Forrester Construction Co.

Vice President Don Free has over 30 years of experience in the Washington DC construction industry, spanning public and private work in a wide range of markets and a variety of project types. As a Project Executive at Forrester, his expertise included large scale commercial, education, and public sector projects that were often highly complex. In this role, he built some of Forrester's signature projects, including the Millennium Project at Arlington National Cemetery and the award winning Hubbard Hall at the United States Naval Academy. In 2017, he stepped up to lead our Preconstruction and Estimating groups, building on the depth of his experience, industry connections, expertise in the local construction market, and ability to form strategic partnerships with clients and subcontractors. Don is a recipient of Forrester's highest honor, the John R. Forrester Award for Excellence. Don has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland.

Don has been actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America for 15 years, serving as a Den Leader, Assistant Cubmaster, Quartermaster, and currently as Committee Chairman of his troop.

Forrester Construction’s President & CEO Steve Houff has more than 20 years of commercial construction experience. In his role, Steve acts as a senior executive, with full signatory and negotiation authority, overseeing all aspects of project and corporate operations. He is also responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring and achieving Forrester’s business objectives and strategic goals.

Since starting his career with Forrester as a project manager in 1998, Steve has managed countless projects across the commercial, cultural, education, healthcare, science & technology and public sector markets. His passion for being a great builder and investing in the client’s mission has led to numerous local and national project awards. Most recently, he worked on Forrester’s District of Columbia Courts, Arlington National Cemetery Millennium, Chancery of Morocco, Georgetown University Hospital Proton Therapy Lab, 1800 K Street, Johns Hopkins University Macaulay Hall and National Cathedral School projects.

A graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, Steve has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a number of other credentials including LEED™ Accredited Professional, US Army Corps of Engineers Construction Quality Management for Contractors and OSHA 30-Hour certifications. He is a member of the US Green Building Council, the National Association of Independent Schools, the American Society of Healthcare Engineering and the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering. 

John has amassed over 30 years of experience in the Washington, DC construction industry and is known for his ability to form high performing teams that meet or beat project schedules. John has considerable expertise in complex scheduling, site management, subcontractor relationships, quality control, safety, and site coordination. He leads Forrester's Safety Program, which has been honored with 14 Diamond STEP Safety Awards from ABC, and successfully engages the whole company in a people based, safety first mindset. As a Construction Executive, John plays a vital role in training the next generation of Superintendents, while contributing to a wide range of critical corporate initiatives. He is known for his ability to form strong, mutually beneficial working relationships within the subcontractor community. John is a recipient of Forrester's highest honor, the John R. Forrester Award for Excellence.

John is a die-hard Steelers fan and watches every game. He also loves family gatherings and can be found at the beach or by the pool most summer weekends.

Mike is a highly skilled licensed professional engineer with over 30 years of experience building complex projects in a diversity of markets. Mike's focus on planning and problem solving result in successful projects that exceed client expectations, and he is equally at home with large scale base building and complicated, phased renovations. He has considerable expertise in site coordination, scheduling, subcontractor management, quality control, and safety. He leads Forrester's Quality Control program and his attention to excellence results in award winning work and satisfied clients. Mike plays a key leadership role as a Construction Executive and has made his mark on many high profile corporate initiatives. Mike is a recipient of Forrester's highest honor, the John R. Forrester Award for Excellence.

Mike has a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from Penn State.

Mike has had season tickets to Penn State football for over 20 years and can be found most fall weekends in Happy Valley cheering on his beloved Nittany Lions.

David has amassed over 30 years of experience in the commercial construction business, most of it here in the DC Metro area. He worked with local and national general contractors before joining Forrester as our VP for Operations in 2017. David has built everything from mixeduse multifamily to complex government projects both here in the US and abroad. David considers himself a builder - of people, teams, and buildings. He is passionate about teaching the fundamentals of construction and ensuring that everyone in Operations is given the opportunity to become a Great Builder. Because of his tenure in the region, he has an extensive network and deep relationships in the subcontractor community, where he is highly regarded. He is an active member of both the Metro DC and Virginia chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors and the Washington Building Congress.

David has a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Management from East Carolina University. David stays busy golfing, fishing, listening to music, and doing yard work. He lives on a small farm that he shares with his family and four horses.

Joe has more than 20 years of experience in institutional and commercial construction with a proven track record of managing technically complex projects that require extensive coordination, phasing, and schedule and budget management. Joe's expertise with public clients has resulted in national and regional award winning projects that have impacted the landscape, from landmark Federal buildings to recreation facilities that enhance the lives of residents throughout the DC Metro region. With a comprehensive approach, Joe digs deep into the details of projects in his portfolio, from preconstruction to close-out. Joe's expertise in cost control and analysis, scheduling, negotiation, and contract management add tremendous value to his teams and clients. Joe has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Maryland.

When not spending time with his family, Joe is an avid golfer who enjoys playing the game wherever and whenever possible.

Mark is truly a homegrown Forrester talent who started as an intern and has been with the firm continuously since his graduation more than 10 years ago. After progressing through our Field Engineer program, he began his career in Estimating, where he learned under the tutelage of our founder, Rick Forrester. He then went into the field as a project manager and quickly rose through the ranks, being named Project Executive in 2018. Mark is known for developing the talent of more junior members of our team and being an advocate for our Field Engineer program. He combines technical expertise with savvy financial acumen to deliver projects that win awards and exceed clients' expectations. His highly organized, disciplined approach wins fans throughout the company and he plays an important role in a range of key corporate initiatives designed to make us a more effective organization. Mark was awarded Forrester's highest honor, the John R. Forrester Award for Excellence, named after his mentor. Mark has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Catholic University of America.

Mark enjoys spending time with his wife, who he married right after college graduation. They like traveling to the Riviera Maya in Mexico whenever they get the chance.

For over 20 years, Rachel has been a driving force in sales and business development. She thrives on developing and cultivating client relationships and strong partnerships to foster growth for Forrester. She collaborates with Operations, Estimating, and Preconstruction to develop relationships with owners, developers, and architects to deepen connections in our key markets and meet our growth goals. Her career spans construction, telecommunications, and public safety / security, giving her a broad understanding of the drivers propelling major market segments and economic influences. Rachel has a BS in Mathematics and an MBA in Marketing from Loyola University in Maryland.

Rachel is a native Marylander who enjoys crabs, the bay, and the beaches. She hopes to pass on her love of horseback riding, golf, math and games to her 2 children.

Eric directs Forrester's information technology group, ensuring that our teams have the technology they need to be successful, whether they work in the field or in the office. He is a consummate problem solver who tackles challenges with a calm, steady approach and a relentless focus on meeting the needs of our team. Eric understands and prac. tices Forrester's mission in all that he does, and is a tireless champion of our core values. He collaborates closely with Operations and plays a key role in a number of corporate initiatives designed to streamline processes and help us work smarter. Eric is a recipient of Forrester's highest honor, the John R. Forrester Award for Excellence. Forrester

Eric has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

Eric enjoys spending time with his family doing whatever they like to do. He and his wife work side by side to counsel couples to help strengthen their marriages. When he can squeeze it in, an intense game of pickup basketball brings him great delight.