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Eric joined PMA in 1997 and has been an Executive Director in the Leon Business Unit in Boston since 2018. His contributions to PMA during his 26-year tenure are innumerable, and he is a proven leader and trusted adviser to many clients.

Thank you, Eric, for all of your contributions to PMA, and we look forward to your leadership and guidance for PMA in the future.

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Bringing over two decades of invaluable experience to the position, Dax Ponce de Leon has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and fostering a culture of innovation. His extensive background in civil engineering, coupled with a visionary approach to leadership, positions him as a catalyst for driving growth and delivering exceptional value to clients. Gui stated, “Dax demonstrated that he is more than ready for the responsibilities and leadership required to serve at the helm of this company.”

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO at PMA Consultants,” said Dax Ponce de Leon. “I am committed to building upon the strong foundation laid by my father and driving our company forward with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and client satisfaction.”

Expressing gratitude for his time as CEO, Dr. Gui Ponce de Leon remarked, “Saying I feel honored to have served as your CEO for the past 52 years would be insufficient nor can I adequately express my appreciation that you have chosen PMA as your career home while helping me guide the company to this corporate milestone.”

Dr. Gui leaves behind a legacy of excellence in project management, having pioneered advancements in planning and scheduling methodologies. His groundbreaking work, including the development of the Graphical Path Method (GPM®), has redefined industry standards and positioned PMA as a leader in the field.

As CEO Emeritus, Dr. Gui Ponce de Leon will continue to offer guidance and support to Dax and contribute to the company’s ongoing innovation efforts.

Both achievements were celebrated with enthusiasm by members of the Office of the CEO and the Executive Board in Chicago, IL, on February 29.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Bryan Ritch
Sr. Director, Marketing
(734) 418-7913
britch@pmaconsultants.com

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“Mike, Dina, and Ty have played pivotal roles in propelling PMA’s growth in the West,” said Don Fredlund, COO. “In celebrating the promotion of these three exceptional leaders, we honor their remarkable achievements and acknowledge the immense value they bring to our organization. Their ascent represents not only personal growth but also a collective triumph for our team. Together, we embrace a future filled with new opportunities and continued success.”

Mike Brown, a PMP-certified professional who has contributed significantly to PMA over the past seven years, has been promoted to Executive Director. Mike has cultivated strong relationships with clients such as the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the Colorado Department of Transportation. His exceptional project management expertise and commitment to delivering outstanding results have earned him recognition and respect within the industry. He is a contributing author of Construction Manager At-Risk Delivery Strategies (2019), a comprehensive CMAR/CMGC delivery strategies guideline for delivering at-risk projects.

Mike is the former President of CMAA Colorado, and regularly lectures for the University of Colorado Denver’s graduate program for construction engineering and management, specifically on topics such as project controls, estimating, quality, claims, productivity, and construction innovation.

Dina Keirouz, PMP, became an invaluable member of PMA nine years ago when she spearheaded the growth of our Southern California office. Her instrumental role in supporting the Port of Long Beach’s ambitious $4.5 billion capital improvement program showcased her exceptional project management skills and expertise.

Dina excels in leading teams under strict deadlines to meet multiple stakeholder expectations, and her in-depth knowledge of program-wide controls implementation, project management systems, and dashboards have proven invaluable to PMA’s clients. She regularly presents at CMAA and AACEI National Conferences on project management, project controls, and PMIS best practices.

Ty Vess is a highly skilled professional with over seven years of experience at PMA, where he plays a vital role as a leader for our esteemed clients, including Molson Coors and the Denver International Airport. With impressive credentials as a Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Ty demonstrates an unwavering dedication to excellence and exemplary leadership within our organization.

Ty’s diverse experience includes project management and engineering in food and beverage processes, beverage packaging, industrial facility and utility upgrades, material handling, transportation, infrastructure, mining and mineral processing, nuclear weapons process operations, decontamination and demolition, environmental remediation, and water/wastewater and industrial wastewater treatment markets. He is skilled in the practice and application of earned value management, change management analysis and negotiation, and critical path scheduling.

The Executive Board and the Office of the CEO congratulate Mike, Dina, and Ty on achieving this significant milestone in their careers at PMA.

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“These promotions are a testament to exceptional leadership and subject matter expertise. Not only that, Dennis and Ed are two remarkable leaders whose vision and dedication have made a lasting impact on our clients, our employees, and the organization in general,” said Eric Lowther, COO-Elect. “Their ascent represents the organization’s trust that with their expanding role in the firm, a bright future lies ahead for PMA and our clients.”

Dennis Lucey joined PMA while earning his Master’s in Engineering Management from Northeastern University. He went on to earn his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, LEED AP certification, and Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) certification. Dennis is also a member of CMAA, PMI, and ISPE. During his 23 years at PMA, he has effectively put his academic knowledge into practice for the benefit of our clients.

Over the past seven years, Dennis has become a trusted advisor to the Massport Capital Programs department, providing PMO support and development services. In addition, Dennis recently led a PMO deployment for a major Boston-based life sciences company with a multiyear CIP plan of over $500M. Dennis’s career has afforded him a remarkable opportunity to function as a PMO team member, and PMO lead on some of the most important Massachusetts infrastructure programs the Commonwealth has ever undertaken. He has made impressive contributions to the Boston Harbor Project, the MassDOT Accelerated Bridge Program, and most recently to Massport’s Capital Programs & Environmental Affairs.

