Building our DBIA bench

Achieving Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification is an achievement that deserves recognition, and six of our employee-owners recently completed the requirements to add the “DBIA” initials after their name.

Kudos to the following professionals:

  • Phil Glenn – Kitchell Contractors Inc. Arizona
  • Ryan Hook – Kitchell Contractors Inc. Arizona
  • Matt Ognar – Kitchell Contractors Inc. Arizona
  • Morgan Sondreal – Kitchell CEM Northern California
  • John Van Whervin – Kitchell CEM Southern California
  • Bob Vincent – Kitchell Contractors Inc. Southern California

“Design-build has been the catalyst over the past decade for how we can effectively change project delivery for the better,” said Van Whervin.

Achieving DBIA certification is a rigorous undertaking requiring dedication and a significant time commitment. To be eligible for certification, individuals must have five years of active involvement in Design-Build projects, three professional recommendations, 18 continuing education credits and complete four core courses: the Fundamentals of Project Delivery, Principles of Design-Build Project Delivery, Design-Build Contract and Risk Management, and Post Award Design-Build. This is followed by a certification exam consisting of 100 questions. The end result? A win-win-win for individuals, owners and Kitchell.

“Getting DBIA certification enhances the services we provide for our clients,” said Sondreal. “I also love learning new things and believe that learning never stops!”

DBIA certification demonstrates that an individual has an understanding of best practices in every phase of design-build project delivery, from proposal preparation to substantial completion. DBIA is an association of leaders in the design and construction industry utilizing design-build and integrated project delivery methods to execute high-performance projects.

Congratulations to these high achievers!

Cecilia Kucharski joins Kitchell in regional leadership role

Construction professional brings broad-based experience to Kitchell’s Southern California office

Industry veteran Cecilia Kucharski recently joined Kitchell Contractor’s Southern California office as a Regional Executive to oversee San Diego operations, bringing more than 23 years of experience in a wide range of markets.

“Finding executives with the depth and diversity of experience that Cecilia has is rare, and we feel very fortunate to have her join our team,” said Kitchell Southern California Region Vice President Mike Wolfe.

Kucharski’s background encompasses operations, preconstruction, strategic planning and business development. She has been involved with many projects in the public and private sector in the San Diego market, including large tenant improvement projects, major parking structures, healthcare, retail, student housing and office buildings.

Kitchell has a widespread impact in the San Diego market with divisions specializing in development, construction and construction/project management. The company’s local contracting portfolio includes project work for San Diego State University and UC San Diego. Kitchell built the 509,500-square-foot UC San Diego Jacobs Medical Center, for which it recently won an American Society of Healthcare Executives (ASHE) Vista Award for best new construction.

Prior to joining Kitchell, Kucharski was an executive with Balfour Beatty’s California region, overseeing preconstruction, estimating and design management staffs among five Southern California offices. She also served in a leadership position for Webcor Builders in San Francisco and San Diego, and was a project manager with DPR Construction. She obtained her degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Purdue University, where she continues to volunteer with the Purdue Women in Construction Mentoring Program.

Kucharski is a certified LEED® AP and DBIA Professional and serves on numerous boards including the ACE Mentor San Diego and Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana, and was previously a board member with the Downtown San Diego Partnership. She was named one of San Diego’s Business Women of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal, and was honored by the YWCA “In the Company of Women” tribute with a Mentor Award.