A chance to grow. That’s what struck Mike Humphrey as an intern at DPR Construction, a technical builder focused on highly complex projects for some of the world’s most admired companies, back in 1992. Now, nearly 20 years later, Humphrey is the new San Francisco regional manager for DPR Construction and part of the leadership team that leads DPR’s Bay Area operations.

Humphrey represents a prime example of the company’s entrepreneurial spirit and how DPR is committed to empowering all employees to take an active role in its success. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with 17 offices around the country.

In his new role, Humphrey leads new business development efforts and oversees a staff of approximately 40. He is also actively involved in all the region’s projects, working regularly with owners and architects.

“Mike has shown tremendous commitment to his work and the company since the beginning,” said Doug Woods, the D in DPR. “He is forward-thinking and strives to push the envelope. I look forward to seeing the same from him in his role as San Francisco regional manager.”

Humphrey began his DPR career in 1992 as an intern on the Terraces, the company’s first ground-up project. After graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in construction management later that year, he joined DPR as a project engineer – the company’s 48th employee at the time – and was serving as a project manager soon after. Later roles included pre-construction manager and member of the Bay Area regional management team. DPR has also sponsored Humphrey on three disaster-relief trips, the latest in Haiti after the country’s devastating earthquake in 2010. The company maintains a strong philanthropic focus supporting many local and national organizations.

“I got a call from The Wall Street Journal when I was a young manager asking me why I had stayed with the company for so long,” recalls Humphrey. “I told them it’s because DPR has never stopped me from making decisions, from the time I started, and that holds true to this day. The company trusts all of its employees. I plan to carry on that philosophy in my new role.”

DPR, currently ranked no. 22 on FORTUNE’S “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, has always been a forward-thinking technical builder. Empowering employees motivates them to succeed, and success translates to many happy customers. Leaders like Humphrey are instrumental in transforming the way DPR’s projects are delivered through innovative in-house expertise and a passion for measurable results. DPR, which specializes in the advanced technology, corporate office, healthcare, higher education and life sciences markets, works on multiple large projects and services smaller projects through its Special Services Group (SSG).

DPR is currently constructing a new office building for The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, one of the top foundations in the U.S. The Foundation’s new 40,000-square-foot, two-story office in Los Altos, Calif. is scheduled to open next summer and is aiming to achieve net-zero energy consumption and LEED-NC Platinum Certification. Other high-profile Bay Area projects from DPR in San Francisco include the One Kearny Street building, Barney’s New York retail store and the award-winning University of California San Francisco Regeneration Medicine Building, among many others.