Mr. Murow has been a professional in the general engineering contracting industry for over 45 years. During that time he has served as a principal in two leading contracting firms; consultant to major land developers; specifier and bid administrator; senior project manager and as an expert witness. He has expertise in public and private engineering and building contracting, creating land development pro formas, claims mitigation, scheduling and cost estimating.
Mr. Murow began his professional career in 1978 as a quantity takeoff estimator for Southern California’s premiere grading contractor – Sukut Construction, Inc. After attending the University of Illinois and Cal State Long Beach, studying Civil Engineering; Mr. Murow utilized his knowledge of soils mechanics, hydraulics and general business courses and teamed up with former employees of Sukut in 1981. Their goal was to create a new, diversified general engineering contracting firm; Gillespie Construction and a construction management firm, CME Corporation. As a principal in both companies, Mr. Murow was responsible for estimating and bidding of public works projects, project management and dispatching of field personnel and equipment.
Mr. Thomas is a seasoned professional with over four decades of experience in the construction industry. Graduating from the University of California Davis in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Managerial Economics, he has held numerous roles including senior project manager, construction manager, estimator, owner, and vice president. Notably, he managed the construction of an $18 million, 120-unit condominium complex in Emeryville, CA, reducing costs by $1 million through value engineering. In 2003, he founded Thomas & Associates Construction Managers, overseeing all aspects of construction from design through occupancy. Throughout his career, Mr. Thomas has demonstrated expertise in preconstruction, estimating, project management, and strategic leadership, making him a valuable asset in delivering high-quality projects and meeting client goals in the construction industry.
Ms. Bucknum possesses extensive experience in community and homeowners associations, including financial management, development phasing, and public sector engagement. As the former Vice-President of Business Development & Developer Relations for a prominent property management company, she led successful business development strategies and provided expertise in project entitlements and staffing for HOA communities. Prior roles include Governmental & Public Affairs Manager at Laguna Woods Village, where she managed communications and rebranded the community. Additionally, Ms. Bucknum has a strong background in public service, serving as Mayor of Mission Viejo and currently holding positions on various regional committees and boards. She is actively involved in industry associations, including the Building Industry Association and Community Associations Institute, where she has held leadership positions.
With a career spanning over 40 years, Mr. Garrison has extensive managerial and practical experience in all phases of real estate development, including land acquisition, entitlement, horizontal and vertical development, asset management and asset disposition. He is recognized as an industry leader who has directed some of the most prestigious development companies in the industry. He is also credited for having successfully acquired and accomplished the entitlement and development of some of Southern California’s most prominent landmark communities including Central Park West, Irvine, CA – 1,366 homes, 90K sf office, 20K sf retail in a 43 acre urban master planned community.
In his role as Director of Consulting Services for Murow Development Consultants, Mr. Garrison leads the team that provides Forward Planning/Due Diligence & Entitlement services, Land Residual Analysis, Cost & Fee Estimating, Value Engineering, and Asset Management services to the real estate industry. His extensive experience provides him with the knowledge to understand the complexities of the real estate development process, and apply that knowledge to the benefit of his clients.
Mr. Lorton boasts over 40 years of construction management experience, spanning diverse roles from laborer to director. Beginning as a laborer in 1983, he honed his skills through various positions within the International Union of Operating Engineers, ultimately becoming a journeyman operating heavy equipment for esteemed construction companies. Progressing to foreman and later general superintendent at Terracoast Contracting, he oversaw projects from inception to completion with hands-on expertise. In 1997, he transitioned to Clayton Engineering as a Bid Coordinator, later promoted to project manager, negotiating contracts and managing multi-million-dollar projects. In 2000, he founded Dennis A. Lorton & Associates, Inc., assuming roles as president, owner, and operator, overseeing all aspects of operations. Joining Murow Development Consultant in 2013 as a senior project manager, he was promoted to director of construction management in 2015, managing multiple construction managers and providing support on various projects. Additionally, Mr. Lorton offers consultancy in construction claim analysis and litigation support, leveraging his extensive experience to serve clients’ diverse needs.
Mr. Kotlinski brings over 40 years of construction management experience to Murow Development Consultants, with a focus on the Public Works Sector for the past 16 years. His hands-on approach to project management has consistently yielded successful outcomes and fostered productive relationships with various Districts, Agencies, and Cities. His career has been marked by stability and a commitment to excellence, having been employed by only four companies since 1988. With a background in estimating and project management, he excels in identifying and mitigating potential issues, contributing significantly to project success. Mr. Kotlinski’s expertise extends to structural improvements and extensive slope repair, making him a valuable asset to any project team.
Mr. Deal has 38 years of experience in the land surveying and civil engineering profession. His career started with the County of Orange Survey Division in 1988. While at the County he worked with state of the art equipment on large scale capital projects including roads, bridges, dams and hydrographic surveys. He has spent the last twenty-two years working in the private industry at Joseph C. Truxaw & Associates as a field surveyor and also three years as a surveyor at CL Surveying and Mapping. He is now Director of Surveying at Thienes Engineering, Inc.
engineering contracting industry for over 45 years. During that time he has served as a principal in two leading contracting firms; consultant to major land developers; specifier and bid administrator; senior project manager and as an expert witness. He has expertise in public and private engineering and building contracting, creating land development pro formas, claims mitigation, scheduling and cost estimating.
