2025 Workshop on Reducing Claims Against Engineers on Alternative Delivery Projects
Confirmed speakers
Dan Becker, CCM, PMP, F.ASCE, Principal at DBC, LLC, and Chair of the CCRM
Mr. Becker has 45 years plus experience delivering capital projects throughout the western US. Since 1990 he has worked on Design-Build and CMAR projects for either the Design-Builder or as Owner’s Representative. He has worked with client’s and their counsels developing their solicitation documents and contracts. He is an ASCE delegate to the Engineer’s Joint Construction Document Committee (EJCDC) working to develop Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build and CMAR contract families. He is the current chair of the ASCE Committee on Claim Reduction & Management, and an ASCE Fellow (Learn more about Dan).
David Booth, Corporate Risk Manager at Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.
Mr. Booth is the Risk Manager for SSR, an engineering design and consulting firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to providing in-house counsel on various legal matters in support of the firm, David manages the firm’s professional liability claims, contract reviews, and risk management training. He is involved with the firm’s Enterprise Risk Management Committee and Governance Committee, reporting updates and offering recommendations to SSR’s Board. He is also a member of the ACEC Risk Management Committee and Legal Counsel Forum. Prior to joining SSR, David worked as an attorney and administrative judge for the state of Tennessee.
Anthony M. Carolei, J.D., Director of Risk Management, Professional Liability at The Hanover Insurance Company
Mr. Carolei provides risk management services to all of the Hanover Professionals, which include Lawyers, Accountants, Architects and Engineers and a variety of other miscellaneous Professionals. Prior to his promotion to Risk Management, Anthony was the Senior Claim Manger of Professional Liability. Anthony’s team was responsible for Architects and Engineers Claims. Anthony has over thirty years of litigation and claim experience as an attorney in NY and CA.
Jerry Cavaluzzi, Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer at Kennedy Jenks
Mr. Cavaluzzi provides legal services, risk management, and leadership for Human Resources, Health & Safety, and Business Support Services. He actively manages enterprise risk, insurance, loss prevention, and resolves liability and coverage issues for public and private projects. An expert in contract drafting, negotiation, claims analysis, and dispute resolution, Jerry also has extensive experience in compliance, ethics, licensing, and environmental matters. He serves as a mediator for the Southern District of New York and an arbitrator for the New York State Unified Court System (Learn more about Jerry).
Julie Daniels, Technical Standards Manager at Freese and Nichols
Jordan Green, CRIS, Esq., Senior Legal Counsel at GHD
William Griffin, P.E., PEng, PSP, CCA, Principal, Capital Project Management, Inc.
Mr. Griffin brings over 15 years of expertise in construction and manufacturing scheduling, specializing in delay and disruption claims. He's assessed over $2.5 billion in claims and managed schedules for $2 billion worth of projects, representing owners, architects, engineers, and contractors. His experience spans diverse projects, including infrastructure, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. Griffin's work involves meticulous analysis of project records for claims and schedule preparation. He is also a frequent lecturer and expert witness on scheduling, delay, and disruption matters.
Dave J. Hatem, PC, Aff.M.ASCE, Partner at MG+M The Law Firm
Mr. Hatem is a nationally recognized attorney whose practice specializes in representing engineers and architects and advising professional liability insurance underwriters on project-specific insurance matters. David teaches Legal Aspects of Civil Engineering at Northeastern University Graduate School of Engineering and has continuously served as counsel for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA) since 1988. He has authored and edited numerous articles and publications in his field (Learn more about Dave).
Heather Hohla, Associate Vice President, Change and Claims Team at HNTB
Ms. Hohla is an Associate Vice President with more than 20 years of experience in the delivery of infrastructure projects. Heather is HNTB’s Contract and Claims Manager on high-profile/high-risk complex projects and serves on the ASCE Committee on Claim Reduction & Management. She actively manages proceedings on projects for complex contract change, project alternative dispute resolution related to dispute resolution boards, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
R. Brian Johnson, P.E., Esq, Managing Counsel, Vice President at HNTB
Mr. Johnson, Managing Counsel at HNTB, offers 22+ years of legal and engineering expertise on complex infrastructure projects nationwide. Specializing in contract negotiation, risk management, and alternative project delivery, he's lead counsel on major sports and transportation projects, including NFL, MLB, and MLS stadiums. He advises owners, contractors, and project teams on contract structuring, risk mitigation, and dispute resolution. Previously a construction litigator, Brian is licensed in Florida, Missouri, and D.C., and is a Florida Professional Engineer. He's a leader in ACEC and former EJCDC Voting Delegate.
Zach Jones, A.M.ASCE, Design and Construction Lawyer at Martin & Jones, PLLC
Mr. Jones is a construction attorney focused on helping engineers and project stakeholders avoid disputes through proactive risk management and effective contracts. In addition to his private practice, Zach serves as General Counsel for EJCDC, and regularly advises clients involved in traditional and specialized project delivery methods, including design-build, P3, and IPD (Learn more about Zach).
Brandon Joy, A.M.ASCE, Vice President, Commercial Management Director at HDR
Newton Marshall, J.D., Member at Karbal Cohen et al, Chicago, Illinois
Mr. Marshall is a senior equity partner at Karbal Cohen Economou Silk & Dunne LLC in Chicago. His diverse litigation practice focuses on representing licensed professionals like architects, engineers, and real estate brokers. Mr. Marshall's commercial litigation work includes professional liability, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, consumer claims, and business fraud. He is a Certified Mediator and serves as Vice President of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys.
