Jonathan Gabelein is currently a principal construction manager with Sound Transit.
He has been involved in the management of all project and program phases from design and construction to final close out of complex public and private contracts totaling over $5 billion with high visibility and public impact ranging from the Seattle Symphony’s Benaroya Hall Music Center to the Hood Canal Floating Bridge Replacement, and the Northgate Link and Lynnwood Link Light Rail Extension Construction Programs.
He has worked in the construction industry since 1990 beginning in the field trades on small commercial projects.
After graduating from Central Washington University with a B.S. in Construction Management in 1995, he went to work for Baugh Construction and subsequently Kiewit Pacific Company where he worked on building construction, heavy/highway, bridge and marine contracts ranging up to $471 million. He held positions ranging from field engineer, estimator, superintendent and project contract administration manager.
In his position as project contract administration manager, he specialized in working with clients in claims and dispute prevention. One of his most significant achievements was working with WSDOT when on the Hood Canal Bridge retrofit and replacement project, the most significant archaeological burial ground of the Pacific Northwest was discovered. Jonathan and his team worked with WSDOT to maintain construction progress and in spite of delays and cost increases, completed a quality project and maintained a valued client relationship.
After working in contracting, Jonathan worked with a major Seattle law firm of Ashbaugh Beal as an in-house construction consultant working with attorneys and representing clients in the prevention, analysis and resolution of construction disputes.
During his time at the law firm, Jonathan became a certified mediator in 2008 with the Dispute Resolution Centers of Snohomish, Island, King and Skagit Counties where he served as a mediator in domestic and commercial disputes.
In 2011, Jonathan subsequently went to work for Sound Transit as the principal construction manager responsible for the $1.2 billion Northgate Link Light Rail extension construction program consisting of 3.4 miles of an underground and one mile of above grade elevated transit system which involved complex contract interfaces. Subsequently, Jonathan went on to manage construction operations for the $1.8 billion Lynnwood Link Light Rail Extension construction program consisting of an 8.5 mile elevated and at grade track transit system.
Jonathan’s extensive and broad experience as a contractor, owner, and mediator give him a unique perspective on managing and leading large scale multi-team projects, developing management strategies and leading collaboration efforts in solving highly complex technical and management issues and associated relationship challenges that go along with them as well as the prevention and resolution of construction disputes.