2020 Ones to Watch: Dan Ray, Vice President of Preconstruction and Design at Jewett Construction

Which project, deal, or transaction was the “game-changer” in the advancement of your career? Early in my career at Jewett Construction, I worked on a large manufacturing and warehouse facility in Rochester, NH. This was a ground-up pre-engineered metal building that we designed and managed for a repeat client of ours. As the preconstruction efforts wrapped up, I remained heavily involved in the construction phase of the project and saw the operation through to closeout. It was a great experience for me to see the full project life-cycle play out and to be involved in a PEMB application that was more complex than most up to that date in my career. 

How do you contribute to your community or your profession? I sit on the board for a non-profit in my home town that is actively planning and fundraising for a museum and aquarium facility adjacent to the Cocheco River in Dover, NH. It’s a time-intensive process that I feel will eventually pay off for the community.

What led you to your current profession? Design and residential architecture spurred my interest at a young age. As I worked through CAD coursework in high school, I realized that the architecture profession was something that excited me. My desire for collaboration and involvement in field-activities eventually blended this interest in design with the excitement of the construction industry and lead me to focus on the design-build/CM@R platforms. These factors landed me at Jewett Construction.

Who or what inspires you? My wife Katie and my son Noah.

What advice can you offer to someone who is interested in a career in your industry? Study the industry. Job shadow at an early age. Spend time in the field. Find a mentor who operates in the industry. Discover what your natural skill-sets are and commit to a role that leverages them.