Priscilla Chavez
39, Business Development Manager
PCL Construction Services Inc.
Glendale, Calif.

Chavez began her career in the legal industry almost two decades ago and was looking for a new opportunity when she took a job with a small woman-owned consultant based in Los Angeles. The firm specialized in community affairs and intergovernmental relations but also focused on helping small businesses access public procurement opportunities.

“I had no idea that even existed,” she says. “I really got to see the intersection of both outreach, advocacy connection, relationships and equitable access to contracts.”

After a decade building her experience and widening her network of contacts, she made the move to PCL Construction. Prior to that she was “like an orbiting stakeholder to construction,” but moving to the contractor has offered the opportunity to work within the industry itself.

Chavez was tasked to build an outward-looking economic development program focused on supplier diversity, workforce development and community investment. Drawing from her background in economic development, she created a holistic “pursuit excellence” process at PCL that prioritizes building positive and impactful relationships across stakeholder communities.

Her success led her to transition into business development where she has spurred investment of more than $1 billion into small, local and diverse businesses through contracting participation.

To fully understand the complexity of the projects, the needs of stakeholders and opportunities for PCL meant learning the ins and outs of the industry. She estimates that two-thirds of her time on the job was spent on jobsites to grasp the scale of what was involved.

“I’ve never felt the pressure of having to understand construction from nuts to bolts,” Chavez says of the experience. “My job is to be resourceful.”

By better understanding complexities of projects and of resources PCL has to meet the challenges put her in a position to focus on connecting that team with opportunities. The results speak for themselves.

Chavez led economic development programming on infrastructure projects such as the Tom Bradley West Gates at Los Angeles International Airport and its Consolidated Rental Car Facility, as well as the Bank of Montreal soccer stadium. Since 2019, she has managed market sectors for PCL’s Los Angeles operations. She now works on the Los Angeles Convention Center modernization—the largest publicly procured project in city history ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Chavez has also been active in industry groups. She has been president of the the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Los Angeles chapter and a director of Women Business Enterprise Council-West. On one level, the involvement is practical to help develop the network she relies on for business development. On another, Chavez is aware that encouraging the success of under-represented businesses is good for the wider health of the industry.

“It’s about giving back,” she explains. “It’s about trying to build up the communities where we live, work and play, and that includes for myself as well.”

Looking forward, Chavez says she plans to keep an eye on excellence while seeking out new opportunities to develop her skills. She has considered broadening the reach of her business development work for PCL as well as expanding it regionally.

“At the end of the day, I just want to be excellent,” she says. “I’m not afraid of being thrown into a role that I might have to figure out … I’m very conscious that if I’m just excellent in the work now, that could open a future door for me.”