Our Team

At the heart of Dirig’s success is a team dedicated to finding the right solution for every client. Each day, our people bring to their work an unwavering focus on quality, dependability and  exceptional customer service.

Key members of the Dirig team include:

Mark Berning Specialty Project Manager

Mark comes to Dirig Sheet Metal with nearly 25 years experience in the sheet metal industry. As Dirig’s Specialty Project Manager, he works closely with customers on the design and implementation of their projects, always seeking innovative and efficient methods for meeting each customer’s specific needs. Mark’s responsibilities include overall in-house coordination and supervision of specialty projects, ensuring that each project is carried out on time and on budget according to client specifications.

Shelly Crabill Office Manager

Shelly started with Dirig Sheet Metal in 1995 as Office Manager, coordinating personnel as well as generating the best practices, methodologies and techniques to provide a direct and personalized relationship among our employees and customers.

She has also worked her way into the safety field, always being cognoscente that the company’s philosophy is “Safety First” and working to provide employees with the resources, tools and training necessary to create the safest possible work environment.   Shelly continually attends many workshops and seminars as well as onsite demonstrations to stay on top of the newest government rules and regulations.

Betsy Gilliom Project Coordinator

Betsy Gilliom

Betsy joined the Dirig team in 2006, bringing an extensive knowledge of business, project management and client service to our growing company. Betsy is responsible for the organization and coordination of all contracted projects, advising the project managers on every aspect of our contract work, including the research and analysis of submittals and pertinent documentation. She verifies project schedules and  maintains the list of requirements needed to complete each job.

Steve Mueller Project Manager/Estimator

A member of the Dirig team since 1999, Steve’s responsibilities as a Project Manager and Estimator include the overall coordination and supervision of each customer’s project from start to finish. He truly understands client needs in bringing the work in on time and on budget. Starting as a project foreman, Steve has since moved into the project management/estimating position with successful results in project bid awards. Steve also brings extensive project scheduling and team management skills to all of his client work.

Steve’s list of projects includes:

Don Platt Project Manager/Estimator

Don serves as a Project Manager and Estimator at Dirig, bringing over 20 years of experience in fabrication and installation to his work for our clients. Don joined our team in 2001, overseeing the preparation and implementation of a variety of large, high-profile projects. As Project Manager he is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the progress of sheet metal construction contracted work. 

Don’s project experience includes:

Mike Starnes Shop Foreman

Since becoming Dirig’s Shop Foreman in 1999, Mike has increased shop productivity, and provided leadership and training to fellow workers through a hands-on approach to the fabrication of a wide variety of sheet metal projects. Mike is responsible for overseeing day-to-day shop operations and personnel, as well as ensuring that projects are completed on time and in accordance with job specifications.

Sean Watkins Vice President of Project Management

Since beginning his career in sheet metal, Sean has worked in all areas of the industry. Starting as an apprentice, he worked his way up in the field and shop areas, serving in such roles as field foreman, shop superintendent, estimator, and project manager. Sean currently serves as Dirig’s Vice President of Project Management, overseeing the progress, coordination, scheduling and quality of a wide range of projects.

A brief listing of Sean’s projects:

Stan Watkins President

Stan Watkins

A journeyman sheet metal worker by trade, Stan brings over 45 years of experience to his work for Dirig customers. Stan has worked in the shop and field in all areas of the industry, including HVAC, Architectural Sheet Metal, Dust Control Systems and Specialty Fabrications. Upon his purchase of Dirig Sheet Metal in 1993, it was a small shop of three men, focused on specialty sheet metal. Under Stan’s leadership, Dirig Sheet Metal has grown each year since, and is now a multi-million dollar business featuring over 100 employees serving a diverse customer base.

Among the many key projects that Dirig has completed under Stan’s leadership: Embassy Theatre renovation; Lutheran Hospital Heart Center as well as a multitude of Lutheran Hospital expansion projects; Parkview Hospital Heart Pavilion; Juvenile Justice Center; Dannon; Edy’s Ice Cream; Allen County Public Library; Peabody Retirement Facility; Adams County Hospital; Ball State University; Ball Memorial Hospital; General Motors Fort Wayne Sequencing Facility and many more.