ACEC Member News: BRAVO Group Hires Construction Industry Veteran Jay Badame as COO

Shreya Jain

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September 17, 2026

BRAVO Group, a full-service management firm in the AEC industry, announced it has hired Jay Badame as Chief Operating Officer. With close to five decades of experience leading high-profile projects across New York and the country, Mr. Badame will help oversee and grow the firm’s portfolio of public- and private-sector projects, with a special focus on construction management and driving new design-build opportunities.

“I have had the privilege of working with Jay for decades and can confidently say there is no one better suited to help BRAVO usher in our next chapter of growth,” said Ehab Shehata, president and CEO of BRAVO Group. “He brings not only an unmatched level of expertise and experience to the role, but also deep integrity – something that is critically important to our industry. I am thrilled to have him as part of our team.”

Throughout his career, Mr. Badame has led some of the city’s highest-profile and most complex projects, including the World Trade Center’s redevelopment following September 11, JFK International Airport’s new Terminals 1 and 6, and Midtown East’s One Vanderbilt. Prior to joining BRAVO, Mr. Badame spent 40 years as president of a leading New York firm’s Construction Management division, where he oversaw more than 400 projects nationwide.

“BRAVO has built an upstanding reputation within the AEC industry, with tremendous potential to take the business even further. I look forward to working closely alongside Ehab and the entire leadership team, as well as our outstanding clients and partners, to elevate this company to the next level,” said Mr. Badame.

Reporting directly to Mr. Shehata, Mr. Badame will oversee a team of close to 70 professionals within the firm. In addition to his role as COO, he has also been appointed to BRAVO’s Board of Advisors, alongside former New York Governor David Paterson.