Cara Woodson Welch, Esq. is DBIA’s new Vice President, Advocacy. She brings to the position a wealth of design and construction experience as well as over 12 years of association management, government affairs, and legal experience in increasingly responsible positions. She comes to DBIA from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) where she was Legal Counsel and Director, Government Affairs. In that role she headed up a government affairs department that focused on state and federal issues, including licensure, transportation, water/wastewater issues, historic preservation, parks, and many other issues.
Previously she has held positions at the National Association of Realtors, The American Institute of Architects, and the National League of Cities. She has also held positions at all levels of government, federal, state, and local. Cara was born and raised in Washington, DC. She holds a BA from Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. Cara is licensed to practice law in DC and Pennsylvania. She is married with two young children and currently resides in Maryland.
With Cara’s hire, the DBIA Advocacy Department is redoubling its efforts towards advancing the design-build project delivery method in the states and federal government. We expect to focus our efforts in several key areas: congressional affairs, agency relations, new partnerships with other organizations, and working closely with DBIA’s Chapters.
- Congressional Affairs: DBIA will continue to build on its success with the Federal Transportation Bill and look to add language on design-build to several appropriations bills, and other appropriate vehicles.
- Agency Relations: DBIA will continue to build on existing relationships with NAVFAC, OPM, DOT, Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. General Services Administration, as well as reinvigorating relationships with Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The hoped-for outcome of these efforts is greater inclusion of design-build in government projects, increased visibility, more influence in the policymaking process, and participation in joint conferences.
- Partnerships: DBIA has begun the process of renewing or developing relationships with allied design and engineering groups, as well as elected owners, smart growth, and transportation groups. We will be exhibiting at several association events, including the National Conference of State Legislatures.
- Collaborating with DBIA Chapters: DBIA is putting together more resources for Chapters to assist them in being more effective in state legislative advocacy. These resources will include more state specific data –like summaries of good design build projects state by state, guidance on setting up an effective state advocacy program including whether or not to hire a lobbyist or start a Political Action Committee and an updated Chapter handbook — including a section on legislative activities.