After nearly 50 years in construction, including 31 with FlatironDragados, San Diego Operations Manager Donnie Riese retired.
Bridges, highways, rail systems and airports — Donnie’s experience covered them all. Among his many roles, he contributed to key projects such as the San Diego International Airport Terminal 1, the North Coast Corridor and the West Mission Bay Drive Bridge Replacement.
With more than 100 heavy civil projects completed, he has applied both traditional bid-build and modern alternative delivery methods, including design-build and CM/GC. Donnie received accolades from Caltrans and the California Transportation Foundation. In 2025, he was honored with the Golden Beaver Award for Construction Excellence.
To celebrate Donnie’s career, FlatironDragados employees recently gathered at a retirement barbeque. Many folks and senior leaders, including Senior Vice President of Operations - Southwest Division Mario Martinez, and Executive Vice President of Operations Dale Nelson, shared remarks about Donnie’s contributions and the impact he made on teams and projects throughout his long tenure.
Married for 46 years, Donnie and his wife Mary Jo have a family that includes two sons and three grandsons. He plans to spend his retirement fishing, hunting and staying active with his grandchildren.
