Ben is committed to mass timber construction and believes it is the future of sustainable development. He is an advocate for its efficient construction, environmentally responsible development, safety, and seismic resilience. His most recent project, Carbon12, is the tallest CLT building in the United States.

To bring Carbon12 to life, Ben successfully worked with state officials to waive the restrictive codes that limit the height of wood buildings. This singular accomplishment has made mid- to high-rise CLT buildings possible for the first time in this country. By building with mass timber, Ben hopes to help reinvigorate the Pacific Northwest’s timber economy and continue Portland’s reputation as a leader in American urban revitalization.

Ben brings a unique perspective to urban development, informed by over 20 years of serving as the owner, developer, architect, and general contractor on his projects. He was involved in the early stages of Portland’s Pearl District and has spearheaded redevelopment in NE Portland, including the Historic Mississippi District and the Williams/Vancouver corridor. Ben is a former member of the Portland Design Commission, and he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Darrin grew up on his father’s construction sites. His earliest memories are of “helping” his dad by starting nails with his tiny hammer in what later he would understand was blocking. He did just about every job including hauling debris, framing, and eventually cabinetry. He double majored in architecture and philosophy at the University of Idaho, where he was President of the AIAS and awarded the AIA’s Henry Adams Medal. His professional experience runs the gamut from urban design, commercial and residential architectural practice, teaching and conducting research at Washington State University, to leading engineering teams designing solutions for prefabricated construction. He holds several patents for construction innovations. Since October of 2020 he has focused his curiosity and creativity to lead our product group as we seek to transform the industry. When he’s not working he’s likely to be found in the wilderness backpacking, snowshoeing, and fly fishing.

Raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Amanda Hills has always been inspired by the intersection of land and sea – from the natural proportions and colors to the endless opportunities for adventure. It was surrounded by the design rich environment of Cape Town where Amanda first realized she wanted to work in architecture, helping her stepfather hand color architectural drawings for his practice. Amanda channels her early love of natural landscapes into designs that balance environmental stewardship with beauty and function. She strives to complement and enhance the natural beauty of a space in meaningful and tactile ways. And you can still find her seeking adventure in her free time, whether swimming, playing sports, or make believing “Dinosaur Story” with her young son.

Brenda has been part of Autodesk as a Technical Solution Executive for six years, helping customers adopt Autodesk technology to improve their business outcomes. Brenda's previous role was as a Contracts Specialist at Parsons International Limited, where she worked with the team in the Prime Contract administration and provided support during the formation and administration stage of subcontracts in the aviation sector. Before this experience, Brenda worked at KMD Architects Mexico, where she was an essential resource during the transition from 2D to BIM models for mixed-used building projects.

Jeff Nielsen joined Build Group in 2025 as President, Northwest Region,

bringing 35 years of construction leadership to guide the firm’s growth across

Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana. Known for pairing the

agility of boutique project delivery with the resources of a top-tier general

contractor, Jeff has built a career on delivering complex projects with

precision, creativity, and a strong client focus.

In 2000, he co-founded BNBuilders, establishing a firm recognized for its

boutique approach to hospitality, science, and health projects throughout

the West Coast and Mountain states. Following nearly two decades of

growth there, Jeff went on to found Nielsen Commercial in 2018, where

he continued to deliver highly customized, design-driven work. His ability

to navigate the distinct demands of both Construction Management (CM)

and General Contracting (GC) has been a defining strength, enabling

successful outcomes in sectors spanning life science, healthcare, hospitality,

and education for projects of every scale and complexity. This expertise,

coupled with his leadership, earned him industry recognition as one of

Seattle’s 40 Under 40. Beyond the jobsite, Jeff remains deeply engaged

in the communities he helps shape, serving on the boards of organizations

dedicated to health, environmental stewardship, and equine-assisted therapy.

His portfolio includes standout projects such as the Kentworth Truck Plant

in Renton, the ZymoGenetics Steam Plant in Seattle, the Bellevue Club in

Bellevue, and Gaines Hall at Montana State University in Bozeman—each

reflecting his ability to balance technical rigor with design intent.

Today, Jeff applies his deep regional knowledge, sector expertise, and

collaborative leadership to advance Build Group’s presence and performance

in the Pacific Northwest.

Chief Executive Officer at Stillwater Dwellings, Inc, premier luxury Pre-fabricated housing company in US, with more than 25 years in architectural sales, and sales management as well as territory development and operational management. Have worked with some of the largest prefabricated housing companies in US. Currently expanding Stillwater Dwelling’s design and product offerings and geographical reach.

Daniel has been actively involved in the Seattle commercial real estate scene for nearly twenty-five years. He spent the first fifteen years acquiring value-add opportunities across a variety of real estate product types. During the last ten years, Daniel’s focus has been on the acquisition, entitlement and construction of multi-family properties in the Seattle area. He created the Cubix™️ brand of affordable micro-apartments to accomplish this goal.

He graduated from Gonzaga University, earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in Public Relations and Communications, where he is currently on the Board of Regents. He lives in Seattle, with his wife and two children.

