The Innovative Mindset in Aviation: Design-Build Delivering Complex Project

This panel will bring together perspectives from owners, architects/designers, builders, and consultants to explore how innovation in design thinking translates into successful project delivery. The discussion will focus on balancing creative vision with constructability, cost, and schedule, while highlighting how collaboration across disciplines helps navigate the complexity of modern infrastructure and building projects. Designed with the NextGen community in mind, the conversation will also provide emerging professionals with practical insight into the skills, mindset, and coordination needed to succeed in complex design-build environments.

Registration Opening Soon

Four Learning Objectives:

• Understand how innovation in architecture and design can influence successful aviation and infrastructure project delivery, while offering NextGen professionals’ insight into evolving industry practices.
• Identify strategies for balancing design vision with constructability, budget, schedule, logistics, and stakeholder priorities in a way that prepares NextGen professionals for real-world project challenges.
• Examine how collaboration among owners, architects/designers, and design-builders helps teams navigate complexity, improve project outcomes, and create learning opportunities for the NextGen community.
• Recognize the skills, mindset, and cross-disciplinary coordination needed for NextGen and emerging professionals to succeed in complex design-build environments.

Event Date: July 15th, 2026

Event Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Location: Gensler 1700 Broadway #400, New York, NY 10019

DBIA CEH: 1.5 Available

Agenda:

• 6:30PM – 6:45 PM Registration & Networking
• 6:45PM – 8:15PM Program
• 8:15PM -8:30PM Questions & Answers

About Our Speakers

Bhoomi Vala, Director of Aviation, Port Authority

Ms. Vala has 20+ years of experience in planning, design and construction industry with primary focus on transportation projects. Her latest portfolio focuses on project/program delivery at Aviation where she worked on EWR airport’s new Terminal A project to advance completion of airline back-office spaces and lounges, asset management, ConRAC garage and rental car fit-outs. She currently oversees sustainability, technology, revenue, and customer experience portfolio at Aviation spanning all five PA airports in NY-NJ area.

As part of her sustainability portfolio, she oversaw installation of 4 MW AC / 5 MW DC solar installation on ConRAC garage which is one of the largest single-roof solar installations at any airport along with installation of numerous EV charging stations, eGSE chargers and implementation of energy efficiency measures across all airports for Port Authority to meet its 2025 greenhouse gas reduction targets. In 2024, she delivered PA’s first net zero ready building – EWR’s Building 1 – that provided a model for future PA buildings to be converted to net zero.

She has extensively leveraged design-build mechanism for delivery of these projects. Ms. Vala is also a licensed architect in states of NY and NJ, certified urban planner, LEED accredited professional and AAAE certified member (CM).

Robert Kipp, Field Director, Gensler

Robert Kipp serves as Holt Construction’s Field Director, providing strategic leadership and oversight for field operations across the company’s multiple business units. In this role, he leads a team of superintendents and field professionals, ensuring the successful execution of projects while upholding the company’s highest standards for safety, quality, schedule performance, budget management, and operational excellence.

Robert is responsible for directing all phases of construction operations, from project planning and mobilization through completion and closeout. He provides overall leadership for field administration, site supervision, and technical construction management, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently, safely, and in alignment with client expectations and Holt Construction’s core values.

With nearly two decades of construction management and field leadership experience throughout the New York Metropolitan and Washington, D.C. regions, Robert has successfully delivered a diverse portfolio of projects spanning heavy civil, residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use developments. His extensive industry knowledge is complemented by numerous professional certifications and accreditations.

Robert proudly served as a Captain in the United States Army, completing two overseas deployments. He holds a Master’s degree in Construction Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Norwich University, bringing a disciplined, leadership-focused approach to every project and team he oversees.

Matthew Johnson, Director of Aviation, Gensler

An Aviation Leader, Matthew is known for his ability to form and foster strong working relationships while creating terminal environments that achieve client goals and exceed passenger expectations. Since joining the firm in 2004, his leadership has been responsible for achieving redefined airport experiences widely

recognized for the results they deliver, including Future Travel Experience’s inaugural Best Airport Terminal Design Project, NYCxDESIGN Awards’ Best Outdoor Project, and the Airport Council International’s Best Airport in North America ranking. Matthew received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee, is a registered architect in multiple states, and a LEED accredited professional. Widely recognized for the forward-looking leadership he brings to his work, he was named one of Airport Business’s Top 40 Under 40.

Moderated By

Sheriff Naggar, Project Manager, Hill International, Inc.

Sheriff Naggar is a Project Manager & Claims Consultant with over 10 years of experience delivering mega Design-Build infrastructure programs, including projects with an aggregate portfolio exceeding $35B. He has supported landmark initiatives such as the Hudson Tunnel Project, Borough-Based Jail Program, and Penn Station Expansion, specializing in project management, risk management, dispute resolution, cost control, scheduling, and contract administration. Sheriff serves as Chair of DBIA NextGen and holds a Master of Science in Construction Management from Columbia University and a Program in Finance and Behavioral Economics from Harvard Business School.