Born and raised in Alaska, Dena has a deep-rooted appreciation for nature and mankind’s ability to design, build, and create infrastructure in some of the world’s toughest conditions. She has lead projects around the world conducting heavy civil construction, marine engineering, and waterfront architecture. Dena’s unique experiences helped shape her vision, competency, and progressive views to ultimately launch her firm, Indigo River, specializing in environmental resiliency, with a specific focus on the waterfront, flood-prone areas, and progressive responses to sea level rise. Dena completed her Bachelor of Architecture at New Jersey Institute of Technology, where she subsequently completed a graduate degree in Civil Engineering. After gaining valuable experience in the industry, Dena was admitted to Harvard Business School’s “Leading Professional Service Firms” Executive Education program. Dena serves on the Planning Board in historic Grand View-on-Hudson, New York, and enjoys volunteering with the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s (NCARB) Future’s Collaborative where she guides and informs strategic conversations across the nation regarding the future of the industry and profession. In 2021 Dena was appointed to join the 2022 AIA Resilience and Adaptation Advisory Group.