CEO Message
Michael R. Bennett
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
I am a Civil Engineer by training, an estimator by trade, and a builder of teams by necessity, and this is the story of why I started Design and Bids.
That foundation was built further through more than 20 years of hands-on industry experience: 12 years managing preconstruction for mid-size general contractors, followed by 8 years leading BIM coordination on commercial and industrial projects across the East Coast. Few people in this industry have sat on both sides of the table (pricing the drawing and building the model), and that dual perspective is exactly what shaped this company.
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering
- Certified Professional Estimator (CPE)
- AACE International | Cost Engineering Certification
Early in my career, I kept seeing the same problem recur: estimators pricing drawings they didn’t fully understand, and drafters designing systems without knowing what budget those systems required. The two departments that should have worked as one operated like strangers, and contractors paid the price in missed deadlines, cost overruns, and bids that fell apart under scrutiny.
That gap is why I built Design and Bids. I wanted to bring CAD drafting, BIM modeling, and MEP coordination. I cost estimating under a single accountable process, instead of scattering them across disconnected vendors who never talk to each other. My vision was simple but demanding: give every client one coordinated source for accurate numbers and buildable designs, so they can bid with confidence and build without surprises later in the field.
Building the right team meant hiring differently. Rather than software operators trained only on tools, I sought out professionals with real field exposure people who understood what happens after a drawing leaves the office and reaches a job site. Every estimator, drafter, and coordinator on my team is trained to think beyond their individual task, understanding how their work affects the client’s budget, schedule, and final build.
Today, that vision has grown into an ISO-certified firm serving clients across all 50 states still guided by the same principle that started it: precision only matters when design and cost move together.
Let's Build Something Accurate, Together
If you’re tired of stitching together estimates and drawings from disconnected vendors, I’d welcome the chance to show you a better way to work.