News & Insights

Salas O’Brien announced today that Diane Walton Blevins has been promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). This role is a natural extension of her current duties and provides critical leadership to help the organization scale for future growth and further strengthen its position as an employer of choice in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

Walton Blevins joined Salas O’Brien in 2020 as Vice President of Human Resources at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, through which she helped the organization navigate a complex landscape of business policies and employee needs. She leads a growing team of HR professionals and has supported over 20 mergers and a 250% increase in total headcount, establishing a unified national benefits program, bolstering mental health resources, and rolling out a company-wide HRIS system. Walton Blevins maintains a focus on engaging, empowering, and developing team members as part of the organization’s people-centric culture, contributing significantly to Salas O’Brien’s track record of sustained growth.

“Diane’s leadership and vision for the team member experience over the last four years has helped elevate us to one of the leading firms in our industry,” stated Darin Anderson, Chairman and CEO. “Our team members are and will always continue to be at the heart of everything we do. Diane and her team play a massive role in ensuring we maintain our culture of ownership, trust, and care, where all team members have unlimited growth opportunities and access to meaningful rewards and resources. I am grateful to have her on our leadership team and have the utmost confidence in her ability to support our future growth.”

“I am extremely grateful for the trust that Darin, Paul, and our leaders placed in me when I joined the organization,” stated Walton Blevins. “The journey has been truly remarkable, and I’ve appreciated the opportunity to collaborate on harmonizing our approach to firm-wide HR programs as we continue to build an agile HR model. Together, we are ensuring that Salas O’Brien is a firm where all team members can enjoy a fulfilling career, consistently deliver great results, and have unlimited opportunities for growth. I am thankful to work alongside such talented leaders and HR professionals in my new role, as we enter this next phase of our incredibly bright future!”

Walton Blevins holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. Prior to joining Salas O’Brien, she worked for McKinsey & Company as a global human resources leader where she designed and implemented an integrated talent model for full life cycle HR. Throughout her dynamic career, she has consistently built empowered teams and infrastructure designed to drive engagement and performance.