Robert M. Bertuca, PMP, is a senior project manager for M.C. Dean, Inc., of Dulles, VA. With more than a decade of experience in the design, integration, and installation of electronic security and surveillance systems, his project history encompasses high profile design-build projects and programs for all levels of government, including highly secure federal agency campuses. His expertise has been acknowledged with several awards, including a special recognition from the Transportation Security Administration for its Integrated Security Systems project. He is the project manager for M.C. Dean, Inc.’s systemwide upgrade of the Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority’s security surveillance system.
Edward J. Blieszner, Esq., is president of the law firm of Icenogle, Norton, Smith & Blieszner P.C. in Denver, CO, and has practiced construction law, civil litigation, municipal, and real estate law for over 25 years. He is the author of the Local Government Contracting chapter of Colorado Construction Law and speaks at legal seminars on construction issues in the Denver area. He received the degrees of Bachelor of Architecture, cum laude, and Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame and currently serves as secretary of the DBIA Rocky Mountain Region.
William Colston, P.E., is currently the deputy managing director, Project Execution Office, Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), U.S. Department of State.
Karen Diemer is communications manager for Skanska USA Civil. She began with the firm over eight years ago and has since assisted offices throughout the country with the preparation of their proposals and qualifications. Her background in communications began with her first job in a non-profit organization. Since that time, she has sharpened her skills and continues to look for opportunities to learn and grow in the construction industry with Skanska.
Walker Lee Evey is the president and 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.
Sean Glynn has worked for Skanska USA Civil’s northeast division for over ten years. In that time he has worked on nearly every design-build project that the company has had beginning with the renowned AirTrain, JFK Light Rail System. He has held the positions of estimator, field engineer, project engineer, design manager and finally, senior estimator. After starting in estimating, he began working in the field and relocated back to the corporate office as part of the design-build team estimating projects in the New York City region as well as nationwide. The opportunity presented itself to return to the field as project engineer on the Dey Street Concourse project, on which he was also lead estimator. Sean worked his way up to design manager on the project. Upon completion of the Dey Street design, he returned to the corporate office as senior estimator.
Dan Hassett is vice president of procurement for VIRTEXCO Corporation. After graduating from the College of William and Mary, Dan moved to Washington, DC, to begin his career in construction. He worked in the DC market doing historic renovations as well as constructing new office buildings, churches, and schools over the next 15 years. In 1995, he returned with his family to his hometown of Norfolk, VA. Dan started with VIRTEXCO in 1996 as project manager for the Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, NC. He has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, including historical renovations, design-build projects, adaptive re-use, and urban development projects. In 2006, Dan was promoted to vice president of procurement, where he is responsible for coordinating the efforts of VIRTEXCO’s three procurement departments: estimating, business development, and pre-construction services. He is also responsible for ensuring that the strategic goals for the company’s three regional offices are met. Dan is a LEED accredited professional as well as a member of the Design-Build Institute of America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Building Museum, APVA Preservation Virginia, the Seaside Institute, Congress for the New Urbanism and the Urban Land Institute, and The Green Ribbon Committee for the Virginia Beach City Council.
Doug Marsh is the director of the Government and Justice Group at KZF Design in Cincinnati, OH. Doug, a Cincinnati native, studied architecture at the University of Cincinnati and has 19 years of experience with KZF Design. He was involved in two large and unique design-build projects for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Hazelton, WV. The project included the design and construction of a 650,000 s.f. U.S. penitentiary and a 250,000 s.f. secure women’s facility. Doug studies Tae Kwon Do with both of his sons and he is currently half way to achieving his 2nd Degree Black Belt in the art of Tae Kwon Do.
Patrick Mays is president of Graphisoft’s North American Division. Mays, who joined Graphisoft in October 2006, has helped several architectural firms with the transition from 2D design and 3D visualization to building information modeling (BIM). He has more than 25 years of experience in design and construction and is the author of Construction Administration, An Architect’s Guide to Surviving Information Overload.
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 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.