Mowery hires developer Derek Dilks as director of special projects

Hoping to be more nimble and compete on smaller projects, mostly urban redevelopment efforts, Silver Spring Township-based R.S. Mowery & Sons Inc. has hired midstate developer Derek Dilks to head up its new special projects division.

The Cumberland County contractor, which recently began doing business under the brand name Mowery, has been scaling up under the leadership of Dave Cross, the company's president and COO.

Dilks and Mowery's new leader have crossed paths many times in recent years as Cross is chairman of York City’s Redevelopment Authority. Dilks has been active in projects in both downtown York and Harrisburg, though he recently opted not to move forward with a large project in York's Continental Square.

"Derek's track record of developing special projects that are smaller on scale at very competitive prices make him uniquely qualified for this position," Cross said. "Our team is proud to bring big contractor expertise to smaller projects, with faster turnaround and less cost. With Derek's leadership, we’re looking forward to continued growth in this specialty."

Dilks said the Mowery move does not prohibit him from continuing to grow his local real estate portfolio and tackle his own renovation projects. But it does give him an exclusive partner with much greater resources to help execute on more mixed-use projects, either properties he owns or for other developers.

Ideally, Dilks will help Mowery compete for smaller office projects, residential and retail work, which will boost revenue and complement the company's larger project work that focuses on warehouses, higher education, automotive dealerships and senior living facilities.

"This benefits everybody," Dilks said.

Dilks previously served as vice president of real estate development for Dan Deitchman's Brickbox Enterprises in Cumberland County. 

Throughout his career, he has lead several notable projects such as the first 48-unit student housing redevelopment in Harrisburg for Harrisburg University, the conversion of the former Furlow five and dime into the 24-unit COBA apartments in Midtown and the development of the former AFL-CIO headquarters into a 42-unit LUX condominiums on State and Third streets in front of the state Capitol complex.

He also was part of the a 56-unit student housing project at the historic former Kunkel building on Market Street for Harrisburg University.

These type of projects would be ideal for Mowery, Dilks said. Another example would be the Blackberry Technology Center, a small three-story tech redevelopment project in Harrisburg where Dilks served as construction manager.

Source: Central Penn Business Journal