DBIA CEO Lisa Washington to retire in 2027

Lisa Washington will retire in 2027 after more than 22 years with the Design-Build Institute of America, including 17 years as CEO. DBIA says the transition comes as design-build has gone mainstream and the organization has expanded its reach, membership and industry influence.

Why it matters: - Lisa Washington’s retirement ends a 22-year run that helped reshape DBIA’s role in the design-build market. - DBIA says the organization is entering the transition from a position of strength, with broader industry adoption and a larger professional network than when Washington arrived. - The leadership change matters because DBIA has become a central voice for design-build standards, education and advocacy.

What happened: - Lisa Washington, CAE, announced she will retire in 2027 as Executive Director/CEO of the Design-Build Institute of America. - Washington will remain in the role while the National Board searches for a successor. - DBIA expects to welcome its next Executive Director/CEO by mid-2027. - Washington will stay with DBIA through December 2027 in a transition advisory capacity. - DBIA’s National Board has retained Korn Ferry to run the national search. - Candidates or referrals can be sent to Cristina Fisher at Cristina.fisher@kornferry.com.

The details: - Washington joined DBIA in 2004 to lead education and professional development. - She became Executive Director/CEO in 2009. - During her tenure, design-build authorization expanded from fewer than half of U.S. states to 48. - DBIA-certified professionals grew from fewer than 100 to nearly 7,000. - DBIA membership rose from fewer than 8,000 to more than 25,000. - The organization’s operating budget more than tripled. - DBIA says Washington’s leadership also helped strengthen the relationship between the national organization and its 14 Regions. - Washington developed a strategy after a Board-led assessment of DBIA’s regional structure to improve support, resources and network coordination. - DBIA’s stated mission has evolved from building acceptance of design-build to defining and advancing the standard for Design-Build Done Right®. - Washington’s approach emphasized bringing together owners, practitioners, researchers and policymakers to build consensus and advance research-based practices.

Between the lines: - DBIA’s message is that Washington’s departure is a planned handoff, not a disruption. - The organization is signaling continuity, with the board, staff and outside search firm already in place. - The retirement announcement also serves as a report card on DBIA’s growth during a period when design-build moved from alternative delivery method to mainstream practice. - Washington’s comments suggest she views DBIA’s next phase as less about expansion for its own sake and more about industry impact.

What's next: - DBIA’s board and Korn Ferry will continue the national search for the next chief executive. - The goal is to have a successor start by mid-2027. - Washington will keep leading DBIA until the new CEO begins. - After that, Washington will remain available through the end of 2027 to support the transition.

The bottom line: - DBIA is losing a long-serving leader, but it is doing so with time to plan and a stronger platform than when Washington took over.