Jake Bebee is part of the project development team for Design + Construction Strategies. In addition to development, Jake also performs market research and market sector analysis for the company. Jake is a graduate of Geneseo State University in New York, where he majored in business administration.
Walker Lee Evey is the president & CEO of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). Prior to DBIA, Lee served as senior vice president of 3D/International, Inc., a design, management, and construction company that employs 600 professionals in 18 offices nationwide. While at 3D/International, he took a leave of absence to serve as senior advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Housing and Construction in their rebuilding efforts. Before joining 3D/International’s team, Lee was the program manager for the 10-year, $4 billion Pentagon Renovation Program. He also served as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense for all matters relating to the Program. In that capacity, Lee championed the use of design-build delivery, achieving significant cost savings and rapid project completion.
Barbara Heller, FAIA, is the CEO of Design + Construction Strategies, a firm that specializes in advising organizations about business technology change and assists design and construction firms in their implementation of technology, with a focus on building information technology. An expert in the field of architectural and construction information management, Barbara participated as an architectural consultant on over 500 construction projects for a wide range of building types, which include commercial, residential, military, institutional, restoration, and retail projects.
Bradford Henry, P.E., is a senior associate engineer in the Minneapolis URS office. He has over 37 years of experience managing the design and construction of a wide range of municipal roadway and highway projects. On ROC 52 he was involved in the project from the proposal conceptualization stage through its construction.
Richard G. Little is director of the Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California where he teaches, conducts research, and develops policy studies aimed at informing the discussion of infrastructure issues critical to California and the nation. He has written extensively on the provision of infrastructure services, hazard mitigation, and critical infrastructure protection. Mr. Little has over 35 years experience in planning, management, and policy development relating to public facilities, including 15 years with local government.
David M. Shelton, DBIA, AIA, is senior vice president of DesignSense Incorporated, a Design-Build Criteria Consulting and Owner Representative firm located in Olathe, KS. Since 1999 DesignSense has assisted federal, state, and local governments in developing design-build strategies and documents, and administrating design-build implementation, throughout the United States.
James Hubert Stewart is a native of Charleston, SC, and attended Clemson University, in Clemson, SC, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He currently works with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast and has been involved in the deployment of the design-build project delivery method and has presented briefings on design-build at numerous military, professional, and industry forums. Before Jimmy began his career with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, he worked as an electrical engineer with the Public Works Department of the Charleston Naval Shipyard and with Georgia Power Company in Thomson, GA. Jimmy is a registered professional engineer in South Carolina and a member the National Society of Professional Engineers.
Rick Troop is the new vice president with Mason & Hanger in charge of strategic growth and business operations for the Lexington, KY, Architectural-Engineering-Construction firm. Mr. Troop has more than 30 years of experience in military, industrial, commercial, telecommunications, educational, sports, health care, and data center markets pertaining to architectural, engineering, and construction. Most recently, he was with James N. Gray Company located in Lexington, KY. Before joining Gray, he spent several years in Atlanta working for Heery International and Carlson Design Construct where he worked in numerous A/E and construction roles of increasing responsibility. Mr. Troop earned a BA in Architecture from the Iowa State University and is a registered Professional Engineer.
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.
Jim L. Whitaker, AIA, DBIA, is a vice president of Skanska USA Building Inc., based in its Parsippany, NJ, headquarters. With 21 years of architectural and construction experience, Whitaker specializes in large-scale, schedule-sensitive, design-build projects for public and private sector clients, where strategic planning of complicated assignments and effective design management are critical. His project portfolio includes commercial, institutional, higher education, heavy/highway, and sports projects. Prior to entering the construction business, Whitaker was a professional practitioner and managing architect of a 60-person, full-service architectural firm.