Stuart Drahota is a Regional Innovation Leader for DPR Construction, focused on making construction technology practical, scalable, and useful for project teams. His work connects construction operations, VDC, reality capture, UAV workflows, laser scanning, survey, and field technology to real jobsite outcomes — safer work, better quality, less rework, and faster field decisions. Stuart’s approach is rooted in field adoption: technology only creates value when teams can access it, trust it, and use it in the daily rhythm of construction.
Before moving into regional innovation leadership, Stuart served in multiple DPR roles, including Florida Virtual Building Leader, Southeast Field Technology Group Leader, and Reality Capture Specialist. Prior to DPR, he worked at Hensel Phelps, where he gained experience across project delivery, VDC, field coordination, and construction technology implementation. That blend of field experience, digital construction, and team leadership continues to shape how he approaches innovation today.
Stuart is currently helping lead DPR’s Digital Dig Board pilot, a national effort focused on connecting utility data, drone imagery, CAD/DXF information, permits, as-builts, mobile access, and field feedback into a repeatable workflow for safer ground disturbance planning. The pilot reflects his broader passion: turning emerging technology into practical workflows that help project teams make better decisions at the point of work.
Outside of work, Stuart is a lifelong competitor and outdoorsman. He grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, attended Skidmore College, competed on the golf and ski teams, and later coached golf at Skidmore. Golf has been a major part of his story, including professional competition, two professional tournament wins, U.S. Open sectional qualifying, and multiple Colorado Open appearances. He is also passionate about skiing, adventure travel, paddle boarding, fly fishing, and is a proud Denver Broncos fan.
Stuart brings the same mindset to construction innovation that he brings to athletics and the outdoors: compete, adapt, learn quickly, and make it useful. His focus is building people, platforms, and project outcomes that make construction safer, smarter, and more connected.