Epstein-ISI

February 14, 2006
A. EPSTEIN AND SONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. NAMES
JOHN PATELSKI, JIM JIRSA, MICHAEL DAMORE EXECUTIVE MANAGING DIRECTORS
FIRM MOVES TO 100% EMPLOYEE-OWNERSHIP

CHICAGO, IL (February 14, 2006) … In a move toward a more modern organizational structure, A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. (Epstein), the 85 year-old, Chicago-based architecture, engineering, construction, interior design and graphic design firm has named John Patelski, Jim Jirsa and Michael Damore as executive managing directors, announced former chairman Sidney Epstein, son of firm founder Abraham Epstein. As part of this reorganization, the firm further moved to 100% employee ownership.

"John, Jim and Mike are proven talents all of whom have been with the firm for many years," said Epstein. "The time has come to move to a more modern organizational approach and let these three talented men lead the firm into the 21st century and at the same time give all employees a solid stake in its future."

"This move is part of an overall restructuring of the firm leadership," stated Mickey Kupperman, vice chairman. "Sidney and I are strong supporters of a simpler management structure that will allow the firm to continue to reduce costs and experience even higher growth."

As part of the firm's move to a flatter organizational structure, Sidney Epstein relinquishes the title of chairman but remains a key advisor on the board of directors. Mickey Kupperman retains the title of vice chairman and also remains on the board of directors. John Patelski will hold the title of president/engineering and construction. Michael Damore will serve as president/architecture and interior design and Jim Jirsa retains the title of CFO.

Patelski, 48, president/engineering and construction, will lead these specific units and continue to head the firm's business development efforts as it is positioned for future growth in emerging areas. Patelski joined the firm in 1992 as vice president/director of electrical engineering. He was promoted to senior vice president in 1994 and executive vice president in 1996 when he moved to business development. He was promoted to president in 2002. He has been instrumental in developing new business units including EN Engineering, the firm's energy engineering joint venture with Nicor Inc.

Damore, 56, president/architecture and interior design, will lead the firm's architecture and planning efforts in addition to overseeing Epstein's interior design unit, Interior Space International (ISI). He was instrumental in forming the firm's in-house design studio annex|5 and Epstein's in-house graphic and wayfinding studio known as neXt. Damore oversaw the firm's expansion into China with offices in both Beijing and Shenzhen. He began his tenure at the firm in 1991 as senior vice president/director of architecture. He was named executive vice president in 1995 and promoted to senior executive vice president in 2002.

Jirsa, 45, CFO, will continue to oversee all financial functions and growth opportunities for the firm. He was instrumental in the recent move toward 100% employee ownership and consistent positive growth. Jirsa joined Epstein in 1984 as senior accountant and promoted to assistant controller/construction in 1985 and controller in 1986. He was named vice president/director of finance in 1993 and to CFO/executive vice president in 1996.

Epstein was founded in 1921 by Abraham Epstein, a structural engineer. He was one of the first engineers to hire architects for his projects and soon expanded the firm accordingly. The firm built the International Amphitheatre in 1934 and was instrumental in the rebuilding of the Union Stockyards in the same year after a major fire. Epstein was instrumental in the design and/or construction of a number of famous structures in Chicago and worldwide including the Smurfit-Stone Container Building at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, the McCormick Place Convention Center, the new terminal at Chicago Midway Airport, the Warsaw Financial Center and the recently completed Hyatt Center office tower. Currently, Epstein is teamed with The Richard Rogers Partnership and FXFOWLE to expand and renovate New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Epstein enters 2006 with one of the largest backlogs of design and construction work in the firm's history. Major projects include ongoing work on the west expansion of McCormick Place Convention Center, the expansion and renovation of the Javits Convention Center and Mesirow Financials' new high-rise Chicago headquarters.

Today A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. is a full-service architecture, engineering, construction, interior design and graphic design firm. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm maintains offices in Los Angeles, California; San Antonio, Texas; Warsaw, Poland; Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba, Israel and Shenzhen and Beijing, China and has recently opened an office in Bucharest, Romania. The Epstein family of companies includes A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc.; ISI, the firm's interior design unit; annex|5, the firm's in-house architectural design studio and neXt, the firm's in-house graphic design studio.