Team Dempsey

As Vice President of Preconstruction, Mark is responsible for the coordination of all estimating and project budgeting, as well as participating in constructability reviews and value engineering exercises. He also manages all project bidding to subcontractors and plays a major role in the selection of subcontractors for each project. Mark graduated from California State University, Hayward with a B.A. in Business Administration and is a LEED Accredited Professional for Building Design & Construction. Mark enjoys being a part of teams that help our clients’ visions come to life. Being able to bring his knowledge and expertise to the table, and as a result, help make a project come in on time and on budget, is very gratifying. In his spare time, Mark enjoys cycling, hiking, traveling and spending time with his friends and family.

A native of North County, San Diego, Matt graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2017 with a B.S. in Politics. Matt always wanted to work in an industry that gives back to the community where he grew up. He was drawn to construction as a career because it is a perfect combination of creating job opportunities and improving our community by creating beautiful spaces for people to learn and grow together. In his spare time, Matt enjoys playing guitar, DJing, and going to the beach. 

Matthew Ritt joined Dempsey Construction in 2024 as a Project Engineer. Originally from the East Coast, Matt graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with a degree in Construction Management following his 5 years in the Navy. In his free time, Matt enjoys exploring Southern California, spending time with his dog, and traveling.

Max joined Dempsey Construction in 2025 as an Assistant Preconstruction Manager. Born and raised outside Washington D.C., Max graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. His career naturally progressed towards construction management and estimating. Max’s resume includes experience in civil, public works, and commercial construction. Max resides in San Diego, where he fully embraces the year-round outdoor lifestyle. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, slacklining, rock climbing, juggling, and playing music.

In her role as Senior Project Coordinator, Merissa assists the project management teams in marrying the worlds of ownership, subcontractors and our own internal personnel. Merissa graduated from Hofstra University with a B.A. in Psychology and has been with DCI since 2014. Merissa is motivated by seeing the work we do come to life and hearing the good praise from the clients we work with. It is her goal to give our clients an honest class “A” service and assure them that they can count on us. Merissa is a proud New Yorker and a huge fan of the NY Giants!

Michael joined Dempsey Construction in 2026 as a Project Engineer. A native of Encinitas, he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of San Diego. While new to the commercial construction sector, Michael brings a background in the residential real estate market and is eager to expand his expertise in the general contracting space while contributing to the success of our team. Outside of work, he enjoys staying active through beach volleyball, body surfing, and working out, as well as traveling and attending concerts.

As the Senior Director of Marketing, Michaela oversees proposal development and execution, marketing strategy, brand development and management, public relations, digital content, and events. Michaela brings nearly 20 years of experience to her position and has worked with numerous tech start-ups, real estate developers, and top-tier commercial brokers. She currently holds a CMPS certification and a California real estate license. 

Chapman University: Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations and Advertising with a Minor in Entertainment Marketing Loyola University of Chicago: Master of Business Administration, concentration in Marketing

Member, Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), San Diego Chapter Member, American Marketing Association (AMA), San Diego Chapter

Natalie joined Dempsey Construction as a Project Coordinator and assists the project management teams. Natalie lives in Carlsbad with her fiancé and golden retriever. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike and exploring around town. She also loves going on hikes and spending time with friends and family.

Nate is a seasoned construction professional who has worked on various commercial and residential projects. Nate began his career as a general contracting laborer for R.G. Smith Construction. He progressed rapidly to carpenter foreman and assistant superintendent due to his experience, customer service, attention to detail, and management skills. As a superintendent, Nate has been responsible for overall job site supervision of subcontractors and the crews, project scheduling, coordination with city/county agencies, occupied project logistics, site safety, and quality control. Nate specializes in occupied renovations because he understands building from start to finish. Working as a general contractor for the entirety of his career has given him a plethora of knowledge that he is able to apply to difficult logistical projects and complicated construction processes. Nate’s interests include golfing, fishing, painting, guitar playing, camping and the great outdoors.