Bentonville construction firm appoints new CEO to lead company

ECS (Enformed Construction Services), a national general contractor and construction management firm based in Bentonville, has appointed Matt Orender as chief executive officer. He is replacing Chris Horton, who recently retired.

ECS launched in 2020 and is a sister organization to Bentonville architecture and engineering firm HFA (formerly Harrison French & Associates). They are wholly owned subsidiaries of a holding company formed in 2019 called HFA Enterprises LTD.

According to a news release Monday (April 1), Orender has been with ECS since its inception. He brings more than 25 years of project management experience in the construction industry and has overseen multimillion-dollar projects across a range of industries.

He previously worked for CDI Contractors in Little Rock. As ECS’s first hire and vice president of construction, Orender has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and development.

A Bryant native, Orender will continue to be based in central Arkansas and operate from ECS’s office in Benton.

“I am honored to take on this role and build upon the strong foundation laid by Chris Horton,” Orender said. “ECS has incredible potential, and I am excited to lead the team in delivering exceptional construction services to our clients nationwide.”

ECS has 12 employees.