OUR STORY
From humble beginnings to a Global
Movement… the BuildIT Story
In September of 2013 the $2.2 Billion California High Speed Rail’s Northern Terminus Project located in the heart of San Francisco (known at the time as the Transbay Transit Center which later rebranded to become the Salesforce Transit Center) became the first public agency in the United States to hold an outreach event specifically dedicated to inviting LGBT firms in construction services to be a part of the competitive bidding process. There were no goals/no set asides associated with this ‘leap forward’ within the construction industry. Rather it was an opportunity for LGBT businesses, for the first time in history, to be invited to showcase their relevant experience, qualifications, and capacity for potential utilization on a significant mega-infrastructure project.
In 2014 two prominent members of California’s LGBT business community (Rick Hobbs Seeley and Paul Pendergast) began a legislative process which led to California Governor Jerry Brown signing Assembly Bill 1678 in September of 2015. This law became the Nation’s first piece of legislation to require regulated California-based energy, water and telecommunications firms to annually report their total procurement with LGBT businesses to the state legislature. The ‘reality on the ground’ was that LGBT businesses were now invited to actively compete for contracts with approximately 28 utilities based on their qualifications, value-added solutions and cost competitiveness. As of December 2023, reporting to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has shown that $394M has been spent with certified LGBT businesses by utilities focused on electricity, gas, energy distribution, water/wastewater and telecommunications. In April, of 2022, the CPUC Commissioners, voted unanimously, to establish a 1.5% aspirational goal for LGBT businesses within the overall ‘spend’ by utilities who are part of the General Order 156. When realized this milestone would equate to an annual spend with LGBT businesses of approximately $600M based on spend analysis in conducted in 2022.
IT'S NOT JUST AN ORGANIZATION
IT'S A MOVEMENT!
In June of 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, twenty-six visionary, successful, and engaging LGBT/Allied business owners, professionals and design/construction industry stakeholders launched BuildOUT California to address the demand by the built communities (consultant firms, general contractors, owners, operators and industry leaders) in order to build the capacity of LGBT /Allied-owned businesses, professional service providers and tradespeople. BuildOUT California is a registered 501C6 non-profit organization with the United States Internal Revenue Service.
The response to BuildOUT California was remarkable and it was global. With unique, and results-driven, programs & services dedicated to connecting, advocating and building capacity to meet the demand of the design/construction industry BuildOUT California’s network quickly expanded on a global level. Robust collaboration agreements (Memorandums of Understanding/MOUs) and joint events were held with design/construction industry associates which gave voice to BuildOUT California’s networks around the globe (THANK YOU, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Freehold, Building Equality, Construction Management Association of America, Latinos in Transit, Associated General Contractors of California, and Build with Pride Seattle to name just a few).
CREATING A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE
FROM HEAVY CIVIL TO LGBT/ALLIED
INDUSTRY PIONEERS
Our signature event, Founders Day, held annually near the date of June 1 has grown to the point that it is difficult to find quality venues that can hold our attendees which on May 30, 2024, numbered just over 1,000. In 2025 we anticipate attendance to be 1,200, building on our history of producing the largest event of its kind in the world. Founders Day has become a ‘global marketplace’ of ideas, connections, and inspiration for the design/construction industry.
Our ‘Golden Pitch’ series amplifies the qualifications, experience and cost-effective solutions of our LGBT/Allied firms and professionals. This series has become a national model and we were honored to be invited to present the program’s efficacy to the New York City-based Conference Board on Tuesday, June 12, 2024. The Conference Board is the global, nonprofit think tank and business membership organization that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Ahead™ where, for over 100 years, their cutting-edge research, data, events and executive networks have helped the world's leading companies understand the present and shape the future.
In 2023 the venerable Washington, D.C.-based Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) awarded us with their prestigious industry award for contributions to the construction management industry across the United States. Our forward-looking industry events regularly attract hundreds of remarkably diverse professionals and tradespeople because of their ability to provide an avenue for meaningful team building discussions, empowerment of LGBT/Allied professionals looking for a ‘safe and productive’ space to showcase their authentic selves and discussions regarding topics such as alternative project delivery, meeting the national challenges of our workforce shortage, and providing meaningful solutions to project funding.