Ed Whelan joined PMA in 1997. Ed’s deep knowledge and expertise, along with his relationships with clients such as the General Services Administration and the Metropolitan Transit Authority Construction & Development (MTA C&D), have proven instrumental in driving our success. He has extensive experience serving as owner’s project manager and as a claims analyst with PMA’s claims and changes group. He provides project review/audit and evaluations, contract administration, and claims analysis on public projects valued from several million dollars to billions of dollars.

Ed is a veteran of the US Navy and, prior to joining PMA, served as a Lieutenant with the US Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps. He administered contracts valued at more than $40 million. He earned his degree in civil engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and went on to earn his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) certification. His contribution to the profession also includes serving as chairman of the construction group for the Boston Society of Civil Engineers.

The Executive Board and the Office of the CEO congratulate Dennis and Ed on achieving this significant milestone in their careers at PMA.

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“During his 26-year tenure at PMA, Eric has developed a keen expertise in project controls, project and program management,” said Gary Jentzen. “His experience includes complex projects spanning major transportation, power, airport, water, wastewater, process, pharmaceutical, healthcare, architectural, and infrastructure industries. In addition to Eric’s client-facing work, is his proven track record of building high-functioning teams, which support the professional development and shared success that is the hallmark of PMA.”

The Executive Board and the Office of the CEO congratulate Eric on achieving this significant milestone in his career at PMA.

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What got you interested in this industry?

I earned good grades at school, especially in math and science. Thanks to my mom, who was the first person to see my potential, I applied to an engineering program. I chose civil engineering for the opportunity to participate in a project that you could see (a priority for the 17-year-old me), like a bridge or a building, and be part of it from its design to the final stages of construction.

Are there certain challenges you feel that you’ve faced being a minority in this industry?

To this day, I am sometimes the only woman at a meeting! Having studied among a majority of men, I got used to standing my ground, making my voice recognized, and demanding respect with my arguments. The best way to have everyone respect you in this field is if you speak with knowledge.

Was there anyone who mentored you at any point during your early days either in college or in the workforce? If so, can you tell us more about that?

I acknowledge my first boss with great affection and gratitude because he saw the future in project controls. Since the first day I worked with him, he guided me to cost controls. Working with him was a privilege. The second and especially important mentor was a woman who directed the project controls department for a big company and brought order, organization, and uniformity to it. Under her guidance, she provided me with opportunities to grow and develop in the cost and schedule branches of project controls. Thanks to her, I became a more well-rounded professional, which helped me in other endeavors.

Do you have any general advice you would give anyone trying to enter or grow in the industry?

My advice to anyone who wants to grow in this industry would be to study. Never stop learning. This can be done in a formal environment, but it could also be on the job, looking for opportunities outside your comfort zone. Find someone whom you admire and learn from them. There is something wonderful about looking at someone at work, you learn about their habits and work ethic.

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What got you interested in this industry?

I began my career doing office manager work with Frederick R Harris, which is now AECOM. The project manager for the Second Avenue Subway conceptual design asked me to come on to the project and mentioned that the design would take six years. And my question was: six years to draw a straight line?” But now, as a result of that experience, I look at the world in a whole new way. You know, there’s a tunnel that goes under a river. Where? How did it get there? The physics that goes into it. It’s pretty magical how it all comes together.

Fast forward 20 years later, when I was looking for a new position, the business development executive for Harris said. “Oh, you should reach out to my brother-in-law, Bruce [PMA Executive Director Bruce Stephan],” and the rest is history!

Are there certain challenges you feel that you’ve faced being a minority in this industry?

I grew up in a man’s world but the women who raised me had me well prepared for that world. I am confident that I really did not struggle because of my sex. If anything, it made me stronger because of the women who came before me, and I was able to slip in confidently. I feel like the women that came before me had broken down these walls and smashed some glass ceilings. They built the road, and we are paving it. We are making it an easier road for women to travel.

I do remember being 1 of 2 or 3 women around a table dominated by men 20+ years ago, and now today, I sit with more women than men most of the time. Back then, it was definitely a good old boys kind of club, and it was a lot more raucous and that never bothered me so much. And again, I think it’s just the way that I was raised so I was able to relate.

Was there anyone who mentored you at any point during your early days either in college or in the workforce? If so, can you tell us more about that?

It’s unfortunate that I didn’t have a really strong female mentor. I was set up with one, but in the end, she was too busy. But I had a lot of great men mentors than I am still in touch with to this day. I really was able to spread my wings in this industry thanks to my male colleagues who accepted and respected me because of my skills.

Did you act as a mentor (either formally or informally) for another woman during their early days in the industry? If so, can you tell us more about that?

I was never formally designated a mentor, but I had a lot of young women that worked under me and part of what I used to say is, “when you walk into a room, or into a manager’s office, speak in a professional manner, and have confidence.” Also, I advised them to be serious in their approach; to dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. Always network, and cultivate relationships. This is your foot in the door.

Do you have any general advice you would give anyone trying to enter or grow in the industry?

This is a big industry. There is almost nothing you can’t do. Find an interest. If you’re interested in the environment, in saving the world, this is the place to be. Join women in construction groups. Be engaged in the industry. There are so many facets to it.

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