media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

May 29^th BuildIT California Founders Day Conference & Awards
Brings Record Attendance to InterContinental Los Angeles

Phillip A. Washington Receives the “Built Community Impact Award”
for his lifetime of service as the Chief Executive Officer of
Denver International Airport, former CEO of LA Metro, former CEO of Denver’s Regional Transportation District, and 24-Year U.S. Army Active Duty Service Career

27 June 2025 – Los Angeles, CA  BuildIT (https://www.build-it.world) the world’s largest industry association dedicated to the sustainable development of LGBT/Allied businesses, professionals, tradespeople in construction, architecture, engineering and large-scale real estate development honored Phillip A. Washington, and others, at their Founders Day Conference and Gala Dinner & Awards event held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The event was attended by nearly 1,100 individuals, construction industry leaders, public agency representatives and thought leaders from around the world.

Phil Washington received the Built Community Impact award for his lifetime of service as the Chief Executive Officer of multiple large transportation infrastructure organizations, including Denver International Airport, as well as his role in founding the Equity in Infrastructure Project which is a national organization dedicated to increasing the generational wealth of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) through public contracting in infrastructure. 

“Phil Washington is one of the most transformative leaders within the design and construction industry throughout the United States, and beyond,” stated BuildIT’s President Paul Pendergast. “For decades, his thought leadership has developed innovative programs that create meaningful opportunities that build businesses and change lives for the better. Consistently, Phil has taken on the challenges that other infrastructure development leaders have bypassed.” 

“I am deeply honored to receive the 2025 Built Community Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport. “Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by two core passions: advancing transportation infrastructure and opening doors for Historically Underutilized Businesses in this industry. Empowering these businesses with the training, relationships, and expertise they need to compete—and succeed—on major projects is not just a professional goal, it’s a personal mission. This work matters, and I am proud to continue championing it every day.”

Phil Washington became CEO of Denver International Airport in July 2021. DEN is the world’s 6th busiest airport with an annual economic impact of $47.2B. He also oversees 40,000+ badged employees with 27 air carriers and over 200 concessions. In 2023, Washington broke ground on a first-of-its kind Center of Equity & Excellence in Aviation that is intended to create a pipeline of talent for Denver and the aviation industry more broadly, with a concentration on under-served communities, historically underutilized businesses, military veterans and women.   

Washington is also the Co-Founder of the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP) which is a national non-profit organization which exists to improve public contracting practices by creating more opportunities for HUBs to build generational wealth and reduce the racial wealth gap by creating more prime, joint venture and contracting opportunities for these firms.

“Since the opening days of BuildIT, Phil has been an advocate for the inclusion of our LGBT businesses in Design/Construction/Material Supply firms and a champion of our workforce development efforts,” said BuildIT founder and President Paul Pendergast. “He is both the definition of an ally, and a consummate professional.”

About BuildIT:
BuildIT is the world’s largest LGBTQ Industry Association dedicated to the sustainable growth of LGBTQ/Allied owned and certified businesses, professionals, tradespeople, thought leaders and stakeholders, in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, Construction Services, Program/Construction Management, Material Suppliers, Large Scale-Real Estate Development, and Related Industries.

​BuildIT welcomes participation from all individuals based on merit, achievement, and commitment to excellence. BuildIT recognizes the value that different perspectives bring to their mission of excellence in the Built Environment and they are committed to maintaining an ecosystem where all members associated with the Built Community have access to opportunity. Membership and opportunities within BuildIT are available to anyone who meets our established professional criteria and standards.

media contact:  David Perry & Associates, Inc / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Porchfest Nights June 25, July 30 and August 27
Adds Intimate Musical Flavor to Benicia’s Sound Scene

Starting Tomorrow Night!
Three Exclusive Wednesday Evening Events Set Stage for
Second Annual Porchfest Benicia Taking Place Saturday, September 13
www.porchfest-benicia.com

24 June 2025 – Benicia, CA: Looking for something to liven up the mid-week hump day? As the buzz builds for the second annual Porchfest Benicia taking place on Saturday, September 13, the folks at Benicia Magazine (www.beniciamagazine.com) are launching something new—and a bit more intimate—to kick off the season: Porchfest Nights: Wednesday evenings June 25, July 30 and August 27. A series of three exclusive evenings of music, connection, and community, Porchfest Nights is being held at The Escape (4588 East Second Street, Suite E) in the Benicia Industrial Park. Tickets for all Porchfest Nights can be purchased [HERE].

“Last year’s Porchfest Benicia brought more than 10,000 music lovers to our streets,” said Mary Hand, publisher of Benicia Magazine and the creative spirit behind both Porchfest and Porchfest Nights. “Now, with Porchfest Nights, we’re offering a more up-close-and-personal taste of the talent that makes our town sing—literally.”

Porchfest Nights will take place on three Wednesday evenings—June 25, July 30, and August 27—with doors opening at 6:00pm and music from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. After the music, audiences will have the chance to meet the artists in casual post-performance gatherings. Tickets are $18 and include the meet-and-greet. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.

