The board of directors of Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc. (DBF), has announced that Principal Ring W. Lardner, P.E., has been named president of the firm, effective July 1, 2022.

With over nineteen years of experience with DBF, having served as an associate for five years and as principal for over seven, Mr. Lardner is set to lead the firm in this newly appointed role following a planned transition that was initiated a year ago.  He will oversee over 100 employees throughout all three of the firm’s office locations in Milford, Delaware, and Salisbury and Easton, Maryland.

“I am honored to take the next steps with the firm. After almost two decades at DBF, I am grateful for and welcome the opportunity to lead this organization of truly dedicated and talented professionals,” said Lardner.

Serving as one of six principals, Mr. Lardner has cultivated critical leadership competencies while managing both the municipal and site department out of the Milford, Delaware office. Mr. Lardner’s depth of industry experience includes site engineering for federal, state and local projects, as well as private sector community design, with his most notable projects being Governors multi-family development in Sussex County, Champions Club in Kent County, and a soon to be constructed 600,000 square foot warehouse in Middletown.

As a retired Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) of the Delaware Army National Guard, Mr. Lardner has harnessed his leadership, and his long-range and strategic planning skills to maximize opportunities for the firm. He held numerous positions including Engineer Platoon Leader, Operations Officer, Detachment Commander, Engineer Officer in Facilities Management, Operations Officer and culminated as the Brigade Executive Officer. In these positions, he guided and mentored hundreds of soldiers to provide realistic training and prepare them for both their state and federal missions.

Mr. Lardner is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Technology. He holds a professional engineering license in both the State of Delaware and Maryland and serves on the board of trustees for the Sussex County Land Trust – a local organization dedicated to protecting natural, cultural, agricultural, and recreational resources through land preservation, stewardship, and education.

“Ring is a widely respected professional that I’ve had the great pleasure of working alongside since he joined us here at DBF. He has a proven track record of success in developing key plans for growth and opportunity and has been instrumental in the evolution of the firm over the past several years. I am confident he will serve the firm and our clientele as president exceptionally well, and I am pleased too that he, along with an outstanding ownership team, will carry forward the ideals of an established organization that started nearly 40 years ago,” said Michael R. Wigley, AIA, LEED AP, current president of DBF.  “Leadership continuity and operational excellence have always been hallmarks of the firm, and the future positive impact the firm will have in our communities will be something I very much look forward to.”

After 37 years, Mr. Wigley is set to retire at the end of December of this year.