The author has worked for 27 years at Dealey, Renton & Associates, an advocacy firm for the architecture, engineering, and construction community. The firm belongs to over 25 professional associations in California and nationwide. As a representative, the author travels throughout California and the U.S. performing seminars, discussing renewals and concerns with clients, and advocating with legislatures on relevant bills. While not an expert in construction, the author knows where to direct clients for answers and assistance. The author has experience navigating two recessions and helping firms maintain insurance coverage, and has seen both the creation of new firms and the passing of leaders in the industry.

1. Personal Statement
I realize that a summary of my experience does not really say a lot about who I am, describe
what I do or the firm for whom I work. Dealey, Renton & Associates has advocated for the
A/E/C community for over sixty-five years and 2016 marked my 27th
year with this awesome
firm. DRA belongs to –over 25 professional associations throughout the State of California and
Nationally; I belong to six of them. We travel up and down the State and throughout the USA
serving the needs of our clients by performing loss prevention seminars, meeting to discuss
their renewals and concerns, advocating with the legislature on bills that affect the A/E
community, celebrating their successes or just being there to listen and help them work
through problems. We are a partner, in every sense of the word and while I may not know the
ratio of materials making up concrete, whether or not a foundation is level just by looking at it
or how to operate a CADD machine, I do know where to go to find the answer or the tools
necessary to do the job.
I also know a few other things such as:
How to find the best market fit for your firm
What coverages you need to get on the job site and get paid and what coverages you
need to protect other aspects of the firm that your clients don’t see
Where to find a good attorney to fight your claim
How to teach new people with your firm the proper way to complete an application
How to train your firm to always be cognizant of loss prevention and risk management
But most of all, how to make a strong cup of coffee so that one cup gets you through
the whole day!
I have been through at least two recessions. I have been there and worked through many
strategies on how to keep insurance in place so a firm can at least get a job if one is to be had. I
have also been there when there just were not enough jobs available to keep the doors open. I
have mourned the passing of great men and women in the industry who have made gigantic
strides to make a good thing better. I have seen multi-million dollar claims and been the bearer
of bad news when premiums have tripled and there were no other alternatives but the one
presented.
I have also been a part of new firms coming into existence with the enthusiasm and confidence
of new life and I’ve had the privilege of helping them crawl, then walk and finally run!
I have spent late nights worrying over problems and meeting the dawn with the “Ah Ha!”
moment solution and have everything work out as it should.
Overall, I believe that the most important thing for me is to own my mistakes and always be
honest, even when it hurts. Because at the end of the day, I have to be able to face myself and
say that I’ve done the right thing.