An experienced expert at accelerating growth and innovation, Suneel Gupta has been heralded as one of the most inspiring innovation speakers in the country by leaders at Deloitte, Walgreens and NASDAQ. Sharing lessons from his experience building companies like Groupon from a start-up to a multi-billion dollar company, Suneel helps leaders and teams recognize untapped potential to accelerate innovation and growth within their organization.

DeWayne Ables, founder and President of Pioneer IQ, guides the strategic growth of companies in the Design and Construction Industry.  DeWayne has developed a unique “Strategic Growth Method” for this generation of Pioneers who are designing and building America.  The Pioneer Method equips Owners and Managers of design and construction companies to Develop their Leaders and Build their Business.   He is is a national instructor for DBIA and has recently been a featured presenter on two DBIA COVID-19 Response Webinars

Jeff Sample has devoted the past 20+ years to transforming companies. Jeff optimizes companies throughout the construction industry by designing solutions, optimizing strategic advantages, and breaking down information silos. His passion for Ironman competitions garnered him the moniker "The Ironman of IT."As Industry Evangelist for Join, Jeff promotes collaboration and the transformation of preconstruction to help project teams reach their potential.

Constructing the buildings where you work, learn, play, and heal. Layton is a nationally ranked commercial contractor with proven experience in virtually every industry.

As a regional leader and national collaborator at McCarthy, Alex is responsible for the overall strategy, implementation, and execution of the virtual design & construction (VDC) process between all project stakeholders. From corporate office to construction site, he promotes, trains and guides McCarthy teams through the VDC process over the course of a project’s life cycle. Alex is a key contributor, serving on McCarthy’s National VDC Leadership Group to enhance the consistency and delivery of BIM-enabled strategies and best practices companywide. 

Alex’s passion and drive for construction technology is to push the industry to leverage best-in-class solutions focused on effective project delivery and lean principles for value-added outcomes. He is active with various national organizations focused on construction technology, such as AGC BIMForum, Campus FM Technology Association (CFTA) and DBIA. Alex holds a Dual Degree (BS) in Architecture and Construction Systems Management from The Ohio State University.

Meghan Higgins is a VDC Manager at Whiting-Turner, with a specialty in coordinating & building healthcare facilities. She has been recognized for several quality awards, specifically with alternate project delivery methods.

Meghan holds her Associate DBIA and is a member of the VDC Committee at DBIA. Meghan is also a Committee Coordinator for STEM for Her’s Mentorship Program.

Meghan earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture cum laude from Temple University and worked as an architectural designer prior to pursuing a career in VDC. 

Director of the Capital Project's at the University of Washington with oversight of projects greater than +$5M, roughly $300M-$500M annually. Troy has a 30+ year career at the UW, with design/bid/build, followed by General Contractor Construction Manager (GCCM) and most recently Design Build. Our core principle includes responsibility in ?owner? behaviors contributing to successful project delivery. Our team's motto is to strive for "awesome" measured through our own experience(s), project stakeholders and project partners.

Molly has dedicated her career to healthcare architecture and is a leader in the design-build arena. As Healthcare Director at NBBJ, her leadership helps to set the vision for projects and bring together stakeholders, clinicians and multi-disciplinary teams at the right time ? ensuring the process and end project is successful for all entities. She is passionate about streamlining the design and construction process while maintaining quality and innovative design.

Ken has been the Project Manager and Project Architect on some of EHDD?s most complex projects, including art museums and science buildings. He is a leader in EHDD?s design build efforts, innovating new tools and processes in a spirit of continuous improvement. He is also a firm leader in spearheading integrated design processes and multidisciplinary sustainable strategies to create high performance buildings.

Christopher P. Crowe is a Design Manager with McCarthy Building Companies? San Francisco office. His design build experience includes projects in the life sciences, student housing, and corporate office sectors. Christopher has collaborated on projects ranging from $44MM to $1.3B. Previously he served on the board of directors for the AIA California Council as well as serving as chair of the AIA Leadership Institute San Francisco.

