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 Read More

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 Read More

This article originally appeared in Arizona Business Magazine. As the second of five children, Julie Ernzen Garcia grew up with fierce convictions to faith, family and service and a drive to succeed seeded by her parents. Her father was a commissioned Army officer whose career required the family move every three years, and her mother was a graduate of the first class of women at the University of Notre Dame. Adapting to change was par for the course, which is evident in the way Garcia approaches every aspect of her life. When asked how she grew into the role of Kitchell’s Director of Preconstruction, she laughs “I always have a plan, but I never end up where I’m planning to go.” Diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at the age of 6, Garcia has a hard time remembering life without it. It is a constant, nagging and sometimes life-threatening burden, but she takes it in stride. “It’s a part of me but does not define me.”   Inspired by her experience as a patient, Garcia headed to Arizona State University with a full scholarship and intent to be a pediatric endocrinologist… until she realized she couldn’t handle other people’s blood. She took one construction class at the behest of her dad, who teaches at ASU’s Del E. Webb School of Construction. She loved it, took more classes and obtained a degree in construction management with a residential focus while earning the highest GPA Read More