October 2026 Chapter Meeting - FREE for Non-Members

PROJECT SHOWCASE - MERCY HOSPITAL JOPLIN VIRTUAL OPTION AVAILABLE Speakers: Jamison Bloebaum, PE and Steve Meuschke Jamison Bloebaum, PE is Senior Vice President of Design and Preconstruction for Murphy Company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and brings 30 years of industry experience split between Mechanical Contracting and Consulting Engineering. From concept to execution, Jamison has successfully led engineering and preconstruction teams on a diverse portfolio of projects across all market segments, project sizes and delivery methods. Jamison leads the estimating, design, and preconstruction teams at Murphy, ensuring alignment with client expectations while delivering innovative, efficient mechanical and plumbing system solutions. Steve Meuschke is Senior Vice President of Operations for McCarthy’s Central Region, providing regional leadership across operational strategy, project delivery, and performance. He works closely with project teams and leaders to align resources, strengthen execution, and ensure work is delivered safely, efficiently, profitably, and to the highest standards of quality. With a focus on client satisfaction and team development, Steve helps drive consistent performance and exceptional client experiences across the region—from preconstruction through completion. Steve brings more than 25 years of construction industry experience to his role. Throughout his career, he has provided leadership and direction for McCarthy’s Central Region and contributed to the successful delivery of complex projects, including the award-winning Mercy Hospital Joplin replacement facility in Joplin, Missouri; Children’s Hospital Colorado; and the VA Omaha. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. Subject: The presentation chronicles the destruction of Mercy Hospital Joplin following the catastrophic May 22, 2011 tornado and the extraordinary effort to restore healthcare services while planning and constructing a new replacement hospital. It highlights the immediate challenges of assessing damaged facilities, ensuring campus safety, restoring critical services, and providing patient care through temporary field hospitals, portable facilities, and a component-built hospital before transitioning to a permanent replacement campus. The presentation also showcases lessons learned in disaster recovery, emergency response, project delivery, and stakeholder coordination, while emphasizing the use of innovative technologies such as BIM, co-location, virtual collaboration tools, and advanced modeling to accelerate design and construction. Ultimately, the story demonstrates how engineers, designers, contractors, and healthcare leaders transformed a devastating disaster into an opportunity to create a more resilient, storm-hardened healthcare facility with enhanced emergency preparedness, redundant infrastructure, and improved patient care capabilities.