Carl Munkel, Senior Risk Advisor at Gresham Smith
Eric Nash, Preconstruction Manager at PCL Construction
Mr. Nash has 19 years of experience across multiple markets including commercial, transportation and water/wastewater. For the past 13 years, Eric has focused on the Water/Wastewater Infrastructure sector, playing a key role in ensuring efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality project delivery. Eric is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Florida DBIA and an ENV SP-certified professional, Eric is a strong advocate for collaborative delivery models, focusing on Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) and Progressive Design-Build. These experiences provide insights into best practices for optimizing collaboration in infrastructure projects, helping teams navigate challenges and enhance project outcomes.
Shailendra G. Patel, P.E., FDBIA, M.ASCE, State Alternative Project Delivery Engineer at Virginia Department of Transportation
Mr. Patel is responsible for the Statewide Design-Build Procurements and providing technical support for the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA) Program. He is a licensed professional engineer, a DBIA Fellow and holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering and master’s in business administration. Mr. Patel has more than 30 years of progressive experience working in the design and construction of commercial and transportation projects. Under his leadership, the APD program has successfully delivered more than 100 projects of various sizes and complexities over last two decades across the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a strong advocate of Design-Build project delivery and has been involved in the development of DBIA’s updated Manual of Practice, Universal and Transportation Best Practices (Learn more about Shailendra).
Jim Peterson, P.E., Design-Build Commercial Risk Officer at HNTB
Mr. Peterson leverages his bridge design and project leadership background to excel in design-build. As a Design Build Director since 2013, he develops and negotiates contracts, outlines work plans, implements pricing strategies, and manages risk. He skillfully handles change orders and claims, drawing from experience in project development and business development. Peterson has extensive experience in contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and has represented both contractors and owners in Dispute Resolution board (DRB) hearings, providing a unique, balanced perspective.
Lisa Riggins, Practice Group Lead, Pearl Insurance a Subsidiary of One80 Intermediaries
Ms. Riggins is the Practice Group Lead for Pearl Insurance’s business lines coverage, bringing policy and industry expertise to the ASCE and other associations. She began her career at Pearl, spending six years as a Salesperson and Regional Director before a 12-year consulting career. Lisa rejoined Pearl as a policy expert and now also leads sales teams in a consultative approach to commercial insurance needs. Outside of work, she supports several charities and serves on the board of Dog People of Livingston in Walker, LA.
Shawn Rodda, Chief Counsel, Transportation at HDR
Victor Romero, P.E., CPEng, CEG, President/CEO, Delve Underground
Mr. Romero boasts 30+ years of expertise in underground infrastructure, encompassing rail, highway, water, and wastewater sectors. His technical skills span deep shafts, TBMs, NATM, and complex tunnel rehabilitation. Romero excels in project leadership, design, and construction management, producing contract documents across various delivery methods. He coordinates multidisciplinary teams, serves as a construction manager, and provides expert witness services. With an MS in Geotechnical Engineering from UC Berkeley and a BS from Colorado School of Mines, he's an industry-recognized authority in underground construction.
Jim Starling, P.E., M.ASCE, Chief Construction and Infrastructure Officer at Denver International Airport
Mr. Starling joined DEN in November 2021, bringing over 25 years of experience managing complex transportation projects. As Chief Construction and Infrastructure Officer, he oversees Planning and Design, Airport Infrastructure Management (AIM), Sustainability, DEN Real Estate, the Great Hall Project, and the Gate Expansion Program. AIM manages infrastructure projects, while Sustainability handles environmental compliance and sustainable practices. DEN Real Estate focuses on developing 16,000 acres of commercial land and oversees existing commercial properties, leveraging DEN's significant land for future growth (Learn more about Jim).
Scott Stoner, J.D., Partner at Starr Butler & Stoner, Southfield, Michigan
Mr. Stoner has successfully defended claims against design professionals for over 28 years. Mr. Stoner’s contributions to the legal profession are not limited to the courtroom, as he lectures extensively on various risk management issues for design professionals on contract drafting, project documentation, and claims avoidance. Mr. Stoner’s legal practice is centered on delivering the best possible legal outcome for his clients.
David Vanaman, Esq., P.E., M.ASCE, Corporate Counsel at SCS Engineers
Mr. Vanaman is a PE in Virginia and a licensed Attorney in Missouri and Virginia. In nearly five decades in engineering and construction he has served as a City Engineer, Project Engineer, Project Manager and Legal Advisor on projects ranging from interstate bridges and highways to nuclear power and design and construction of U.S. Embassies overseas. He was privileged to work for Sverdrup Corporation and Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. when each was employee-owned. He is currently a Corporate Counsel for SCS Engineers in Reston, VA.
Eric Vonderscheer, DBIA, LEED BD+C, Project Executive at Absher Construction Company
Mr. Vonderscheer is a seasoned Project Executive with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. He is known for his collaborative leadership style, consistently exceeding client expectations by ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. Eric excels at building strong relationships with project teams, subcontractors, and clients through open communication and proactive problem-solving. His expertise spans a wide range of projects, from large-scale design-build developments to smaller tenant improvement build-outs.
Moussa Wone, Ph.D., P.E., DBIA, Vice President, DC Clean Rivers Project at DC Water
Dr. Moussa Wone is the Vice President for DC Water's Clean Rivers Project, a 25-year federally mandated initiative to control combined sewer overflows. He oversees the planning, design, and construction of a major infrastructure system, including over 18 miles of tunnels, green infrastructure, and a storage facility. Previously, Dr. Wone was the Engineer of Record for the award-winning $330M Blue Plains Tunnel and provided tunneling expertise for the Dulles Corridor Metro Rail Project. With over 26 years of engineering experience, he holds degrees from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees and Virginia Tech, and is a licensed P.E. and DBIA professional. He also serves on UCASME committees (Learn more about Moussa) .