NATE DECKER, PE
Principal
Nate is a master of the balance between design and coordination. He loves working hands-on designing and coordinating directly with the design team to bring each project to life. Seeing a project go from paper to a real living structure is the highlight of his experience. Every project is different and finding unique solutions to support the architectural vision is what brings him back each day. If Nate isn’t pushing out a deadline, you’ll find him chasing his young kiddos. He loves anything outdoors including snowboarding, fishing, hunting, and basically all sports.
​
"I really enjoy getting lost in the details and finding the right solution for each specific design challenge. I love creating and building relationships as we develop solutions together.”
DUSTIN BURNER
Principal
Born in and raised in Rifle Colorado. Dustin grew up working summers for his families concrete company where he learned there is no substitute for hard work.
His educational adventure began with a degree in construction management. This was the catalyst that launched him into the Civil Engineering program at the Colorado School of Mines wherein he completed both his undergrad and graduate degrees.
​
After college Dustin went on to work as a practicing structural engineer on a variety of project types including multi family, commercial, government, sculpture, and residential.
​
Dustin brings a background in both construction and design that contributes to a more comprehensive building experience.
Danny Decker
Drafter
Danny Decker is the Drafting Technician for DB Structural Design. He grew up in Clearfield, Utah, and is the older brother of Co-Owner of DB Structural Design Nate Decker. Danny graduated from high school in 2006, and from there started his first job as a custodian. After moving on from there, he worked for Sam’s Club where he worked nights and operated forklifts, then moved to Wal-Mart as an Inventory Management Associate. While working for Wal-Mart, Danny also was an assembler for a contracting company for Home Depot, and assembled their seasonal home and garden equipment, including wheelbarrows, tillers, grills, etc. This helped him get used to working with hand tools and power tools. In his last few years at Wal-Mart, he started working in the Tire Lube Express, performing oil changes, and tire replacements, balances, and rotations. This launched his interest in working on vehicles.
After leaving Wal-Mart, Danny decided to move into a different field of work, after having worked on vehicles, and started working as a Lube Technician for Nissan. As time moved forward, Danny was given the opportunity to advance, and was sent to training to become a certified Nissan Technician, working on repairs and diagnosis. Danny worked for Nissan as a technician for 8 years, when he was offered a job as a Draft Technician for DB Structural Design.
Althea Paynter
Design Engineer
Introducing Althea Paynter, a budding engineer making her mark at DBSD. With an infectious enthusiasm for learning, Althea’s fresh perspective breathes new life into our team. A recent graduate from the University of Connecticut, she’s already showcasing a remarkable aptitude for tackling challenges head on. Althea’s collaborative spirit and adaptability reflect her commitment to evolve into an exceptional engineer. When she’s not working on her projects, she can be found relaxing by the river, playing tennis, and hiking in the summer or on the wall at Snowmass in the winter.