College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board
Biography
Douglas Barnhart
Douglas Barnhart, B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Chairman & CEO
J. Reese Construction Company
Phone: 858.592.6500
Email: dbarnhart@jreeseconstruction.com
Biography:
Mr. Douglas Barnhart is Chief Executive Officer of Makena Consulting, Inc., a California firm specializing in
high-level construction consulting for large construction, engineering, and construction management firms.
Makena Consulting also provides expert witness services for legal firms specializing in construction litigation.
He is also Board Chairman of J. Reese Construction, Inc., a class A&B General Contractor.
Prior to founding Makena Consulting and Makena Medical Buildings, LLC, Mr. Barnhart was Chairman of the
Board of Barnhart, Inc. Under his leadership, Barnhart, Inc. grew to a yearly sales volume in excess of
$532,000,000. Prior to founding the company in 1983, Doug Barnhart served as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps
Officer, responsible for US Government administration of construction contracts and public works
administration at major Navy shore installations and as a Vice President for a major Southern California
contractor.
Mr. Douglas Barnhart is a past chairman of the California Contractors State License Board; a former
Commissioner of The California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Commission; a former Executive
Board Member of the Regional San Diego Chamber of Commerce, a Board Member of the San Diego National
Bank, Past President of the San Diego International Sports Council, and past Chairman of the Qualcomm
Stadium Board. He also served on the executive committee of the San Diego Super Bowl Host Committee. He
is the 2008 President of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, the Society of Military
Engineers, and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Barnhart is also a past chairman of the Construction
Apprenticeship Trust for the San Diego AGC, Secretary of the AGC Construction Pension Trust, and past
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College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board
Biography
Douglas Barnhart
Chairman of the National AGC Heavy Federal Division. He has served as President of the San Diego AGC. He
previously served on the AGC Executive Committee for eight terms.
Mr. Douglas Barnhart has received numerous honors and awards for his professional achievements. In 2008,
Mr. Barnhart received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship. He has been selected as a
Distinguished Alumni of Texas Tech University for 2009. Other awards include the Small Business Award for
Excellence, Who’s Who in U.S. Executives, Business/Industry Award for the Greater San Diego IndustryEducation Council, Civil Engineering Academy at Texas Tech University, and a Texas Tech Distinguished
Engineer.
Since 1996, Barnhart Inc. has been ranked as the largest privately owned commercial building firm in San
Diego County by the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Daily Transcript, one of the Top 100
Contractors in the nation, the 6th largest educational builder in the nation, and one of the top 12 General
Contractors in California. Mr. Barnhart has been awarded two SIR awards, which is AGC’s highest individual
award. The Barnhart Corporation has received the National AGC Safety Excellence award, National Safety
Council Award, and three Build America Awards.
SDSU Affiliations:
 College of Engineering – Advisory Board Member
Other Affiliations:
 Board of Directors, Barnhart-Reese Construction, Inc.
 Board of Directors, Makena Consulting Group, Inc.
 Board of Directors, Makena Medical Buildings, LLC
 National AGC President, 2008
 AGC Construction Pension Trust Board
 Former Chair, CA Contractor’s State License Board
 Former Member, 22nd District Agricultural Assn. (Del Mar Fair Board)
 Former Member, State Race Track Leasing Commission
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