The first Porchfest Nights concert, on Wednesday, June 25, features a special duo performance by members of Beso Negro, the Bay Area’s beloved gypsy rockers.

The July 30 Porchfest Nights concert will feature Patrick Winningham and Seth Affoumado, a dynamic acoustic duo representing the beloved Bay Area band Tender Mercies. Frontman Winningham will be joined by longtime collaborator Affoumado for this intimate performance ahead of Tender Mercies’ full band appearance at the Coldwell Banker Stage during Porchfest Benicia on September 13.

The August 27 Porchfest Night will offer a preview of the band Pardon the Interruption, scheduled to perform a full set at the Benicia Yacht Club during Porchfest Benicia on September 13. This special “taste of Pardon the Interruption” will feature the group’s guitarist David Noble and bassist Rob Fordyce in an intimate duo setting.

“Porchfest Benicia highlights the best of what the city has to offer, blending music, history, and local flavor into a memorable celebration for all,” Hand continues. “With Porchfest Nights, we’re keeping that energy going—and raising vital funds to ensure Porchfest Benicia continues to thrive.”

Proceeds from Porchfest Nights support the production of Porchfest Benicia 2025, which returns to First Street and historic neighborhoods on Saturday, September 13, with performances from 1:00–5:00pm following a noontime preshow. Last year’s inaugural event drew thousands of attendees, transforming Benicia into a regional music hot spot.

“The Rotary Club of Benicia is acting as Porchfest Benicia and Porchfest Nights’ 501(c)(3) partner,” Hand noted. “So, we can accept donations and you can have a tax write off. Everybody wins!”

As Benicia Mayor Steve Young summed it up last year: “This festival has truly captured the heart of Benicia. It’s more than just a music event – it’s a community experience.”

For tickets, event updates, and information on Porchfest Benicia and Porchfest Nights, visit: www.porchfest-benicia.com

Michelangelo’s Marathon: Strength, Strain & Spiritual Vision

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” 
— Michelangelo

Michelangelo didn’t just sculpt marble—he endured for it. With his monumental David and stirring Pietà completed before age 30, he already embodied the raw physicality of the High Renaissance master. But it was the Sistine Chapel ceiling, undertaken between 1508‑1512, that became his greatest testament to artistic endurance.

Suspended upon scaffolding for four relentless years, Michelangelo painted over 500 square meters, wrestling with gravity, paint, and his own human limits, collapsing at moments under sheer exhaustion . The film The Agony and the Ecstasy dramatizes these intense struggles—fierce negotiations with Julius II, near fatal fatigue, and ultimate triumph—echoing the real torment behind his genius .

Breaking Stone & Spirit:
Michelangelo’s uncompromising regimen wasn’t just artistic—it was elemental. Living in squalid conditions, disregarding food, even sleeping in boots, he believed true art demanded sacrifice  . Every chisel strike into Carrara marble and every brushstroke on the Sistine ceiling demanded extraordinary physical and emotional resilience.

Bramante’s scheme to have him paint the ceiling—an unfamiliar medium—was also a test: he pressed Michelangelo to prove his skill across disciplines. The result: an iconographic tour de force that redefined Renaissance art .

A Prequel to The Creation of Adam:
Before we dive into the next chapter—The Creation of Adam—we need to understand the deeper layers Michelangelo wove into the fresco, mirroring his own life. This panel encapsulates divine energy, anatomical precision, and hidden symbolism. Is that human brain shape formed by the cloak around God? Was the position of Adam’s hand meant to highlight a revolutionary understanding of anatomy? These are more than artistic curiosities—they’re clues to Michelangelo’s relentless obsession with merging beauty, knowledge, and faith.

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Stay tuned as our next deep dive uncovers the layers of theology, art history, and anatomy hidden in one of the most iconic images of the Renaissance: The Creation of Adam. We’ll unlock why those fingertips almost touching continue to spark endless fascination—and debate.

See the Masterpieces for Yourself — Up Close

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition
June 21 – September 14, 2025
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption
1111 Gough Street, San Francisco

Free on-site parking (first come, first served)

Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:30am – 5:00pm
(Last entry at 3:30pm)
Duration: 60 to 90 minutes
Tickets start at:$26 adults | $16 children
$18 students & military | Kids 4 and under: FREE

Wheelchair accessible | All ages welcome

Get tickets: chapelsistine.com/exhibits/san-francisco

Download the audio guide app!
Enhance your experience at the exhibition by downloading the free “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibit” app / audio guide onto your smartphone. At each stop, scan the QR codes to listen to additional, fascinating details on each image.

Unlike in the Vatican — where the original frescoes soar 60 feet above — this exhibition places Michelangelo’s greatest works at eye level using high-definition licensed images and a proprietary technique that captures the texture and nuance of the original frescoes. Whether you’re a lifelong admirer or new to Renaissance art, this experience is designed to inspire awe.

Photography encouraged!
Tag your best shots and stories with
#SistineChapelExhibit and #SEEGlobalSF

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