Jim is a former member of the Senior Executive Service with over 30 years of broad experience leading Federal organizations in the areas of law, procurement, budget, audit resolution, human capital, design and construction programs, facilities management, and information technology. He is an advisor to the Design-Build Institute of American (DBIA) in matters involving curriculum and resource development, as well as serving as an instructor for several of their training courses.  Jim is also the Principal for ROPE Strategies, LLC, providing consulting services in design-build integrated project delivery, risk management, strategic planning, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including facilitated partnering workshops. He is an Adjunct Professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs, Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology.

Jim served over 16 years with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in legal and senior management positions. As an attorney, he specialized in government contracts and construction litigation, rising to the position of Deputy General Counsel. As Chief of Construction Contracting, he established the design-build program for all new Federal detention facilities. After DOJ, Jim served in the U.S. Department of Education in various leadership roles, including Director of Contracting, Senior Procurement Executive, Suspension and Debarment Official, and Deputy Chief Financial Officer. In those roles, he oversaw contracts, procurement policy, indirect cost negotiations, and internal controls. Jim retired from Federal service as an Assistant Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management.

Jim holds a B.A in Economics and Political Science from Binghamton University and earned his Juris Doctor from William and Mary Law School. He also has earned a Certificate in Strategic Foresight from the University of Houston.

Dave is Chief Contracting Officer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the Facilities Acquisition Unit in the Procurement Section.  The Section supports the FBI mission by responsibly and efficiently procuring all necessary supplies, services, architect and engineering, construction, and other operational programs across the enterprise.  Mr. Triplett has served as the Chief Contracting Officer of FFD’s Facilities Acquisition Unit since 2017.  Prior to that time Mr. Triplett served as a Contracting Officer supporting a number of large construction projects for the FBI.  Mr. Triplett entered on duty with the FBI in 2010.

Rachel John is a New York City-based attorney at the law firm of Zetlin & De Chiara. She represents owners, developers, design professionals and other members of the construction community on general business, transactional and litigation matters. She has significant experience navigating contract, procurement and project management issues on large public construction projects and in reviewing and drafting professional service and construction agreements, including for alternative delivery models such as design-build. Her experience also includes bid protests and other disqualification appeals in procurement, grant funding compliance (e.g., FHWA, HUD, FEMA), dispute resolution, construction claims, surety and insurance issues, and representing clients in city, state and federal courts and administrative proceedings.

Ms. John served as in-house counsel at the New York City Department of Design and Construction where she worked on several of the agency's largest and most complex projects, valued in the hundreds of millions to multi-billion-dollar range. When New York State authorized New York City to utilize design-build project delivery under the Rikers Island Jail Complex Replacement Act and New York City Public Works Investment Act, Ms. John was integral to the establishment of the agency's design-build program and form of agreement.

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, one of the country's leading law firms, focuses its practice on all aspects of construction law and the built environment. The firm provides sophisticated legal and business counsel to real estate owners, developers, financial institutions, owner's representatives, design professionals, construction managers and contractors.

MollyA. Jones, AIA is an Oklahoma and Arkansas Architect, NCARB certificate holder,LEED® Accredited Professional, Green Globes Professional, Guiding PrinciplesCompliance Professional, and DBIA Professional with over 30 years of experiencein the design and construction industry. Ms. Jones’ passion is sustainabledesign and construction. She founded Jones Design Studio, PLLC (JDS) to assistOwners in building beautiful, sustainable, regenerative projects.

Damon R. Gray is a Design-Build Project Manager at Kiewit. Mr. Gray has over 20 years of industry experience. Mr. Gray has designed, planned, directed and managed work throughout the United States from New York City to Hawaii on the Architectural side of the business, on the Engineering side of the business, on the Owner's side of the business and on the Contractor's side of the business. He is currently a member of the Kiewit, Hawaii-Area Office's Senior Management Team. He attended Temple University's School of Architecture, Villanova?s Project Management Program and is a Doctoral Candidate at the University Hawaii. Mr. Gray is an associate member of the American Institute of Architects, Design Build Institute of America, and The Project Management Institute.