RELEASING US FROM GEOGRAPHICAL
BORDERS - THE EVOLUTION TO BUILDIT
With robust growth comes inspiration and evolution. Reaching back to 2022 it became clear that our ‘name’ was simply too limiting for what the industry was calling for us to accomplish. As such we began the process of re-branding the organization to one that has no geographic limitations and continues to ‘speak to’ our unique role within the Architecture, Engineering, Construction-services, Program and Construction Management, material providers and large-scale Real Estate Development Project industries. We are currently engaged with over 8,000 LGBT/Allied businesses, professionals, tradespeople, public agency representatives, industry thought leaders and stakeholders from around the world. We have over 100 significant sponsors and our engagement with industry leaders from the West Coast, North America and Global is simply remarkable. We celebrate each new relationship and we look forward to building opportunity within our amazingly diverse industries.
IT'S TIME TO BUILDIT, BUILDIT, BUILDIT!
BuildIT was chosen as our global brand for a multitude of reasons. It is geographically limitless. It ‘speaks to’ our unique place within the design/construction industries to ‘lift all boat equally’ when it comes to LGBT/Allied businesses, professionals, tradespeople and related vendors/material suppliers. While we have many colleagues which we respect and admire – there is no organization like BuildIT anywhere in the world.
There is much work to be done. The world is a rapidly changing marketplace within the built environment. As we have always said – being part of our ever-growing industry association is NOT a spectator sport. We invite you to ‘join us on the filed’ of opportunity when it comes to your entrepreneurial, professional and trade-specific endeavors. We are not perfect but we use every interaction, meeting, event as an opportunity to ‘process improve’ our offerings to our varied and diverse stakeholders.
FOUNDERS
DR. JOEL A. BROWN
Dr. Joel A. Brown is the Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC, a management consulting/coaching company based in San Francisco specializing in cultural intelligence, leadership, and change management. Joel works with leaders to cultivate innovative and adaptive environments where the cultural genius of everyone can be harnessed and leveraged successfully.
RAEWYN BUTCHER
Raewyn is the Executive Vice President of Ghirardelli Associates, a full-service construction management firm, serving public agencies throughout California. Raewyn was critical in establishing the Caltrans Mentor-Protégé (Calmentor) in Fresno/Central Valley, San Luis Obispo/Central Coast and the Bay Area. 20 years ago, Ghirardelli Associates was launched by Alice Ghirardelli, who was one of the first women Resident Engineers in California’s transportation industry.
NICK COLINA
Nick Colina is on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Minority Contractors - Northern California Chapter and a founder of the San Francisco Latino Black Economic Recovery Task Force. He has been featured for his work at Chase Center Stadium of the year 2020. Nick has been an integral part of Anco’s award of Fastest Growing Privately owned Businesses for 2019 & 2020. Nick has donated countless hours to LBE/ MBE requirements in contracting.
CHARISSA FRANK
Charissa is President/Co-Owner of FMG + Company. With over 25 years of A/E/C experience, her focus is in transportation, aviation and civic markets. During her tenure as President for the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), San Francisco Bay Area Chapter they launched the pilot leadership program with experienced trainers from the Stanford Business School.
DEBI HERTZ
Debi Hertz, DBIA, CCM is a Senior Project Manager with Gilbane Building Company and brings 28 years of leadership experience in both construction management and general contracting in California. Her breadth of project experience includes major civic, healthcare, education, commercial and retail markets. Debi was one of the driving forces in establishing Gilbane’s PRIDE Employee Resource Group and serves as the Western Chapter Lead for the group.
CHRIS HORTON
Chris is the COVID-19 Disaster Relief Specialist and Chair of the Loan Default Prevention Collaborative at Nor-Cal FDC. The Nor-Cal FDC is licensed and chartered by the State of California for the operation, delivery and servicing of the State of California Small Business Loan Guaranty Program (SBLGP).
RICK HOBBS SEELEY
Rick is the Co-Founder of AB1678 which opened up the procurement pipelines for LGBT firms with California-based utilities. He retired from Southern California Gas Company in 2016 as the Director of Procurement and Supplier Diversity. In this capacity, he managed over 150 employees and the utility’s annual spend of over $1 billion annually. He is a consultant based in Palm Springs.
GWEN KAPLAN
Gwen is the CEO of Ace Mailing, a third-generation business based in San Francisco which specializes in working with General Contractors involved in infrastructure projects, data acquisition and software program development. Gwen has been named California’s Small Business of the Year by the CSBA.
