Team Dempsey

As Vice President of Preconstruction, Mark is responsible for the coordination of all estimating and project budgeting, as well as participating in constructability reviews and value engineering exercises. He also manages all project bidding to subcontractors and plays a major role in the selection of subcontractors for each project. Mark graduated from California State University, Hayward with a B.A. in Business Administration and is a LEED Accredited Professional for Building Design & Construction. Mark enjoys being a part of teams that help our clients’ visions come to life. Being able to bring his knowledge and expertise to the table, and as a result, help make a project come in on time and on budget, is very gratifying. In his spare time, Mark enjoys cycling, hiking, traveling and spending time with his friends and family.

Matt Malaniak has worked in Construction since 2021 and joined Dempsey Construction in 2023 as a Staff Accountant. Born and raised in New Jersey, Matt graduated from the University of Tampa with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He is pursuing his MBA at Wilkes University, and in his little free time, he enjoys playing golf and volleyball.

A native of north county, San Diego, Matt graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2017 with a B.S. in Politics. Matt always wanted to work in an industry that gives back to the community he grew up in. He was drawn to construction as a career because it is a perfect combination of creating job opportunities and improving our community by creating beautiful spaces for people to learn and grow together in. In his spare time, Matt enjoys playing guitar, DJing, and going to the beach.

Matthew Ritt joined Dempsey Construction in 2024 as a Project Engineer. Originally from the East Coast, Matt graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with a degree in Construction Management following his 5 years in the Navy. In his free time, Matt enjoys exploring Southern California, spending time with his dog, and traveling.

In her role as Senior Project Coordinator, Merissa assists the project management teams in marrying the worlds of ownership, subcontractors and our own internal personnel. Merissa graduated from Hofstra University with a B.A. in Psychology and has been with DCI since 2014. Merissa is motivated by seeing the work we do come to life and hearing the good praise from the clients we work with. It is her goal to give our clients an honest class “A” service and assure them that they can count on us. Merissa is a proud New Yorker and a huge fan of the NY Giants!

Michael is a South Florida native who graduated from the University of Florida in 2019 with a B.S. in Construction Management. His previous experience includes estimating for an Atlanta-based general contractor that specialized in the multifamily housing sector. The field of construction always intrigued him due to the tangible, physical output of the work. Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his dog, watching baseball, and hunting down the best ramen in San Diego.

As the Director of Marketing, Michaela oversees marketing strategy, brand development and management, public relations, digital content, branded collateral and events. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations and Advertising from Chapman University and an M.B.A in Marketing from Loyola University of Chicago. Michaela lives in Encinitas with her husband, daughter, and golden retriever. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, traveling, and being an equestrian.

After three consecutive summers of interning for Dempsey, Mike Horn joined the team full-time as a Project Engineer and is now an Assistant Project Manager. Mike’s daily tasks include coordinating with project management, providing pro-active solutions, and understanding construction methodology. To Mike, highlights of his role include open communication with team members involved in projects, high morale and positivity from preconception to finalization, as well as problem solving with design teams and subcontractors. Mike graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. In his free time, he enjoys Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, hiking, trail running, and relaxing at the beach.

Natalie joined Dempsey Construction as a Project Coordinator and assists the project management teams. Natalie lives in Carlsbad with her fiancé and golden retriever. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike and exploring around town. She also loves going on hikes and spending time with friends and family.