DBIA Arkansas Chapter – Collaborative Delivery in Arkansas– May 28
- Apr 23
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 18
Design-Build in Arkansas: What’s Now and What’s Next
Time & Location
May 28, 2025, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM CDT at Ledger
About the Event
Join the DBIA Arkansas Chapter for an afternoon of insight and connection as we explore the current landscape and future of collaborative delivery in Arkansas. This event is designed especially for public and private Owners, but all industry professionals are welcome to attend.
Whether you’re new to Design-Build or already exploring progressive and collaborative approaches to project delivery, this program will help you understand what’s happening now—and what’s coming next—in the Natural State.
Approved for 3.25 DBIA Certification Hours
What You'll Learn
When and how Design-Build is authorized in Arkansas
The legislative landscape surrounding collaborative delivery
Procurement best practices and legal considerations
ARDOT’s insights on delivering projects via Design-Build
Owner perspectives on benefits and challenges of Design-Build
Who should attend?
Public and private Owners seeking project delivery clarity
AEC industry professionals interested in Design-Build trends in Arkansas
Anyone curious about legal and procurement frameworks surrounding collaborative delivery
Agenda
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
12:00 PM – Registration & Lunch
1:00 PM – Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:10 PM – DBIA Overview
1:20 PM – Topic 1: Collaborative Delivery + AR Legislation
2:00 PM – Topic 2: Owners’ Experience
3:00 PM – Break
3:15 PM – Topic 3: Industry Panel
4:30 PM – DBIA Overview & Closing
Featuring
Tim MaPtheny
Partner
Peckar & Abramson, P.C.
Timothy is a partner in the Dallas office of the law firm of Peckar & Abramson P.C. who concentrates his practice in construction disputes and litigation, specializing in all phases of public procurement law, including bid and proposal preparation, contract award controversies, performance related disputes, and contract claims. His experience in government contract matters includes all levels of government in both formal and informal proceedings before administrative agencies, boards of contract appeals, and litigation in state and federal courts. He is a 1989 graduate of the University of Tulsa College of Law where he entered active duty with the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate. He received a Master of Law degree in Military Law with a specialty in government procurement from The United States Army Judge Advocate General’s School in 1997 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in December 2007. In 1989 he was licensed to practice law in Oklahoma. In 1996 he was licensed to practice law in Texas and earned Board Certification in Construction Law in Texas in the inaugural class of 2016.
Steven Beam, P.E.
Director and Principal
Burns & McDonnell
Steven is a Director and Principal at Burns & McDonnell with 23 years of experience in the delivery of infrastructure projects. Steven began his career in Northwest Arkansas after completing bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas and later received his MBA from John Brown University. Holding professional engineering licenses in Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, Steven has managed many multi-discipline projects, providing planning, design, construction engineering and inspection services, and project delivery services for public and private clients and now leads Burns & McDonnell’s Arkansas office in Springdale. Steven served as the Design Director overseeing the Burns & McDonnell team working for the joint venture of Kiewit and Massman to deliver ARDOT’s first Design-Build project, the $633 million 30 Crossing project. Steven also developed the Florida Department of Transportation’s Phased Design-Build delivery method, an adaptation of progressive design-build, and continues to consult on the delivery of the $1.25 billion Tampa’s Westshore Interchange and $3 billion program of improvements to I-4 between Tampa and Orlando referred to as the Moving I-4 Forward Program, both of which are using the delivery method. He’s also helping other public clients in Arkansas and Oklahoma implement progressive design-build on their projects.
Baxter Horton
Director of Preconstruction & Estimating
Baldwin & Shell
Baxter has 21 years of experience in the construction industry, and he currently serves as the Director of Preconstruction & Estimating for Baldwin & Shell Construction Company. He is an Arkansas native, and after attending the University of Arkansas, he spent most of his career working in the Dallas-Fort Worth construction market. He moved back to Arkansas in 2022 and is excited to continue his career in his home state. Baxter holds an Assoc. DBIA certification, and he has successfully led the preconstruction efforts on approximately 30 design-build projects throughout his career.
Jason Vines, DBIA, CPE
Vice President of Preconstruction
Nabholz
Jason Vines, DBIA, CPE, is Vice President of preconstruction at Nabholz, where he has led preconstruction efforts for the past 14 years. With 24 years in the construction industry, Jason brings broad expertise shaped by his experience as an owner’s representative, operations manager, and estimator. His diverse background allows him to approach projects with a strategic mindset rooted in both technical knowledge and client advocacy.
Jason is a DBIA-certified professional and holds the Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) designation through the American Society of Professional Estimators. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Arkansas Tech University.
Throughout his career, Jason has successfully delivered design-build projects across a wide range of sectors, including the Farm Credit of Western Arkansas Headquarters in Russellville, the PLP Molding and Extrusion expansion in Rogers, a parking garage at XNA Airport, and academic buildings at John Brown University. He is known for his ability to foster collaboration among owners, designers, and trade partners to drive clarity, cost certainty, and project success.
