JACOB SHAPIRO
Jacob Shapiro is Vero’s co-founder and co-principal; he is chiefly responsible for financials, estimating, design and shop production.
Jacob fondly recalls an early childhood memory buying toilets with his grandfather and developed a passion for the built environment while studying architecture in college. After graduating from Princeton University with a B.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning, Jacob worked at a traditional architecture firm, but he soon realized that being confined to an office wasn't for him. Instead he found himself drawn to the dynamic interplay of design and build as two parts of a single goal, rather than two distinct disciplines. So he set off to the brave new world of self-employment.
Jacob eventually found a kindred spirit in Josh Veselsky, who was running a similar business, and they decided to join forces and create Vero, LLC. In the years since, Jacob has found incredible professional fulfillment in Vero’s culture of creativity and problem solving, as well as the can-do attitude of the team members.
He enjoys cheese and has been known to wear colorfully printed shirts on Fridays. Outside of the shop, he is active on his synagogue board and school building committee. In the summers he is an Artist in Residence at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. He lives with his wife and their two sons in Skevanston.
“Jacob has a creative and cerebral approach to design and construction, while I’m much more literal and results driven. Our two personalities make Vero a strong environment for collaboration and growth. Jacob is wildly empathetic, endlessly honest and hardworking. If you start a business, start one with someone who has those traits.”
JOSH VESELSKY
Vero’s other co-founder and co-principal is Josh Veselsky, whose role is to direct operations, coordinating the project management team within the company and also managing the relationships Vero has with subcontractors and vendors, whose work is integral to the quality of work Vero produces.
Growing up, Josh cherished working on projects with his father and stepfather, learning valuable lessons from tradespeople of diverse backgrounds. These experiences instilled in him a strong work ethic and a profound appreciation for people who respect every aspect of the construction process, from architects who help haul lumber to designers who sweep up after an install. These are Josh’s people.
Josh got his start working at bars and restaurants, which eventually led to building bars and restaurants. He worked as a project manager on some of the first concepts in the now-bustling West Loop of Chicago, and after five years of working for other companies, he set off on his own. Entrepreneurism appealed to him, as did the excitement of building some of the most interesting projects Chicago has to offer. And after a stint working at a law firm, Josh knew that a desk job wasn’t for him (although his training in the law does come in handy during the contracting process).
Josh has a special interest in sustainable building practices, especially new HVAC technologies and advancements in energy efficient systems. He was invited to join the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in 2023, which has created opportunities for him to learn from and network with innovators and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries.
Josh shares his passion for commercial construction with his wife Nicole, who runs the hospitality design firm Siren Betty Design. Together, Josh and Nicole balance their professional lives with raising their two daughters. They enjoy traveling as a family and have explored Central America, the U.S. Mountain West, and, in Summer 2024, Europe (with a stop at the Olympic Games in Paris).
