Select Page
Higher Ed Leaders Discuss Projects, Process and Plans

Higher Ed Leaders Discuss Projects, Process and Plans

by | Dec 19, 2025 | Recent Events

By Roland Murphy for AZBEX – BEXclusive The Higher Education session of the BEX Leading Market Series is always one of the year’s best attended, and 2025 proved no exception. The audience for the Dec. 16 event was treated to a panel moderated by Cassie Saba, Arizona...

STEVE BOSCHEN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY & OPERATIONS
ADOT

 

Steve Boschen currently serves as an assistant director of ADOT overseeing the Infrastructure Delivery and Operations (IDO) Division, which oversees all statewide construction project delivery, including ADOT and Local Public Agency projects, and statewide operations and maintenance. Steve is responsible for Project Management, Operations, Project Delivery, Contracts and Local Public Agency areas of ADOT, which include a total of 20 groups and districts. This includes the development, construction, maintenance and operation of more than 28,000 lane miles of interstate and state highways in Arizona. He rejoined ADOT in October 2012 as a deputy state engineer for Project Delivery after a 20-year stint in the engineering consulting industry. Steve has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arizona and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Arizona.

This will close in 0 seconds

WENDY COHEN
PRESIDENT & CEO
KITCHELL

 

As President & CEO, Wendy leads Kitchell Corporation with a collaborative spirit. Kitchell Corporation includes four diverse operating companies, Kitchell Contractors Inc., Kitchell Capital Expenditure Managers Inc., Kitchell Development Company Inc., and American Refrigeration Supplies. Wendy is passionate about developing a strategy and culture that allows for innovation and change in the construction industry. With 30 years of experience, Wendy's journey in the building industry has been marked by significant roles as a general contractor, construction manager, consultant, and owner, culminating in her current leadership at Kitchell. Wendy is a proven leader and trusted advisor and is committed to developing future leaders and implementing innovative ideas to improve the built environment. Her experience leading high-performance teams paved the way for her current role at Kitchell, which is consistently ranked among the top Construction Management, Program Management and General Contracting firms both regionally and nationally. Beyond her corporate achievements, she is active in the community and industry. She serves on the boards of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and Greater Phoenix Leadership. In 2024, Wendy and Kitchell were accepted into the Global Design Allowance as the newest Board of Director and joined the American Contractors Insurance Group (ACIG) as its Executive Member.

This will close in 0 seconds

ERIC FROBERG
CITY ENGINEER
CITY OF PHOENIX

 

Eric has served as City Engineer for the City of Phoenix since January 2019, which included a 6 month assignment as Interim Director of Water Services, a 5 month assignment as Interim Director of Public Works, and a 1 month assignment of Street Transportation. Eric possesses over a quarter century of relevant public works and land development engineering experience. Prior to joining the City of Phoenix, most recently Eric was the New Mexico Operations Manager for TYLIN International and prior to that was a Senior Project Manager for RBF Consulting. After spending two decades working as a private consultant, Eric desired to utilize his engineering and management expertise in a way that more directly benefited the public. As the City Engineer for the nation’s 5th largest City, Eric is responsible for overseeing the selection of architects, engineers & contractors and the execution the City's 5-year, $11 billion Capital Improvement Program, including serving as the program manager for the current $500M General Obligation Bond program. Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Eric is currently a member of the Alumni Industry Council for the University of Arizona, previously held the position of State Director for ACEC-NM.

This will close in 0 seconds

SUSANNA STRUBLE
TOWN ENGINEER - CIP MANAGER
TOWN OF GILBERT

 

Susanna Struble is the Town of Gilbert’s Assistant Town Engineer/ CIP Manager, with more than 35 years of related private consulting and municipal engineering experience. She currently manages a team of 12 CIP project managers in the development, design and construction of a $3.5B 10 year Capital Improvement Program. Prior to joining Gilbert, Susanna served as Public Works Director/City Engineer for Coolidge, Arizona; various engineering positions with Willdan Engineering which included serving as the regional manager for the Phoenix operation for over 10 years; City Engineer in Show Low Arizona and Assistant County Engineer in Eagle County, Colorado. Ms. Struble is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Arizona; she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from University of Wyoming.

