Facilities Consultants
For California School Districts

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01
Marina High School Gymnasium

Program Management
For California School Districts

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02
Monterey High School Science Building

Owner's Representative
For California School Districts

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03
Seaside Middle School

Program Implementation
For California School Districts

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04
Marina High School Athletic Facility
Program Management
Program Implementation
Owner's Representative
Facilities Consulting

Partnering with Districts to Build Tomorrow’s Classrooms

District Advocates Group, a Division of Urban Futures, Inc. (“DAG”) provides program management services for school district facilities projects. Unlike other program and construction management firms, we have staffed our team with former school district superintendents, chief business officials, and facilities managers. This unique, one-of-kind approach allows us to bridge the gap from inhouse district staff to full program management capabilities, ensuring seamless transitions and consistent quality throughout the project lifecycle. Our firm’s history is rooted in serving as a fiduciary to our clients, and we bring this same approach to our program management services. We are committed to helping districts maximize their bond dollars using cost-effective and streamlined strategies that meet their goals, and lead to positive and sustained outcomes for their students and school communities.

Identity strategy
Help our clients succeed by brand

We always want our client grow with the product we have delivered and maintaining strong long-term good relationship.

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Grow and succeed
Work together to make experience.

We always want our client grow with the product we have delivered and maintaining strong long-term good relationship.

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Experience strategy
Help our clients succeed by brand

We always want our client grow with the product we have delivered and maintaining strong long-term good relationship.

Explore now

Focused on Education, Driven by Results

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Our Facilities Consulting Team

Brett McFadden

Brett W. McFadden brings over 26 years of executive leadership in school facilities, bond program management, finance, and district governance. Having served as superintendent, deputy superintendent, and chief business officer in multiple California districts, Brett has successfully led bond programs totaling over $650 million, significantly impacting TK-12 education statewide.

Brett W. McFadden
Managing Principal
Alan Reising

Alan joined DAG after retiring as Assistant Superintendent – Facilities & Operations for the Long Beach Unified School District, where he led the district's $4.8 billion facilities construction and modernization program. Alan was the Chair of the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) from 2023 to 2025.

Alan Reising
Executive Vice President of Program Management and Strategy
Liz Giles

Liz is a consultant experienced in school construction projects, with six years of experience managing projects totaling $37 million. Her background working at Redding School District and other Northern California districts provides her with a unique skill set to assist smaller schools in navigating construction challenges effectively.

Liz Giles
School Facilities Advisor
Brian Stephens

Brian Stephens brings over 30 years of leadership in public education, including over 20 years as a Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. At DAG, he leverages his extensive experience—overseeing successful bond programs totaling more than $348 million. Brian currently works with Tracy JUSD and McKinleyville UESD.

Brian Stephens
School Facilities Advisor
Melanie Nazarbekian

Melanie brings hands-on school facilities experience supporting major California school district construction programs, complemented by private-sector program management expertise. Her background in facilities planning, state agency coordination, and capital program delivery strengthens our ability to provide rigorous planning, controls, and oversight across all projects.

Melanie Nazarbekian
Planning and Controls Manager
Junel Taufa

Junel has over 10 years of executive-level administrative experience in education. She served six years in Human Resources and four years as a Senior Executive Assistant to a County Office of Education Deputy Superintendent. Junel's strong organizational and project coordination skills ensure effective support for school-focused construction programs.

Junel Taufa
Program Coordinator
Kim Hale

Kim brings hands-on facilities, maintenance, and operations experience from her work at a California county office of education. Her recent role coordinating construction, renovation, and maintenance projects, managing budgets, compliance, bidding, and contractor oversight strengthens DAG’s ability to support districts with day-to-day program coordination and effective project delivery.

Kim Hale
Program Coordinator
Mary Morris

Mary brings deep expertise in facilities planning, architectural design, and district-level representation across TK–14 projects. She adds specialized support to our clients through her experience with facilities assessments, educational specifications, master planning, design-build oversight, and stakeholder engagement.

Mary Morris
Architect-In-Residence
Ann Marie Johansen

Ann Marie brings extensive administrative, budgeting, and data management experience from her work supporting large public agencies and education organizations. Her background in proposal development, fiscal oversight, grants management, and operational support strengthens our program management efforts and enhances the services we provide to our district clients.

Ann Marie Johansen
Program Assistant
Aurora Thompson

Aurora leads our efforts to help districts identify, assess, and secure facility-related grants and supplemental funding aligned with their capital and educational priorities. Drawing on her experience as a senior district leader, she guides clients through eligibility reviews, grant strategy, application development, and post-award compliance to help districts maximize funding opportunities.

Aurora Thompson
Grant Funding Coordinator

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