For Ryan Abbott, Senior Vice President at Sundt Construction, diversity begins by cultivating leadership that reflects the communities you serve.
“We had a unique opportunity in our El Paso office to develop local talent that reflects the demographic of the community,” said Ryan. “By investing in our El Paso employee-owners, we have created pathways for leadership roles, cultivating a culture of diversity and inclusion at Sundt.”
Yazmin Trueba, who is now a Lead Estimator for Sundt’s Building Group in El Paso, is a prime example of a leader who understands the needs of her community and strives to help others prosper.
Originally from Ciudad Juárez, Yazmin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture before earning her master’s degree in construction management at UTEP. Joseph Riccillo, El Paso director for Sundt’s Building Group, hired Yazmin as his first employee. She’s the longest standing Building Group employee and quickly rose through the ranks.
“Yazmin is an incredible example of a local Sundt employee-owner who has excelled at every stage. With her skill and talent, our goal was to create a pathway for Yazmin to assume a leadership role at Sundt,” said Joseph.
From starting off as a field engineer to her current role as a lead estimator, Yazmin strives to reorient the way people view women in the profession, especially Latinas in construction, who account for only 5% of the industry.
“Growing up, construction was my passion; I even helped my dad design and construct an addition to our house,” Yazmin says. “However, as a Latina in the industry, having a career in construction has come with its own set of challenges. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point and hope that the next generation of young women knows they can do anything and should follow their passions.”
Senior Project Manager Rudy Elias is the longest-tenured employee in Sundt’s El Paso office. He has spent more than 12 years working on projects in the area, including several on the Fort Bliss military base and two high-profile transportation projects.
Rudy worked as the Go-10 Collector-Distributor Lanes project manager, which recently won Sundt’s 25th Build America Award for Best Highway Project through the Associated General Contractors of America. Now a senior project manager, he leads the massive I-10 Connect project to smooth traffic flow between the TxDOT loop systems.
“I think it’s important to have diverse leadership because it shows our employees that there is opportunity to excel and succeed. It takes hard work and dedication – but it’s attainable,” Rudy says. “There is a brighter future and more opportunity if you are willing to work hard for it.”
Everyday Sundt’s team works diligently to provide the absolute best for the community they love.
“We are not only in the business of constructing physical structures and spaces; we believe our most important job is laying the foundation for communities to grow and thrive,” added Ryan. “When we are inclusive and intentional, we achieve success.”