DBIA is proud to introduce six new members of the DBIA College of Fellows, a distinguished honor reserved for Designated Design-Build Professionals® whose careers demonstrate leadership, integrity and an unwavering commitment to Design-Build Done Right®. These individuals represent the top tier of design-build practitioners nationwide.
Inductees were formally recognized during the 2025 Design-Build Conference & Expo at the awards ceremony on Nov. 6 in Las Vegas.
What Fellow Status Represents
Elevation to Fellow status is the highest level of DBIA Certification and is limited to approximately 2% of all Designated Design-Build Professionals®. To be considered, individuals must demonstrate:
- At least 10 continuous years as a Designated Design-Build Professional® and 10 continuous years of DBIA membership;
- Notable and sustained contributions to advancing the design-build profession; and
- Significant service to DBIA through leadership, advocacy, education or committee work.
This distinction reflects both individual achievement and a commitment to strengthening the broader design-build community.
Meet the 2025 Fellows
J. Brandon Dekker, LEED GA, FDBIA
Principal, Executive Director of the West Region, CannonDesign
Brandon Dekker, LEED GA, FDBIA, has reshaped how California builds. As Executive Director of CannonDesign’s West Region, he leads multidisciplinary teams across the West Coast and has become one of the nation’s most influential advocates for Progressive Design-Build (PDB). His leadership was instrumental in the development and passage of California Senate Bill 706, opening the door for statewide PDB authority and redefining how public agencies deliver complex capital programs.
Beyond project delivery, Dekker has influenced policy and professional practice as President of DBIA’s Western Pacific Region and CMAA’s Southern California Chapter. Across roles and platforms, he has advanced collaborative delivery and championed PDB as a more effective, community-centered approach to building.
Richard Formella, PMP, FDBIA
President, Design-Build Strategic Solutions, LLC
Richard Formella, PMP, FDBIA, has championed Design-Build Done Right® across the federal marketplace for more than three decades. As a contracting leader within the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Homeland Security, he played a pivotal role in transitioning major federal programs toward design-build delivery, strengthening outcomes and reducing administrative burden.
Now President of Design-Build Strategic Solutions, Formella advises public Owners nationwide on procurement strategy, performance requirements and collaborative execution. Over the course of his career, he has overseen more than $5 billion in federal design and construction procurement and continues to serve DBIA as a trusted instructor and thought leader.
Steve M. Grauer, FDBIA
Regional Vice President, Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
For more than 30 years, Steve M. Grauer, FDBIA, has been a force for design-build excellence. As Regional Vice President of Hensel Phelps, he has delivered over $4 billion in design-build projects spanning federal, aviation, semiconductor, infrastructure and mission-critical markets.
Grauer has held key leadership roles within DBIA, including National Board Chair and inaugural Chair of the Progressive Design-Build Advisory Committee. A passionate advocate for formal partnering, he is widely recognized for strengthening relationships, streamlining decision-making and improving collaborative project outcomes nationwide.
Jeannie Natta, FDBIA
Director of Major Projects, University of Washington
Jeannie Natta, FDBIA, has shaped the evolution of progressive design-build in higher education, establishing the University of Washington as a national model for collaborative delivery. As Director of Major Projects, she played a central role in developing UW’s Integrated Design-Build model, which has since influenced PDB standards across the public sector.
Her work includes milestone projects such as the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, a DBIA award-winning facility recognized for its innovation and execution. A Distinguished Leadership Award recipient, Natta also serves as Vice Chair of DBIA’s Western Washington Chapter and founded UW’s student chapter, demonstrating her commitment to building the next generation of design-build leaders.
Dana A. Pomeroy, AIA, LEED AP, FDBIA
Division Vice President & National Director of Design Management, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Dana A. Pomeroy, AIA, LEED AP, FDBIA, has led more than 100 design-build projects. Pomeroy’s four-decade career has left an enduring imprint on the design-build industry. A licensed architect, Owner Advisor and design-builder, he has led teams across higher education, healthcare, science/technology, cultural and mission-critical sectors.
A longtime DBIA leader, Pomeroy is the immediate past Chair of DBIA’s National Board and a driving force behind DBIA’s national conferences and strategic initiatives. He is a strong advocate for design excellence, collaboration and broader industry participation, strengthening Design-Build Done Right® through mentorship and service.
Eugene Torone, FDBIA
President, SLAM Construction Services
For nearly 30 years, Eugene Torone, FDBIA, has transformed design-build delivery across the Northeast. Since 1996, he has led SLAM Construction Services, building the division from the ground up and championing a modern master-builder model rooted in technical excellence and integrated practice.
Torone has guided teams on more than 100 design-build projects, helping shift regional expectations from pre-engineered solutions to architecturally significant, community-enhancing facilities. A dedicated advocate for collaborative delivery, he serves on the DBIA New England Region board and continues to grow design-build understanding across institutional and civic markets.
DBIA congratulates the 2025 class of Fellows on this well-deserved recognition and thanks them for their extraordinary leadership in elevating design-build nationwide.
