Posts for Archives: People

A member of DBIA for more than 20 years, Craig Unger has had a unique impact on the organization and our industry. A 2014 Brunelleschi Award winner, Unger has served as DBIA’s President, National Board member, and Chair of numerous committees and task forces over the years. He is a regular DBIA Conference presenter and […]

Brian Walsh has been a proponent of design-build for more than three decades and has served in several capacities in DBIA leadership. This includes being the DBIA Florida Region Chapter President from 2016 to 2017, chairman of the National Certification Board from 2009 to 2010, the National Board of Directors in 2011, and being a […]

Laura Wake-Ramos, AIA, NCARB, DBIA, is a Design Phase Manager with Mortenson’s Federal Contracting Group, and works out of the Washington D.C. office. Laura has served as an Advisory Group Member on the National AIA Project Delivery Knowledge Committee Advisory Group since 2018, which promotes the architect’s leadership role in project delivery methods and best […]

One of the “Founding Fathers” of DBIA, Don Warren has been an influencer in our organization since its inception. Warren’s roles included serving on the Board of Directors from 1993 to 2000 as well as being the chairman of the Board in 1998. He was also the chairman of the Process Industries Committee from 1999-2001 […]

A recognized national expert in design-build delivery, Jim Whitaker has been a tireless advocate for Design-Build Done Right principles as a member of DBIA’s leadership in many roles over the years. This includes a stint on DBIA’s Board of Directors from 2010 to 2017, as well as being Chairman of the Board in 2014.

As the former Chairman/CEO of Gray Construction, Jim helped lead his family-owned business to ultimately become one of the twenty largest design-build firms in the country. The Gray Companies specialize in the design, construction and renovation of large facilities, serving many of the world’s most recognizable brands including: BMW, CVS, Dollar General, Hitachi, Hyundai, Pepsi […]

Preston Haskell founded The Haskell Company in 1965. He served as the Design-Build Institute of America’s first chairman and has been one of the nation’s most influential design-build advocates. Preston is a frequent speaker on design-build delivery and the author of many articles on the subject. He has served on the board for the American […]

When Kraig Krekemeier joined the other “founding fathers” at that first meeting in 1993, he was the President of Sverdrup Facilities. He served as DBIA’s Board Chairman in 1996. Kraig has been a design-build champion for decades including his years as President of the Kreikemeier Group, Inc. Kraig has provided executive oversight on projects spanning […]

Rik Kunnath joined Pankow Builders in 1979, retiring as the Executive Chairman of the Board for Pankow Management, Inc., and the President of the Board of Directors of the Charles Pankow Foundation. Rik served as DBIA’s second National Board Chairman in 1995 and is the former President of the Design Build Education and Research Foundation […]

Matt Girard leads the Civil Division for Plenary. In this capacity, Matt is responsible for project development, delivery, asset management, teaming and business development for all Plenary Group Civil projects in North America. Matt has more than 25 years of hands-on experience in the heavy-civil construction industry across North America, and has been involved with […]