Ernesto Fonseca joined Hacienda as CEO in April 2017, bringing his passion for community development and a belief in the power of connecting families to opportunity. Ernesto’s own story reflects the potential that can be unleashed by investing in all our community members. Raised in a poor but loving family in central Mexico, Ernesto watched his parents take advantage of educational opportunities and their own initiative to build careers in construction and nursing. They passed on their values of hard work and education to their children, and Ernesto embraced those values to gain a foothold in this country by initially working in kitchens and restaurants as he pursued his educational goals, culminating with a Ph.D from Arizona State University in Environmental Design and Planning. During his time in Phoenix, he spearheaded initiatives to assess the health impacts of community development including gentrification, access to public transportation, and affordable housing, and helped to create the Stardust Center for Affordable Homes & the Family.

Ernesto believes it is Hacienda’s job to help all families access the critical ingredients they need to achieve their goals: a stable, affordable home, a healthy family life that allows youth to learn and grow, opportunities for economic success, and access to affordable health care and healthy neighborhoods. He believes in the power of social enterprise to bring increased investment into breaking the cycle of poverty. He joined Hacienda because he shares the same values and experiences with this community, and is eager to empower families to flourish like his own has. He hopes you will join us in building an Oregon where all Oregonians can reach their full potential.

Doug Bevier is a Product Manager for Clark Pacific and helps drive the Products department, create the vision for the burgeoning and highly successful Facades division.

Doug is a professional engineer and precast/GFRC envelope specialist. He received his Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Architectural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He is a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) since 2016 in California. He is an experienced project manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. He has worked for Clark Pacific in different capacities since starting as a plant laborer in 2006, he became a field erector in 2010 and then joined the project management ranks in 2014, before moving to his current role in 2021.

Doug also manages the Clark Pacific Foundation which is a charity that provides support to the Yolo, Sacramento, Ontario and Adelanto communities.

Jesce Walz is a Senior Research Leader at Perkins&Will. She approaches impact reduction with a focus on circular, carbon-storing, and innovative materials. As a key member of Perkins&Will Research, she serves as a principal investigator and strategic leader, developing design guidance, tools, processes, and initiatives to improve ecological impacts across the firm's global portfolio. Outside of her work at Perkins&Will, Jesce engages as a university lecturer, policy contributor, and active participant in groups like the International Living Futures Institute and Carbon Leadership Forum.

Lad Dawson, a pioneer in the modular industry, founded Guerdon Enterprises, LLC in 2001 with a vision to be the leading builder of multi-story and multi-family buildings and commercial and single-family homes in the Western U.S. and Canada. With 35 years of experience and a successful track record as a housing entrepreneur, he set numerous production and design standards that continue to shape the industry today.

After a successful career at Guerdon, Lad retired from daily operations. However, his commitment to the company's growth and the Modular Industry remained unwavering. When Innovotus Capital Partners acquired the company in 2020, they invited Lad to return as a minority investor and board member. He also took on the role of Director for strategic partnership projects. Despite his semi-retired status, Lad actively supports the Guerdon team, leveraging his years of experience to ensure the company continues to serve our clients at the highest level.

Mark Fretz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Co-Director of the Institute for Health in the Built Environment in the College of Design at the University of Oregon. The Institute leverages design thinking and transdisciplinary science collaboration to develop and apply innovative design solutions for low-carbon buildings that simultaneously promote healthier individuals, communities and planet.

Prior to joining the Port of Longview, Ken served as Senior Manager of Real Estate, Leasing and Investment at the Port of Portland.

Ken received his MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix, and an undergraduate degree in Management of Technical Operations from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Ken is community-focused and brings over 20 years of experience in real estate development and in the port industry.

Monty Hill, Associate Principal and Design Director at Mackenzie, has over 25 years of architectural design experience. Monty has provided design leadership on projects for a diverse range of clients, and across a wide variety of project types. This extensive experience informs Monty’s unique perspective on innovation and opportunity in the Portland and Pacific Northwest markets. Monty has been involved in the design of mixed-use towers, corporate campuses, commercial office buildings, retail buildings, healthcare facilities, and multi-family housing. His approach to design aims to create meaningful experience, and provide comfort, intrigue, and delight to the people who will use the space.

Brian Gunn, who joined the Port of Portland in 2023 as Real Estate Development and Leasing Manager,

brings over twelve years of experience in development, general contracting, and urban planning. His

focus is on optimizing underutilized assets within the Port’s industrial portfolio and acquiring cash-

flowing properties to establish sustainable revenue streams. Before joining the Port, Brian served as

an Associate Broker at CBRE, specializing in investment properties and development site sales. During

his tenure at CBRE, Brian’s team achieved remarkable success, closing 42 commercial real estate

transactions. These transactions totaled over 1.4 million square feet and amounted to

approximately $377 million in total consideration.

Additionally, he worked with M.A. Mortenson Company, concentrating on site selection and acquisitions

for commercial development. In 2015, Brian earned his Master of Urban and Regional Planning, along

with a graduate certificate in Real Estate Development, from Portland State University. His bachelor’s

degree in environmental studies and planning was obtained from Sonoma State University in 2013.