Nominations Are Open for the Class of 2025
The DBIA College of Fellows is a prestigious honor reserved for the most distinguished professionals in the design-build industry. In fact, only 2% of Designated Design-Build Professionals® are elevated to the status of Fellow. These individuals have demonstrated a long-term commitment to shaping design-build delivery through leadership, mentorship and service.
But that’s just a 30,000-foot view. Strip away the titles and accolades, and what you’ll find are passionate professionals whose careers tell the real story. At its heart, becoming a DBIA Fellow is about making an impact and improving the future of design-build delivery and the AEC industry. DBIA Fellows are the collaborators, the educators and the advocates who’ve helped redefine how we build.
Nominations for the 2025 class of DBIA Fellows are now open. If you know a design-build leader who exemplifies Design-Build Done Right®, consider nominating them for this prestigious distinction. Review the guidelines and start your nomination today.
And if you’re not sure who to nominate just yet, stay tuned. Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to some industry powerhouses. As you read their stories, you might just think of someone whose own journey belongs among them.
Meet Jeffrey L. Gagné, PE, FDBIA
Jeff Gagné still remembers his first DBIA Annual Conference.
“It felt like home,” he said.
It was 1999 in Denver, and what struck him went beyond the enlightening technical discussions. It was the culture that made a dent. “Everyone I spoke to and all the sessions I participated in were aligned. The project was first, and the collaboration and integration of everyone, the team involved, were all in sync. It truly was Design-Build Done Right®.”
That sense of alignment was no accident. Today, Gagné is Vice President, Southeast Delivery Office/Design-Build Principal with HNTB Corporation, and collaboration had always been at the heart of his career.
Growing up, he learned about construction from his father, a mechanical engineering technician who tackled residential projects on the side. “From additions to building a new home, we always kept busy,” Gagné recalled. “That led me into choosing civil engineering for my education and ultimately my career.”
Gagné worked in bridge design and construction engineering early on, partnering closely with general contractors across the Southeast. One pivotal experience involved turnkey private sector developments, where he quickly grasped the importance of integrating design with practical construction realities.
“I learned early on that I could design something to whatever decimal place I wanted, but in the end, whatever I put onto the paper and plans, someone else had to be able to construct it in an environment much different than my plan sheet demonstrated,” he said. “The importance of collaborating and understanding what an Owner expected; the requirements and criteria of what the design needed to accomplish; the practical knowledge of how it would be built in the field; and, ultimately, how the traveling public would benefit — all of that became clear.”
That philosophy shaped his long-standing involvement with DBIA. After that first conference, he became a regular presence in the organization: attending the Civil Infrastructure Conference in 2000, contributing to the Transportation Committee, co-chairing the Transportation & Aviation Conference in 2008 and 2016, serving on the DBIA Certification Board (where he is now Chair) and helping develop the DBIA Code of Ethics in 2016.
Gagné was honored to be selected as a DBIA Fellow in 2020, but for him, the honor is about alignment, not accolades.
“Being selected as a DBIA Fellow demonstrated to me that I am in alignment with a prestigious group of individuals committed to design-build excellence,” he said. “I support the values of advocating for excellence in design-build project delivery, in creating a collaborative environment respecting diverse perspectives, and I am committed to innovation to provide value to our industry.”
He remains a strong advocate for helping others understand what Design-Build Done Right® truly means, especially when countering lingering misconceptions.
“Some Owners still have misconceptions about design-build project delivery,” he said. “They think it costs more and that they lose flexibility and decision-making control of a project. Neither of these perspectives is true. Research has clearly demonstrated that when design-build projects are executed utilizing best practices, project costs are reduced and projects are delivered more quickly than other delivery methods.”
As for what defines a true Fellow? Gagné offers a clear and thoughtful guide: “Execute Design-Build Done Right® on the projects you participate in or the policies you help establish. Advocate for it in your organization and the industry. Educate — through classes, presentations and publications. Influence — through engagement with Owners, government officials and industry partners. And always give back.”
For emerging design-build professionals, his advice is simple: engage.
“Take the time to get involved,” Gagné said. “There are more opportunities than there are individuals to cover them. If your passion is Design-Build Done Right®, invest your time in your local chapter or your Region. That’s where you can make a difference.”
