About Heidi DeBenedetti

As the chief operating officer, Heidi DeBenedetti leads operations and administration, driving excellence, quality, consistency, and risk management in both support and field operations. She oversees Gilbane’s industry-leading efforts in economic inclusion and sustainability. She continues to provide leadership to the company’s federal business and enterprise oversight of insurance, safety, and information technology.

Most recently, Heidi was Gilbane’s chief administrative officer and regional president. In this role, Heidi provided strategic leadership on the core functions of safety, risk, and insurance. She also oversaw Gilbane’s operations in the federal and southeast divisions. Her divisional oversight reached more than 650 employees and annual revenue exceeding $1.5 billion.

Heidi has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, joining Gilbane in 2015 as a key part of the company’s global advancement initiative. Under her leadership, Gilbane developed best-in-class teams, providing streamlined operational excellence, and she worked alongside business unit leaders to drive lean and efficient processes. Her strategic focus and vision have been instrumental in building upon Gilbane’s success as an industry leader.

Some of Heidi’s recent notable projects in the Southeast and Federal Divisions include Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Venice, FL; Fidelity Information Services, Corporate Office Building, Jacksonville, FL; the City of Dunedin, Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training Facility Improvements and Player Development

Complex, Dunedin, FL; the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Medical Center Replacement, Germany; the King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia; the Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico and the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Heidi’s operational accountability includes profit and loss.

Before joining Gilbane, Heidi worked at CH2M Hill for nearly 11 years, where she started as a commercial manager and advanced through roles of increasing responsibility. She was named vice president of operations in 2011.

With a mindset to recruit and retain the best talent, Heidi is a strong advocate for employee development and advancement, recruiting, retaining and developing the best talent to cultivate the future leaders of Gilbane. She believes that people are fundamental to Gilbane’s DNA and are critical to ensuring talented teams.

Heidi serves on the executive leadership committee for Construction Inclusion Week, a national industry-wide initiative to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is also the executive sponsor for empoWer, Gilbane’s employee resource group dedicated to supporting women working in the company. She serves on the Board of the Heart of Florida United Way and is a member of the steering committee for The Associated General Contractors of America South Florida.

Heidi earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado, an MBA from Colorado State University. She is a Designated Design-Build Professional® (DBIA®) and has been a featured speaker for Engineering News-Record’s Groundbreaking Women in Construction annual conference.

Heidi was appointed chief operating officer in 2024.