Precis Announces New Business Development, Marketing, and Special Projects Leadership

Director – Business Development, Director – Special Projects, and Marketing Manager roles will provide strategic direction across the firm.

Precis Engineering + Architecture has made three strategic appointments. The firm hired Josh Hirshenhorn as Director – Business Development, named Debbie Douglas, AIA, Director – Special Projects, and hired Corin Gearhart as Marketing Manager. Roles became effective in June 2026. All three actively contribute to firm leadership.

Josh Hirshenhorn | Director – Business Development

Formerly a regional sales director with an environmental monitoring company, Hirshenhorn brings 15+ years of sales and business development experience to his role. He offers extensive technical background in the regulated pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life science markets. In his new role, Hirshenhorn collaborates with Precis leaders and technical teams to support client relationships and drive growth. He holds a B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh and is a member of the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) and International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). Hirshenhorn replaces former director, Deirdre Garcia, who retired in June.

“Josh has a track record of navigating complex sales cycles and building long-term client partnerships that support business and quality objectives,” said President Robert Dick, PE. “He has integrated quickly into the firm’s business development and project management teams, identifying opportunities that bring value to our current and future clientele.”

“I knew and respected Precis as an industry colleague working with shared customers,” said Hirshenhorn. “Joining Precis gives me an opportunity to expand my knowledge base and increase my impact within the life sciences community. I’m excited at the prospect of learning new things, working with creative and intelligent people, and advancing work that supports development of lifesaving therapies.”

Corin Gearhart | Marketing Manager

Formerly a marketing coordinator with a national A/E firm, Gearhart brings 15+ years of graphic design and marketing experience to her role. Her background includes conceptual development and design of identity and collateral materials, social media strategy, professional video and photography coordination, and proposal development. In her role, Gearhart leads daily marketing department operations and works closely with Hirshenhorn and the business development team. She holds a B.S. in Graphic Design from Jefferson University.

“Corin is an award-winning social media strategist and a creative designer whose imagination and organization will enhance Precis’ marketing efforts,” said Chief Communications Officer Amanda Gibney Weko. “She has immediately brought enthusiasm and fresh perspective to the team.”

“I’m incredibly motivated by the opportunity to lead and develop people,” said Gearhart. “I’ve benefited from strong mentorship throughout my career, and I’m passionate about fostering that same support for others. Precis has exciting plans for the future, and I feel privileged to contribute to the firm’s growth.”

Debbie Douglas, AIA | Director – Special Projects

Formerly a Senior Architect, Douglas joined Precis in 2023. Her promotion to director reflects a track record of leading projects while managing client expectations. An accomplished architect with 30+ years of experience, Douglas’ background includes design and project management across commercial and residential markets in the U.S. and abroad. Her collaborative design approach and skills in detailing, space planning, and interior design reflect her responsiveness to client needs. In her role, Douglas leads projects and teams responsible for specialized, small-scale commercial assignments. She holds B.Arch. and B.A.S. degrees from the University of Cape Town (South Africa).

“Since joining Precis, Debbie has consistently demonstrated both her architectural talents and her ability to handle challenges with grace and diligence,” said Principal – Architecture Paul J. Salvaggio, AIA, LEED AP. “This promotion recognizes her leadership and enables staff members to benefit from her guidance and mentorship through the design and drawing production processes.”

“The promotion lends additional credibility to my role with clients,” said Douglas. “Special projects require added client attention, team guidance, and deep research. I look forward to leading this work and fostering positive relationships within and outside the office.”

Additional Strategic Leadership

The new leadership comes during a year in which Precis has made other strategic hires and promotions, including new C-suite roles for operations and communications, and new director roles to enhance the process engineering discipline. Each leadership decision has been based on a goal of strengthening Precis’ ability to deliver integrated engineering and architecture solutions to clients across market sectors.