Christopher Fielden
President, ADA Accessibility Consultant and Plan Reviewer
Christopher Fielden co-founded PDS with Barry Bonifay in 1998. He leads the firm's accessibility consulting and plan review services, working with architects, contractors, building owners and public agencies to help ensure projects comply with federal accessibility requirements and applicable building codes.
Christopher is a Certified Accessibility Inspector and Plans Examiner with the International Code Council and a Registered Accessibility Specialist in the state of Texas.
Christopher lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his partner Erica.
Derek Carpenter
Software Developer and
Systems Administrator
Derek Carpenter holds an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee State University. Over the past decade, he has developed much of PDS America’s information technology infrastructure and the workflows that support the firm’s operations.
While Derek works full-time as an engineer, he continues to support PDS America by maintaining its IT systems and implementing improvements as needed. He is also interested in developing software applications to support accessibility inspections and plan reviews.
In Memoriam -
Barry Bonifay
Founder (1947-2026)
Barry Bonifay, founder of PDS America, passed away on September 7, 2026.
Barry founded PDS in 1998 and devoted much of his career to improving accessibility in the built environment. Through his consulting, plan review, training, and work with architects, building owners, government agencies, and other professionals, Barry helped make countless buildings and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities.
Barry was more than the founder of PDS. He was a mentor, colleague, and friend whose knowledge, personality, and commitment to accessibility shaped the company and the people who worked with him.
His influence continues in the work of PDS and in the many professionals he worked with throughout his career. We are grateful for everything Barry contributed and proud to carry forward the work he began.