Who We Are
our key people
With over 35 highly experienced key people and consultants located nationwide, we are able to offer you quick turnaround on your reconstruction estimates.
Ray Young
Owner/operator of YOUNG & Associates, a professional building-consulting company.
From the St. Louis area, Ray attended Washington University, studying structural analysis and construction management. With more than 30 years in the business, Ray is a certified graduate remodeler and past president of the St. Louis chapter of the National Association of Home Builders Remodeling Council.
In St. Louis from 1973 to 1994, Ray owned and/or worked for three companies that specialized in insurance reconstruction and design-build renovations.
When the Northridge earthquake struck, Ray took his expertise to California. In his first year there with Peck/Jones-Inrecon, he estimated and consulted on more than 50 commercial and residential projects. In 1995, he became the company's western division manager, overseeing projects worth up to $8 million.
Besides running YA, Ray also has led numerous seminars and training programs about insurance reconstruction for the industry. Most recently, he served as a member of a California Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering Woodframe Project.
Email: ryoung@youngonline.com
Linda Young
As an owner and partner of YOUNG & Associates, Linda has been associated with the building industry for over twenty years.
After starting and co-managing a successful general-contracting business in the St. Louis area, Linda moved to Los Angeles after the Northridge earthquake in 1994. While in Los Angeles, she became a member of Peck/Jones-Inrecon's national marketing team, representing the company at numerous trade shows and was instrumental in developing new clients on the West Coast.
In 1997, when YOUNG & Associates began, Linda's major responsibility was business development. Today, she participates in the major marketing enterprises nation-wide.
Linda holds a Master of Religion with an emphasis in Christian Leadership from Liberty Theological Seminary and is a member of the pastoral staff at Church 212° in Palm Desert, California. She is the founder of Linda Young Ministries: LindaYoungMinistries.com.
Email: linda@youngonline.com
Mike Kurtz
With over 25 years of business experience, Mike joined YOUNG & Associates in January 2005 as Chief Financial Officer. Mike is responsible for all Accounting and Finance support functions, assisting in the development of new clients and existing client relationships, YA’s Information Systems along with Consultant Management Training and Development.
Mike has a broad range of senior-level management experience in both public and privately held companies, such as Anheuser-Busch and Koch Industries, the second largest privately held company in the United States. He has held such leadership positions as National Marketing Manager, Regional Operations Manager, Director, Human Resources and Technology and Vice-President, Management Consulting Services.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Mike received both his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and his M.B.A. from St. Louis University and is based in St. Louis.
Email: mkurtz@youngonline.com
John Kowalik
With over 20 years of business experience in sales, marketing and customer relations, John joined YOUNG & Associates in June 2008 as Vice President of Marketing. John is responsible for new business development and customer relations along with the development and implementation of national and regional marketing efforts for YA.
John has a broad range of experience with particular emphasis in the areas of major account acquisition and development. He also has been instrumental in sales negotiating and closing, customer retention, forecasting and planning and sales training. John served as Corporate Sales Manager in the Machinery Division of MiTek Industries, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri. While with MiTek, John managed 18 sales engineers accountable for the supplying of design software to the housing industry. One of John’s many accomplishments at MiTek was leading his team in successfully closing the single largest sale in company history. Prior to MiTek, John held sales positions with Alvey Incorporated and Didion & Sons Foundry, both in the St. Louis area.
John holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri and is based in St. Louis.
Email: jkowalik@youngonline.com