General Session - Behind the Scenes of Award-Winning Federal Projects

Harlen has over 20 years of combined government and private sector commercial construction experience. She started out in the private sector where she worked for multiple leading General Contractors and held positions in preconstruction and project management. In 2012, she transitioned to the government as a Senior Project Manager spearheading real estate and construction portfolio management projects. In 2016, she joined the FBI as a Program Manager and has continued to lead and execute multiple large-scale projects and initiatives across the organization. She holds an MBA from Mount St. Mary’s University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from University of Maryland Global Campus. 

Arun has led many of Stantec’s marquee Alternate Delivery Buildings projects in California, that have garnered numerous regional, national and global industry awards. He synthesizes his experience in various alternate project delivery types including Design-Build, Lean Integrated Project Delivery, and Public Private Partnerships in the design and delivery of complex and highly sustainable building projects.

Brian has 15+ years of proven construction experience spanning multiple market sectors and contract delivery methods.  Brian has successfully completed four Design-Build projects, the most current being the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry Phase 2 project where he led the team to complete on time and under budget.  Brian is passionate about construction and particularly the Design-Build model which brings the Owner, Architect and Contractor together with a single focus to deliver world class projects.  

Dave is a 20+ year construction veteran who started in Chicago before coming to Washington DC in 2002. Early in his career, he was a carpenter, surveyor, and estimator, before transitioning to operations. Dave has helped in the successful delivery of many local high-profile projects including 1700 K Street, 505 9th Street, Nationals Park, and 111 K Street. Since 2010, Dave has helped lead the pursuit and execution of $2.5B of federal projects in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the design-build delivery of the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters and FBI Central Records Complex, along with Building 3250 at Fort Belvoir, ECPS1 and ECB2 at Fort Meade, Hangar 21 at Joint Base Andrews, in addition to several other secure mission-critical facilities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Purdue University, is a DBIA Design-Build Professional, ACE Mentor, and serves on the board of directors for Bread for the City in Washington, DC.

Jared Price is a capital project manager at the General Services Administration (GSA) for their Mid-Atlantic region.  He began his career with GSA in 2008 and has successfully delivered many federal design and construction projects.    

Sonja Shields brings over 25 years of experience in architectural design with a focus on large scale, complex design-build projects for government clients. At HGA she provides project management services and is the architect of record working directly with owners, contractors and other design-build team members. Sonja holds an M. Arch from the University of Maryland and a B.A. from St. Olaf College. She is a registered architect, a member of AIA, and a LEED accreditation.

Stella is an architect experienced in planning, designing and building complex medical and research facilities. In the Federal Government she led facilities programs at four agencies, delivering buildings for biomedical research, climate monitoring, measurement & standards, and healthcare services to our nation's veterans. Since retiring from Federal service, she provides her expertise and leadership to construction and healthcare organizations and advises on facility initiatives for the VA. Stella is a registered architect and DBIA-certified professional. 

Prior to assuming this position, Ms. Fiotes was the Chief Facilities Management Officer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from 2007, where she oversaw the construction, operation and management of the NIST sites until arriving at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to her work at NIST, she managed facilities, construction and property for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at their sites across the country and led the facilities planning programs at the National Institutes of Health.

Ms. Fiotes holds a Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. She is a Registered Architect in Washington, D.C., and is affiliated with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), AIA Regional and Urban Design Committee, Society for College and University Planners and Society of American Military Engineers.

Thom is president of TDK Consulting, LLC, A VA Certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, specializing in health systems design, organizational performance, business and operational planning, and infrastructure strategies for both the public and private sector.  

While on Active Duty, Thom served from May 2004 to June of 2009 as the Senior Military Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.  From May 2002 he led planning, budgeting, and acquisition of all DoD medical facilities as Director, Facility Life Cycle Management Operations, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.