bow hunting, and playing any type of team sport. Ryan also enjoys time with his wife and two children.

Dwayne Martin

  • email: dmartin@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 102)

    Dwayne is a modern day renaissance man who can be found tying flies or fishing with them, butchering hogs, milling wood, or playing old time music on a banjo or guitar.

Rebecca Penrod

  • email: rpenrod@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 119)

    Rebecca Penrod is a seasoned marketing professional with over two decades of experience in the field. Serving as the Marketing Coordinator, Rebecca brings a wealth of expertise and creativity to her role. She holds a marketing degree from Florida State University, where she honed her skills and passion for the industry.

    Born and raised in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Rebecca has deep roots in her community and a keen understanding of the local market dynamics.

    Rebecca has a genuine passion for building lasting relationships. Her ability to connect with clients, stakeholders, and team members alike has been instrumental in fostering trust and collaboration, ultimately driving business success.

    Beyond her professional endeavors, Rebecca is a devoted mother of two wonderful children. Balancing her career and family life, she exemplifies resilience, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of her life.

    With her passion for marketing, wealth of experience, innate leadership qualities, and dedication to building relationships, Rebecca Penrod continues to make significant contributions to the success and growth of Harman Construction, solidifying her reputation as a trusted expert in the field.

Support Staff

Tammy Kestner

  • email: tkestner@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 132)

    An active member of the Shenandoah Valley chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, Tammy has 25 years of construction industry experience with over half of those in HR. Tammy is a trusted resource for her understanding of employment law and advocate for her co-workers. Staying current in her field is a priority.

    Outside the office, Tammy has a keen eye for decorating and spends her downtime hunting down antiques and other unique items from area shops and auctions. She also enjoys spending time with her three grown children and granddaughter.

James Murphy

  • email: jmurphy@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 108)

    Originally from Franklin, WV, James graduated from West Virginia University in 2014 with a B.S.B.AD. in accounting. Outside of the office, James hobbies are basketball, going to the gym, video games, and spending time with his cat, Dexter.

Cheri Bowman

  • email: cbowman@harmanconstruction.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 101)

    Cheri began her career with Harman Construction in October 2022. She moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1985 and currently lives in Augusta County. With over 30 years’ experience working alongside executive teams with a diverse background, Cheri specializes in administrative technology in the workplace. She brings a positive attitude and energy to work hard. Her knack of making things neat and tidy and great attention to detail are some of the attributes that she prides herself in at work and in her everyday life.

    Outside of work, Cheri cherishes time spent with her husband, two daughters and their spoiled furkids - two dogs and two cats. Her passion is taking pictures, antiquing, decorating and home projects, and relaxing by their fire pit. She loves planning gatherings with friends to enjoy life together and fun trips with her family. She treasures each day of life as a blessing.

Jenna Cave

  • email: jcave@harmanconstruciton.com
    call: 540.434.4459 (Ext. 123)

    Jenna Cave serves as HCI’s Accounting Assistant. In this role, Jenna works closely with senior accountants and financial professionals, assisting with various tasks such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, and financial reporting.

    With her degree in Business/Accounting from Mary Baldwin University, Jenna brings a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to her position. Her attention to detail, analytical mindset, and proficiency in accounting software allow her to effectively contribute to the accuracy and efficiency of financial processes within the organization.

    Jenna's role as an Accounting Assistant requires her to be organized, proactive, and collaborative, as she often collaborates with team members across different departments to ensure smooth financial operations. Her dedication to accuracy and her commitment to excellence make her a valuable asset to the accounting team.

    Outside of her professional responsibilities, Jenna remains engaged in her personal interests, including reading, fitness, and spending quality time with her pets. This balance between work and leisure reflects Jenna's holistic approach to life, ensuring both professional success and personal fulfillment while staying connected to her roots in Broadway, Virginia.