The incredible growth and proven success of design-build would not be possible without industry leaders who advocate for and promote the merits of Design-Build Done Right®. DBIA is proud to present four incredible design-build leaders with 2020 Distinguished Leadership Awards for their commitment to changing the way America builds.

2020 DBIA Distinguished Leadership Award Winners

Owner – Will Pines
Chief Engineer
Maryland Transportation Authority

As a design-build pioneer in Maryland, Will Pines has helped ensure the state’s Transportation Authority embraced Design-Build Done Right® best practices. As Chief Engineer, Will’s advocacy helped lead to MTA’s first design-build project, the Governor Harry W. Nice/Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge Replacement scheduled to open at the end of 2022. The industry has applauded this first design-build effort as a “first-class job” that embraced and implemented the project with a team-spirited, and highly collaborative approach. As a lead on this project, Will was courageous enough and able to lead this agency to encourage the utilization of design-build for the first time, helping the MTA to begin what could be a long and successfully design-build history.

Industry Professional – Gordon Cable, DBIA
National Design-Build Manager
Ferguson Waterworks

For years, Gordon Cable has been influential on a national scale for adopting and advocating for the early involvement of suppliers in the Design-Build process. A seasoned professional within Ferguson Waterworks, his efforts have greatly impacted how design-build joint venture teams approach the earliest stages of the RFQ/RFP and how they are able to fine-tune their scope, budget, and value engineering options. Gordon’s leadership has helped bring supplier expertise into design-build projects early while improving the likelihood for success.

Industry Professional – Mike Gonzalez, DBIA, LEED AP
Vice President
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

Michael Gonzalez’s passionate and entrepreneurial leadership combined with his strong advocacy for design-build delivery has helped fuel the growth of design-build in Arizona. Mike is the chair of DBIA’s Arizona Chapter and he’s also played a critical role in guiding and expanding design-build on more than $805 million in design-build projects to date, including extensive experience with advanced manufacturing design-build projects, and higher education research-related facilities. Mike has helped lead DBIA’s Arizona chapter to initiate and execute programs that deliver on DBIA’s commitment to educating the industry on design-build best practices. His leadership has created new opportunities for organizations and communities to benefit from high-quality design-build projects.

Student – Valentino Nunez
Student Chapter President
Arizona State University

As a student in the Construction Management program at Arizona State University, Valentino has already made incredible contributions to design-build through his impressive work with his fellow students and industry contacts. Valentino leads ASU’s student chapter, has received ASU’s Construction Management student leadership award, and maintains a top-notch GPA while working in industry and leading extra-curricular activities. , As ASU, he’s hosted numerous design-build workshops and guided two teams in the DBIA Student Competition. Valentino’s commitment to collaboration is proven throughout his work to integrate ASU students from various AEC programs into the DBIA chapter.

These leaders were honored during the 2020 Design-Build Conference & Expo in October. Design-build continues to change the way America builds its projects, and DBIA is proud to honor these leaders for their contributions to industry.