Leslie Tullio

Leslie Tullio loves working with interesting, honest and innovative people and helping connect them to the great things DPR does every day. As the Communications and Brand Leader and a member of the Leadership Team, Leslie is responsible for ensuring that employees and stakeholders are able to understand, engage with and celebrate the impactful work being done for DPR’s customers and communities. She’s also entrusted with maintaining the integrity and authenticity of DPR’s brand and purpose-driven culture—a job she shares with DPR employees around the world.

Leslie comes from a family deeply rooted in construction. Her grandfather founded a family-owned contracting business when he immigrated to the United States from Italy and later went on to specialize in concrete. Over time, Leslie’s father became the primary “Tullio” in “Carl Tullio & Sons.” She’s been around construction in one form or another her entire life and appreciates the hard-working people the profession attracts.

Leslie earned her professional stripes in a variety of work environments before finding her way home to construction. Most recently she served as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at McDermott Will & Emery, an AmLaw 25 law firm. Before that, she was head of corporate marketing at CEB (now Gartner) and spent nearly 15 years working in marketing and communications agencies. Her experience spans a variety of industries and roles and gives Leslie the context to truly appreciate DPR’s uniqueness. No other business in her experience puts people over profit the way DPR does. “We walk the talk. We not only say we put people first; we actually do it. Every decision I’ve seen made here starts with a view of how it will impact our people for the long term.”

Leslie spends her free time with her family, including her husband and two boys. They enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling together. You’ll most often find her on weekends in an ice rink or on a baseball field supporting her kids’ not quite Major League dreams.

• Favorite DPR core value: Ever Forward. I genuinely believe that whenever you push beyond your comfort zone—whether you succeed or fail in the endeavor—it makes you better.
• What you love about construction: The complexity. I’m fascinated by the way all the different aspects of a project come together and the precision required to get it right. I’m also in awe of the innovation and collaboration required to get from idea to execution.
• First job: I worked at the Hallmark Store in my local mall when I was in high school. I used to love to see what kind of cards people bought and whether they matched my expectations, but people always surprised me!
• Most useful app: Waze, without a doubt, though Uber Eats is growing on me.
• Your hero: My mom. I didn’t always appreciate the sacrifices she made for my brothers and me or the true impact she had on the decisions I made, but I’m forever grateful.
• Word to the wise: “Comfort is the enemy of progress” – PT Barnum. You should definitely celebrate successes and enjoy what you achieve, but if it’s getting too easy, you’ve stopped growing.