J. P. VILLAMIZAR
Juan-Pablo (J.P.) Villamizar has nearly 30 years of experience in leading complex and global businesses, portfolio management, and growth strategies across multiple industries including transportation, infrastructure, utilities and oil and gas markets. As Senior Vice President for Hill’s California operations, J.P. is responsible for overall client satisfaction, long-term strategic development, key client relationships, short- and long-term business opportunity identification, and engagement in market trends throughout the region. He has a broad professional background in consultancy, portfolio management and strategy as well as overseeing operations and functional groups.
BIANCA JOHNSON
After spending six years as Marketing Manager at Turner Construction, Bianca now serves as the Community & Citizenship Director for Northern California. With the social complexities and micro-communities throughout California, Bianca’s tenure in the community enables Turner to advance these challenges and bring rewarding experiences to underrepresented business enterprises - Minority, Women, Disabled, Veteran and LGBTQ. A highly collaborative and innovative communicator, Bianca hopes to spread awareness of opportunities through active storytelling and strategic marketing.
VICTOR M. MARQUEZ
Victor M. Marquez is a partner in the San Francisco office. His practice focuses on real estate transactions, land use and zoning laws, real estate, business and general commercial litigation, state and local government relations, and community outreach specialization in the context of land development and redevelopment for both private companies and nonprofit organizations and programs.
PAUL PENDERGAST
Paul is a Co-Founder of AB1678 and the CEO of PCG, a nationally recognized/award winning Public Affairs Firm which specializes in managing economic development programs for mega-construction projects throughout California. He is a member of the California Small Business Roundtable and PCG’s operations are based on Treasure Island in San Francisco.
MIQUEL "MICK" PENN
Mick Penn works for Swinerton as the Northern California Regional Community Relations Liaison where he spearheads their workforce development, small, diverse, veteran business outreach and community engagement in Northern California. Mr. Penn currently serves on the board of directors of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council, Cypress Mandela Training Center, Mission Hiring Hall, Construction Industry Education Foundation Board of Trustees, and the City of Richmond Workforce Development Board.
DAVID PERRY
David is founder/CEO of David Perry & Associates, Inc., with offices in San Francisco and Palm Springs and a leader in the fields of communications, promotion, social media and crisis management. DP&A, Inc.'s clients include George Lucas/Skywalker Properties, Kilroy Realty, Hathaway-Dinwiddie, The America’s Cup and the Super Bowl 50 to name a few. David managed communication efforts for the $1Billion+ Lucas Museum currently under construction in Los Angeles.
LUIS ROBLES
Luis is the CEO of AerialZeus which is an Engineering Consulting Company headquartered in Sacramento that provides engineering solutions via Remote Sensing Technology from Drones, Manned Aircraft and Satellites. AerialZeus’ solutions have been deployed within the Construction, Environmental & Power industries for the inspection and monitoring of infrastructure for nearly ten years.
DANIEL SOUZA
Daniel is a REALTOR® specializing in San Francisco residential properties. Prior to his real estate career, Daniel served as a principal planner and project manager advancing community development projects and infrastructure programs across California and the United States. Daniel lives in San Francisco and received his Bachelor's in Urban Planning at University of California, San Diego.
MARCY SZARAMA
Marcy Szarama is President of Destination Enterprises, Inc. (DE). DE is a Los Angeles based firm providing construction and project management, claims and litigation support professional services to the public and private sector throughout California. Szarama is a trailblazer in the Construction Management space, beginning in the “trenches” as one of the first female Resident Engineers on the Metro Red Line subway in Los Angeles prior to launching DE.
PETER TATEISHI
In January of 2018, Peter became CEO of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of California where he is responsible for bringing to life the mission of the organization which believes the construction industry is vital to the success of California. Through its members, AGC actively creates opportunities to build and strengthen the state by shaping policy, improving industry relationships, and developing the construction workforce.
ANDREW YOSHIMURA
As CEO of Logic, Andrew Yoshimura champions the energy/utilities, transportation, and various other sectors with a focus on providing top-tier program/project management and operations management consulting services. His role extends to the community where he is a Founder of BuildOUT California and serves on various boards. Andrew's career is marked by a drive to merge business leadership with societal impact, aiming to set new standards in both consulting and the industries he serves.
OSCAR ZAVALETA
Oscar is the President of the Montez Group and has over 20 years of professional quality management experience working on a variety of projects in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Well versed with bid-build, CM/GC, and Design-Build delivery methods Oscar has a strong background in Heavy Civil, Aviation, Rail, and Train Control Systems - Signal and Communications.
FOUNDERS EMERITUS
STEVE ADAMS
ELENA ANAYA
