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David Welsh鈥檚 interest in architecture began with an art class in college. Rather than drawing objects, the students were asked to draw the space around the objects, an exercise Welsh thoroughly enjoyed.

鈥淚t was all about this thing I had with space,鈥� said Welsh, who earned his architecture degree from Ohio University. He also studied structural engineering and worked for a structural engineering firm at the start of his career, which led him to pair engineering services with architecture when he founded CIDA in 1991.

鈥淢y philosophical opinion is you cannot design a good building if you don鈥檛 understand how the structure works,鈥� Welsh said. 鈥淵ou have to understand what holds the building together and many young architects, including myself, really didn鈥檛 have all the knowledge of structural engineering that we should have had.鈥�

With a career that spans nearly 50 years, Welsh said his favorite aspect has been consistent throughout. 鈥淚 love working with people. I like solving problems and helping people solve their problems and being part of that intercourse. I like seeing people鈥檚 eyes light up when they realize what they鈥檝e got.鈥�

Mentorship has been an essential part of his career as well, and he is dedicated to fostering growth and promoting the understanding of healthy business practices in young professionals. Welsh鈥檚 mentorship includes training the firm鈥檚 current president and transitioning power to the next generation of leaders.

鈥淚 see people struggling with the same thing I struggled with 30 years ago and I鈥檝e been there. That鈥檚 where you can help people most. It鈥檚 gets them onto a path and gets them out of their quandary,鈥� he said.

Welsh has long been committed to gender equality and promoted women leaders within the firm, which is now 50 percent female. President Jennifer Beattie began as an intern more than 20 years ago and took the helm in 2013. Since 2015, CIDA has had majority women ownership.

Welsh鈥檚 community service includes serving as Portland Metro Development board member for The Salvation Army as well as supporting the Washington County Museum, B鈥檔ai B鈥檙ith, Morrison Family Services and Chabad Center.