San Diego Construction and Development Forum

Harry has a rich background in seismic and structural engineering that encompasses a variety of project types. With more than 20 years of experience, he has worked for the commercial, institutional, and industrial sectors throughout the western United States, including Alaska and Guam. His project management experience includes seismic, rehabilitation, historic preservation, medical, educational, commercial, and industrial facilities, using a wide range of construction materials. In 2011, Harry moved from the Portland office to the San Diego office, and has been an important resource for DCI’s Southern California clients since then.

Jim Chatfield fulfills two significant roles for the company: Managing Director of the San Diego office and Vice President of Construction, responsible for planning, design and construction activities. Chatfield is currently overseeing several active JMI Realty Projects including the master planning of Ballpark Village, a 3.2-million-square-foot development effort; master planning of the 35-acre Fullerton Transportation Center in Fullerton, California, that involves a mix of transit-oriented residential, office, retail and hospitality projects; and Hotel Van Zandt, a 322-room Kimpton managed hotel in Austin, Texas. Chatfield played a key role in the transformation of the Ballpark District surround PETCO Park, including the construction of the Omni San Diego Hotel, The Metropolitan Condominiums, East Village District Plant, and the retrofit of the Candy Factory and Schiefer & Sons historic buildings, both Orchid Award recipients. He also was responsible for the development of Paseo del Mar, a 232,000-square-foot, Class A office campus in Del Mar heights, and the acquisition and repositioning of the Phoenix Inns and Suites Hotels, a limited service hotel portfolio with 10 locations in the Oregon area. Prior to joining JMI Realty, Chatfield worked for five years with the United States Navy’s Civil Engineering Corps (CEC). While in the CEC, he specialized in government construction contracting, facilities planning and maintenance, and base realignment and closure actions. Chatfield served as staff civil engineer, and later as a project manager for over $300 million of construction at NAS/MCAS Miramar. His experience with the Navy varied from residential development on remote islands, to piers, refueling facilities and high-tech aircraft simulator construction.

Chris Beucler provides strategic direction for Zephyr and oversees entitlements, forward planning, product development, construction, sales and marketing and has been instrumental in the growth of Zephyr since 2012. Mr. Beucler brings incredible experience to his role at Zephyr, but also great perspective, as he has roots in multiple disciplines within the industry. He brings knowledge from the public home building sector, as he was a division president with Ryland Homes, as custom home builder, as he was principal of Beucler Signature Homes and Johnson-Beucler Communities, and as a licensed contractor, as he currently holds a California Class B Contractors License and is the General Contractor for Zephyr Construction Services, Inc. Mr. Beucler takes an active role as a leader in Zephyr through education, coaching and development of his team. Throughout his tenure in the home building industry, he has been known as a visionary builder, with a vast understanding of everything from construction to advertising. He continues to work closely with many of the same colleagues, subcontractors, partners and vendors from his very start in the industry, and these lasting relationships that span more than 25 years have afforded him the ability to develop a true team of experts and artisans who share his vision for excellence.

As Project Executive, Mr. Thometz supervises and is responsible for direction of the design & construction activities associated with Cisterra’s development projects. Paul serves in an executive capacity guiding and overseeing the company’s interaction with government and administrative agencies in connection with entitlements, project planning and permitting and negotiation and fulfillment of project activities with contractors and consultants. Prior to joining Cisterra, Mr. Thometz was V.P. and Director of Design & Construction for LBA Realty, a real estate investment trust with nearly 40 million square feet of office and industrial space in the western United States. Prior to that, he managed the Los Angeles office of the architectural firm of Austin Veum Robbins Partners (AVRP). Previously, Paul was a Principal with HOK Architects and a member of the firm-wide Marketing Board. In his career, Paul has overseen the development and construction of more than 30 million square feet of commercial, residential, mixed-use, resort and institutional buildings and facilities for private interests and public agencies through the United States and Mexico. His recent projects include a 1 million square foot high-end residential high rise and mixed use project in downtown Los Angeles; the 770,000 square foot world headquarters campus and R&D facility for Biogen Idec Pharmaceuticals in San Diego; and the 330,000 square foot Sempra Energy Headquarters tower in San Diego. Mr. Thometz is an honors graduate from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo. He has served on the boards of numerous professional organizations. His current and past affiliations include the American Institute of Architects (AIA), National Association of Office & Industrial Parks (NAIOP), the Commercial Industrial Development Association and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).