Construction Genius How DPR Develops the Next Generation of Construction Leaders
Feb 24, 2026
Katharine Hamer, a DPR Construction project manager experienced in healthcare, data centers, and life sciences, discusses leadership development, accountability without blame, and building no-ego field culture. She shares how athletics shaped her discipline, the importance of psychological safety, and practical coaching for new hires. Short, candid stories about earning credibility and managing complex technical builds keep the conversation lively.
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Ask For Help Before Things Slip
- Encourage team members to raise their hand when overloaded and reassign tasks rather than letting work slip.
- Watch daily check-ins to spot when someone has taken on too much and offer help to prevent errors.
Be A Visible Face On The Job
- Project engineers should be visibly present on the field to build credibility with superintendents and foremen.
- Do daily walks, ask questions, and be a familiar face from ground level up to earn trust.
Experience Trumps Early Ambition On Build Knowledge
- Katharine warns that technical expertise can't replace years of constructability experience.
- She stresses that skipping hands-on construction background risks leading teams into failure despite ambition.