James “Jim” Smith Appointed President of Vanir

Vanir, a leading provider of program, project and construction management and real estate services, today announced the appointment of James “Jim” Smith to the position of President. The company’s announcement follows an extensive nationwide search of both internal and external candidates.
Smith will take over for Steven Whitehead, who served as Vanir’s President from January 2019 until his retirement late last month. As President, Smith will be responsible for setting the company’s strategic direction, ensuring successful project delivery and client satisfaction, driving profitable growth and fostering a diverse work environment. He will also be responsible for ensuring the company meets its annual and long-term business objectives and adheres to its mission, policies and procedures.
“I am honored to step into the role of President and look forward to working with Dorene, the many members of our corporate and area leadership teams and all of our incredible employees to drive client satisfaction and ensure project success,” said Smith, who has served as Vanir’s Vice President and Central States Area Manager since 2019. “I intend to build on the amazing progress Dorene and Steve have made by crafting unique solutions that enhance the Vanir brand and deliver tangible results companywide.”
Smith has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the construction management industry and has developed a reputation for delivering innovative engineering; environmental; program, project and construction management; and design-build services to clients in the education, energy, healthcare, justice and essential services, state and local government, technology, transportation and water sectors.
Smith has held a number of key leadership roles within the industry, including Senior Vice President, Global Operations Manager, Division Manager, Practice Leader and Program Director at Parsons Corporation and Program and Project Manager for Facility Design Group.
“Jim has a unique ability to blend his leadership style, technical expertise and business savvy to build, grow and lead teams that make good on Vanir’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality, client-focused services for the many companies and communities we serve,” said Dorene C. Dominguez, Chairman and CEO of Vanir. “He has played an integral role in Vanir’s success over the past three years, and I am delighted to have a leader of his caliber and experience at the helm. Together, Jim and I will lead Vanir into the next chapter of its development.”
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Southern Polytechnic State University and is licensed by the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies. He is also a proud member of the Construction Management Association of America.
About Vanir
Vanir is a national leader in program, project and construction management and real estate development. Ranked as a top firm by Engineering News-Record for more than three decades, our award-winning team provides a full range of services to public and private sector clients in the education, energy, healthcare, justice and essential services, state and local government, technology, transportation and water markets. Founded in 1964, we have delivered $25.8 billion in construction value to hundreds of clients nationwide. Our tremendous repeat business rate, which stands at 85%, is a testament to our team’s ability to provide high-quality, innovative solutions that result in successfully executed programs and projects. We currently have offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and Washington, with over 350 employees working on projects nationwide.