DHA
Construction Management

Fresh out of Colorado School of Mines with my civil engineering degree, I faced a pivotal decision: Join a big-name engineering firm or general contractor for the prestige, resources, and fast track... or go with a smaller family construction company run by my father-in-law. I chose the less glamorous path—the small firm. And it turned out to be the most rewarding choice of my career. In a small company, there's freedom: Room to experiment with new ideas, innovate on the spot

After those formative summers on the jobsite, I forged my own path by joining the Navy. It built discipline, teamwork, and resilience in ways I’ll always carry with me. But in my late twenties, when it was time to choose a college degree, the siren song of construction pulled me back irresistibly. I decided on structural engineering—designing the bones that hold buildings safe and strong. Truth? I’d been a terrible student in high school. Daydreaming through classes, barely s