John Benson

DPR is a people-first family of companies, and John Benson, as People Practices Co-Leader and Leadership Team Member, helps shape and drive the structure that supports DPR’s people. His primary focus is guiding organizational health and helping teams thrive as they all work together towards DPR’s mission of becoming a most-admired company by the year 2030.

One factor that contributes to DPR’s uniqueness is its commitment to communication and understanding, doing things specific to each situation. John’s goal is to integrate this highly relational and experiential work environment into one that also ensures a common employee experience. Ultimately, all aspects of People Practices should form an ecosystem that makes sense with the DPR culture and business. With previous roles ranging from compensation specialist to HR Director to business partner, John has extensive human resources (HR) experience. He fell in love with the construction industry in the early 2000s after helping to develop an HR software platform and has been leading people in construction ever since.

One way John has driven improvement at DPR is by taking a holistic approach to total rewards. DPR has an aggressive compensation package that includes four weeks of vacation for every employee and an additional sabbatical every five years. John enjoys helping people see the big picture, showing that improving DPR’s processes and benefits not only helps the individual but also the organization. He has a “let’s work it out together” attitude and is a passionate advocate of employee wellbeing, learning and engagement.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, John and his family have played a nightly card or board game. He enjoys golf and reading and loves gardening and landscaping. Landscape design appeals to him because he’s intrigued by its strategic and hands-on nature.

• Favorite DPR Core Value: Ever Forward
• What You Love About Construction: There is no industry that can measure up to the construction industry. It is simply the most real and authentic team setting that can exist as a long-term career. Construction is world-class in setting the stage for the team environment. Period.
• Desired Superpower: Teleportation. To Costa Rica, or the Swiss Alps, to be more specific.
• Your Hero: Bishop Desmond Tutu. I had the opportunity to see him speak, in person. A moment I won’t forget. Inspired and awe-struck by his story, life-example and achievements.
• Word to the Wise: The older you get the more complicated life becomes. Accept that and be sure to learn as much as you can to be ready for it.