Tom Fisher, P.E.
Division Head, Alternative Delivery Administrator
ARDOT
Tom serves as the Alternative Project Delivery Administrator at the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Tom began working for the Department in Summer 1999 as an Intern while attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Upon graduating with a BSCE in 2002, he was hired as an Engineer in the Resident Engineer’s office in Conway. He has served in the Department’s Materials Division as an Area Engineer and the Construction Division as a Staff Engineer. He was selected to join the Alternative Delivery Division in 2021 and he obtained his current position in 2023, where he handles Administrator duties on the Department’s Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build and Construction Manager-General Contractor (CM-GC) projects. He also serves as ARDOT’s Project Manager for the America’s River Crossing Project.
He is a registered Professional Engineer and is a 2023 induction member of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering.
David Long
Director of Engineering, NWA
Cromwell Architects Engineers, Inc.
David leads Cromwell’s engineering and business development efforts in Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding region. He enjoys leveraging his extensive background in system sustainability and resiliency to ensure buildings are designed and operated as successfully as possible for their owners. He brings specialized knowledge to the Cromwell team especially in Applied HVAC system design, building automation systems, and commissioning of both new and existing buildings. David’s favorite part of his role at Cromwell is working closely with clients on the early conceptualization and planning stages of a project. Outside of his daily role, David is community-minded and dedicated to the continued growth of Northwest Arkansas, he embodies Cromwell Architects Engineers’ culture of local engagement and impact. He is actively involved in many industry and economic development organizations and is a founding officer and past president of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of ASHRAE.
Justin Shrable
Project Executive
Nabholz Construction
Justin Shrable is a Project Executive with Nabholz Construction, where he has served for the past 19 years. Based out of the firm’s Jonesboro, Arkansas office, Justin brings a wealth of hands-on experience across multiple market sectors, including corporate office, assisted living, municipal, religious, healthcare, higher education, and K-12 projects.
A graduate of Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Technology Management, Justin is a strong advocate for the design-build delivery method. He has successfully led numerous design-build projects throughout his career, including the Greene County Tech projects featured at this year’s conference.
Justin’s leadership and collaborative approach have helped deliver complex vertical commercial projects with efficiency, quality, and client satisfaction, making him a trusted voice among practitioners in the design-build community.
Dennis Bahls, P.E.
Vice President of Alternative Delivery
Emery Sapp & Sons
Dennis has more than 35 years of experience in the highway and heavy civil construction industry. His diverse background with project delivery method and life-cycle knowledge is invaluable and a key component to his success. Dennis oversees processes, provides practical solutions to field challenges, and prepares our crews for ultimate success when it comes to everyday responsibilities. With decades of experience managing mega projects, he is key to forecasting the workforce, equipment and support needed for project success.
Donnie Russell
Facilities Director
Greene County Tech School District
Donnie Russell has served as the Facilities Director for Greene County Tech School District for the past 19 years, where he plays a vital role in the planning, execution, and long-term stewardship of the district’s facilities. With an Associate Degree from Marked Tree Technical Institute (1981) and certification as a Registered Facilities Director through the State of Arkansas, Donnie brings both technical expertise and a deep commitment to educational environments.
Donnie is a strong supporter of collaborative project delivery methods, including design-build, and has overseen numerous campus improvements with a focus on efficiency, safety, and long-term value. His leadership has been instrumental in the successful implementation of several key initiatives across the GCT campus, including those highlighted at this year’s DBIA conference.
A lifelong member of the GCT community, Donnie and his wife Brenda have been married for 43 years. Their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson are all proud members of the GCT family, making his professional commitment to the district a deeply personal one as well.
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About the Design-Build Southwest Region
The Design-Build Institute of America Southwest Region (DBIA-SW) serves professionals from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Our emphasis is on collaboration, powerful connections, and promoting design-build values for people in the AEC industry. Members benefit from top-tier education, professional certification, and the experience of a committed community.
The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is an organization founded in 1993 by leaders in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Their goal was to improve the process of bringing projects from design to delivery. While they didn't invent the design-build process, they focused on perfecting it and sharing their expertise with a wider audience.
Today, DBIA is considered the authority on Design-Build Done Right®. It consists of professionals from various fields, including architecture, engineering, construction, academics, students, and project owners. DBIA members collaborate and innovate to successfully deliver projects across the United States.
DBIA brings together multiple disciplines to redefine what design-build can achieve, not only for large projects but also for smaller ones. They provide education and certification that transform businesses and inspire creativity within the industry. DBIA aims to ensure that everyone in its community, from practitioners to project owners and citizens, can harness the potential of design-build to achieve higher-quality outcomes in the present and the future.
Questions?
Contact :
Steven Beam
Marlee Youngblood
Baxter Horton