This will close in 0 seconds

ALISON TYMKIW
CITY ENGINEER
CITY OF SCOTTSDALE

 

Alison Tymkiw is currently serving as the City Engineer for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona. Alison is responsible for administering the City’s Capital Improvement Program and she manages the Capital Project Management Division which is responsible for the planning, design and construction of infrastructure improvement around the city. Alison has worked for the City of Scottsdale since 1998 and has previously held the positions of Civil Engineer, Project Manager and Senior Project Manager prior to promotion to her current role as City Engineer. Prior to joining the City of Scottsdale, Alison worked for engineering design and consulting firms, first in Connecticut and then in the local Phoenix area. Alison holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University, and she is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Arizona.

This will close in 0 seconds

AALIYAH KOELZER
DATABEX RESEARCHER
BEX

 

Aaliyah is a DATABEX Researcher specializing in Arizona’s Commercial Real Estate Market. Starting his construction career in the field, Aaliyah gained hands on skills working as a stonemason in the northern state of Montana. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics, he moved to the Grand Canyon State to gain further experience in Real Estate Development and Construction Management.

Currently Aaliyah manages and maintains the entirety of DATABEX’s active Industrial, Hospitality, Healthcare, Office and Retail projects in
Arizona.

Three interesting facts about Aaliyah:
- He is an avid angler and bowhunter
- He enjoys playing the guitar in his free time
- He played soccer for the Montana State University Men’s Soccer Club

This will close in 0 seconds

ANDREA HOWARD
MARKET RESEARCHER
BEX

 

Andrea is a market researcher for BEX. She specializes in scouring permit sites, council meetings, and any other sources she can find to provide the most up to date information for the multifamily sector. Since joining the company in 2021 she has learned to spot construction trends to not only supply updates to DATABEX, but to gain insight into the shifting market.

Fun facts about Andrea
- She is originally from Texas
- She has a Bachelor’s degree in Japanese Language
- She was an Arabic linguist in the Air Force

This will close in 0 seconds

 

REBEKAH MORRIS

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
BEX

 

Rebekah started the twice-weekly AZBEX publication in February 2010, and has since grown
the service into a multi-faceted resource for local Commercial Real Estate and A/E/C firms to find leads on upcoming projects, industry news, trends, and market insights. In 2015, AZBEX started producing events and now features four annual half-day conferences and six breakfast panels known as the Leading Market Series.

In 2016, the AZBEX Database or DATABEX was launched. Both the events and database are engineered to bring opportunities to clients – whether it’s the contacts made at a half-day conference or bi-monthly breakfast program or the early stage notice of a project in the database, every service of AZBEX is focused on bringing opportunity to clients.

Rebekah’s background as a large General Contractor enabled her to spot the opportunity to start BEX, but it is her grit, determination and eternal curiosity for the industry that has kept it going and growing each year.

Three fun facts about Rebekah:
- Hobbies include running, cooking, reading and hanging out with her husband and kids
- She has a degree in construction engineering
- She cannot whistle

This will close in 0 seconds

LYA PARRISH
DATABEX MANAGER
BEX

 

Lya Parrish is the DATABEX Manager for BEX, Arizona’s leading Construction Market Research company. Lya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Policy and Applied Social Research. She has been actively studying the Arizona Construction market since 2015.

She leads a team of six full-time Market Researchers and is responsible for training and development of staff, market analytics, and development of the technical aspects of DATABEX.

Three fun facts about Lya:
- She is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy, LEGO, and cross-stitch fanatic
- She has two nearly identical cats
- Her childhood home is roughly 1,000 yards from the BEX Office in Central Phoenix

This will close in 0 seconds