Grace, former chair of AIA Project Delivery Knowledge Community, is an Owner’s advisor. As a senior project manager at CBRE, she sets out procurement strategies, project delivery blueprints, supports clients’ businesses and operational requirements. She provides customized services from project inception to completion that minimize risks optimizing project outcomes. She is responsible for timely reporting ensuring client goals are achieved. She orchestrates the integration of project delivery systems, multifaceted business functions, and directs project implementation. Her multi-market experiences foster innovation and drive efficiency. Her experience is complemented by a B.S. degree in Architecture, two M.S. degrees – in Construction Administration and in Sustainability Management – both from Columbia University. After working for global architectural firms, she transitioned into the Owner’s side. Her previous roles from “both sides of the fence”, being an Owner and a consultant, cultivated her talents at big picture ideas, executing details, and qualified her the perspectives to purvey strategic master planning. Her broad-based knowledge benefits real estate development, design, construction, capital facility programs, and sustainability management. Grace serves on the PDKC, Urban Land Institute, Association of Medical Facilities Professionals steering committees. She is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, School of Professional Studies, teaching graduate-level students.

Rona G. Rothenberg, FAIA DBIA, PMP has devoted her career to service as an architect in government and industry.   Rona has been a program and project manager within public and private sector institutions, including over two decades in California state and local government.  She has provided leadership in master planning, design and construction delivery of over 200 institutional projects.  She has specialized experience, focus and a passion and expertise in planning and delivery of safe, resilient, functional, accessible, affordable, beautiful and lasting justice facilities in California including many completed building projects for the California Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal and Superior Courts, Highway Patrol, Board of State and Community Corrections, county sheriffs, and the California military for successful outcomes in court ser-vices and detention and improved access to justice for the public. Over her career Rona has been involved in leadership and mentorship through the American Institute of Architects at the national and state levels as a conference and advisory group chair, panelist, author and AIA California Board member and 2022 President.  Rona is committed to investing in the design and construction career pipeline across generations, races, genders, abilities and backgrounds.  She is a long-term mentor to younger architects, and participates in the AIA College of Fellows Men-tor program.  Rona has contributed to her community as a City of Alameda Planning Board member, as a non-profit building committee and board member, and as a local public school STEAM program instructor and career advisor.   Rona’s contributions were recognized with the AIA 2020 Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture. Rona is a long-time Bay Area resident. Rona is a proud mother and grandmother! She values her work as a Citizen Architect and continues her family’s long-time tradition of giving back through community service in her professional and personal life.

Arlen M. Solochek, AIA, is a registered architect and the District Director of Facilities Planning and Development for the Maricopa Community College District. “Maricopa”, is one of the largest community college districts in the nation, serving over 240,000 headcount each year, and is the largest provider of post-secondary education in the State of Arizona. Maricopa is composed of ten college campuses, three education centers and two skills training centers located throughout Maricopa County.

Prior to Maricopa, he has worked as staff architect for a major Arizona public utility, in private architectural practice and at Arizona State University managing the construction of major capital improvements and maintenance projects.

Greg Gidez is the retired Corporate Director of Design Services for Hensel Phelps. Prior to joining Hensel Phelps in 2007 Mr. Gidez was a Principal with the Denver firm of Fentress Architects. As the senior design professional with Hensel Phelps, he oversaw corporate design services including preconstruction, procurement, Design-Build, design-assist, and design integration management.  Mr. Gidez is a certified instructor and national speaker on integrated design and construction. He was the 2011 Chair of the Design Build Institute of America Board of Directors, where he started the Design Excellence awards program and the 2015 Chair of the AIA Project Delivery Knowledge Community, where he founded the AIA PDKC’s annual Project Delivery Symposium, Delivering the Future.  Mr. Gidez is in the College of Fellows for both the AIA and the DBIA.  In November of 2022 Mr. Gidez was presented with the Design Build Institute of America’s Brunelleschi Lifetime Leadership Award for recognition of his contributions to the industry. The Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest individual honor DBIA bestows. In 2023 he was inducted into the National Academy of Construction, NAC. Mr. Gidez serves on the Charles Pankow Foundation Board of Directors, promoting research in advanced design and construction processes.