As CEO of Sink Combs Dethlefs, Don Dethlefs has built a reputation as one of the nation’s premier arena and sports and recreation architects. He has been actively involved in the design and planning of many community icons such as the Red Rocks Visitor Center. He has also been a major contributor to many high profile projects including the Save Mart Center at Fresno State, Saint Louis Chaifetz Arena, Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City and The Ohio State University Schottenstein Center. Each project Don undertakes is approached with enthusiasm and undaunted attention to detail. Innovation, creativity, flexibility and cost effectiveness characterize the designs of Don Dethlefs.
Don regularly serves as a symposium speaker at a variety of conferences including the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Facilities, Fundraising and Marketing Workshop, The International City Manager’s Association Sports Consortium, The Athletic Business Magazine Annual Conference, and the International Economic Development Council’s “If You Build It, Will They Come?” Conference.
Don graduated with honors from the University of Colorado, Boulder and went on to receive his Masters in Architecture from the University of Colorado, Denver. He joined the firm in 1979.