Lisa Choplin graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. She has been employed by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) for 19 years. Lisa is currently the chief, Innovative Contracting Division, where she is responsible for and has direct oversight of the planning, implementation, and coordination of the Innovative Contracting Program for SHA which includes incorporating new and innovative contracting methods of delivery into SHA’s construction projects. Lisa is the Administration’s primary contact and coordinator for SHA’s design-build program. She is also providing assistance in the development of procurement strategies and documents for the Office of the Intercounty Connector. Over the years, Lisa has made several presentations at DBIA’s Transportation Conference.
Don Evans is president and group chief executive of the Civil Infrastructure Group at CH2M HILL. Mr. Evans has served as president and chief executive officer with Operational Management International, Inc. (OMI), since 1986. Mr. Evans was also President of the CH2M HILL Water Business Group, having assumed this position in 1995. Mr. Evans joined CH2M HILL in 1973 and has been an executive, project manager, process engineer, and construction services manager in the water, wastewater, and public works industry. He also has considerable experience in the wastewater collection field, including infiltration/inflow, computer modeling, systems evaluation and rehabilitation, and capital improvements. As president and chief executive officer of OMI, Mr. Evans managed 1,400 employees as they provide operation, maintenance, and management services for over 160 water, wastewater, solid waste, and public works projects throughout the world. OMI won the 2000 Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, one of only nine service companies to win the award in its 14-year history, and was the only service firm to win in 2000. As president of the CH2M HILL Water Business group, Mr. Evans worked with over 1,000 people worldwide as they provide consulting engineering services to water companies, utilities, governments, and others on water and wastewater treatment and water resources management.
Linda Figg is president/CEO of Figg Engineering Group (FIGG), a family of companies that specializes in creating bridges as art®. Linda, a Civil Engineering graduate of Auburn University, has 25 years of experience in all aspects of bridge development, including design, project management, innovative financing, construction engineering, and public involvement. She pioneered the FIGG Bridge Design Charette™ process for unique community involvement, which was utilized during the design of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory.
Thomas J. Fulton, P.E., has 22 years of field and management experience in road, bridge, and marine construction. He is currently a project executive with Skanska USA Civil.
Steven W.. Funderburg, P.E., has more than 30 years experience in environmental engineering and science. This experience includes design and construction monitoring of waste management and remediation systems, and remediation of sites under RCRA and Superfund. He has conducted or supervised hundreds of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and, in association with contaminated sites, has prepared remediation plans and specifications and closure cost estimates, oversaw site closure, and represented clients before regulatory authorities. His experience also includes environmental audits of industrial facilities, consultation with industry on solid waste management, hazardous waste permitting, and evaluation of the effects of non-point source contaminants on surface water and ground water systems. Mr. Funderburg is currently hazardous materials manager and corridor-wide stormwater coordinator for the 45-mile Texas State Highway 130 design-build project.
John Kalvelage, P.E., is the director of the design-build program for David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA). He is a registered professional engineer in California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Greg Lassiter, P.E., is the director of design-build project delivery for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin in Boston. He has directed or participated in the design of major transportation and infrastructure projects throughout New England and Virginia.
David Lewis, Ph.D., is HDR’s national director of economics and finance. He has more than 20 years of experience in economics, and his clients include private clients and public agencies throughout the United States and Canada. He is widely published, including three books on public policy and mass transit financing issues.
Robert A. Morgan, P.E., is a project manager/area construction engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation. He has more than 25 years of design and management experience in the field of transportation engineering and construction.
Jackson A. Parker has been president and CEO of Reed & Reed, Inc., Woolwich, ME, since 1985. He has a BA from Colby College and an MBA from Dartmouth College. During his tenure the company has grown 15-fold to become one of northern New England’s leading general contractors.
Christine Ryan heads up Nossaman’s Austin, TX, office and specializes in advising public and private entities in the structuring, development, finance, and operation of large transportation projects. Her focus includes developing strategies for project development during the procurement process, drafting and negotiating public-private partnership agreements, design-build contracts and procurement documents, and advising clients with respect to insurance issues, innovative financing and privatization issues.
Richard E. Sappe is the engineering & construction industry market manager for Primavera Systems, Inc. As the industry standard in construction and engineering for more than 20 years, Primavera solutions are used by general contractors and subcontractors as well as public and private owners to improve scheduling and planning, negotiate change, and increase collaboration to ensure projects are delivered on-time and on-budget. Before joining Primavera, Sappe worked as a product marketing manager for Bentley Systems, Inc., a developer of engineering design and analysis applications. Prior to that, Sappe served as a consultant for an environmental/engineering firm. Sappe earned a Masters of Environmental Management degree from Yale University and a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Ursinus College.
Bob Scancella is a BSCE graduate of the Citadel, 1977. He has over 29 years of heavy highway and bridge construction engineering experience and obtained DBIA certification in 2000. Mr. Scancella previously served as the project manager for the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s first design-build project, The Hightstown Bypass — Route 133. This project was selected as a DBIA Project of the Year in 1999. Presently, he is the project manager for STV Incorporated and lead for design-build projects in the transportation arena. He serves as DBIA’s Transportation Committee Chairman and President of DBIA’s New York Tri-State Region/Chapter.
Frank Susi, vice president of engineering, Cianbro Corporation, Inc., joined the company 30 years ago and has been actively involved in the operations of the company through his career. He has invested his career in the construction of numerous heavy civil and industrial projects.
Kenneth L. Sweeney, P.E., is the director of Bureau of Project Development, and deputy chief engineer, with Maine Department of Transportation. Mr. Sweeney, a graduate of Lowell Technological Institute, holds a BS in Civil Engineering and a MS in Public Administration from the University of Maine. He was promoted to his present position in 2003 and is responsible for the internal operations of the Bureau of Project Development. The Bureau has 414 people who are responsible for the delivery of a $300 million/year capital improvement program.
Cara Woodson Welch, Esq., is Vice President, Advocacy and General Counsel with the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). She has over 15 years of association management, government affairs and legal experience. Prior to DBIA, she was the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)‘s 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. 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.