Brian Aske is an Operations Director for Lease Crutcher Lewis, leading integrated delivery projects. He has served on the DBIA Northwest Region Board for over 12 years and advanced Washington State's current progressive design-build legislation. He has been a vocal advocate for design-build since his first design-build experience 27 years ago. Over the last 5 years, he has delivered $300M in progressive design-build projects, including DBIA's 2021 Project of the Year and Best in Architecture.

A Registered Professional Civil Engineer in Arizona, Mr. Hedlund received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University. Mr. Hedlund has widely presented on many topics including leadership, alternative project delivery, Lean construction and building information modeling (BIM).

Mr. Hedlund’s industry involvement includes nine years on the Design-Build Institute of America National Certification Board, which is responsible for upholding the standards of the DBIA Certified Professional designation as well as the testing and application processes. In 2011, Mr. Hedlund served as Chair of that board. He has also been active in the Arizona Builder’s Alliance (ABA), currently on its Board of Directors and served as its Chair in 2018. Mr. Hedlund is also active with the Build Your Future Arizona Coalition, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and the Valley of the Sun YMCA.

Mr. Hedlund is an avid golfer, husband of 30 years to wife, Ellen, proud father of two young adults, and happy to be giving back to an industry that has given so much to him.

Kim Yao, FAIA, is Principal of Architecture Research Office (ARO), a New York City firm united by their collaborative process, commitment to accountable action, and social and environmental responsibility. This philosophy and ARO's diverse body of work earned the firm the 2020 National AIA Architecture Firm Award. Kim has taught extensively and has lectured both nationwide and abroad. She was President of AIANY in 2020 and serves on the Board of the Center for Architecture.

Jeannie Natta is an Interim Director for University of Washington Project Delivery Group. Prior to this, Jeannie spent 10 years in the electrical trade as a commercial electrician, and 12 years as an educator in university residential life programs. Jeannie draws upon her varied career background to manage multiple projects for the University. She received a Certificate in Construction Management in 2009 and MS Construction Management in 2013 from the University of Washington.

Jennifer Myers, graduate of University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, began her career in General Contracting in San Francisco. Her projects includes ground up construction and tenant improvements including hotel remodeling. After a decade, she became Construction Administrator for Boeing working on a wide variety of projects including the new Workforce Readiness Center. Five years ago, she moved to University of Washington Tacoma as their Construction Project Manager for Facilities.

As vice president of construction for BJC HealthCare, Greg Mohler is responsible for architectural and engineering design solutions, infrastructure, capital budgeting and all construction activities for one of the largest health care organizations in the United States. With $6 billion in net revenues and more than 30,000 employees, BJC HealthCare serves patients and their families in the greater St. Louis and southern Illinois regions through its 15 hospitals and other health service organizations.

Mike Stapf is Vice President, Design Integration for the Central Region of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Mike is also McCarthy?s Design-Phase Executive for the BJC Campus Renewal Phase 3 Project. In this role, Mike has been able to pull upon his 22 years of experience delivering large, complex healthcare projects to form and lead a collaborative design-build team, all aimed at delivering a high-performing design and an exceptional client experience.

With more than 23 years of design and construction experience, Josh has participated in design and construction of over $1B in design build projects, including the Next NGA West (N2W) Program.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology (formerly University of Missouri – Rolla).  Josh is a certified DBIA professional, a registered Engineer in the State of Missouri, a LEED® Accredited Professional and a registered Structural Engineer in the State of Illinois.  He currently serves as Integrated Design Director in McCarthy’s Central Region.

Leslie Olson has served in a variety of construction and design roles across four USACE districts, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She has bachelor?s degrees in architectural and civil engineering and a master?s degree in civil engineering. A registered Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri, she currently serves as a Contracting Officer?s Representative and the Contract Administration Section Team Lead for the Next NGA West (N2W) program.