
Mauro Rosales
Relentless Ally
La Familia es Todo
When Florida Project Manager Mauro Rosales first came to the U.S. in 2011, family meant everything. In a very real sense, family was all he had.
For the sake of his family’s safety and Mauro’s own career potential, his parents, Mauricio Rosales and Valbi Rangel, made the difficult decision to leave successful professional careers in Caracas, Venezuela and immigrate to the Doral suburb of Miami, Florida. The three spoke little to no English at the time but quickly began learning, navigating school and jobs to make ends meet along the way.
In the 13 years since, Mauro has taken his parents’ gifts – of opportunity, of unconditional support, of strong values – and run with them, creating a successful career as a construction professional. At every step, Mauro’s parents and remaining family in Venezuela have naturally remained his foundation, but one reinforced by his found and created families throughout school and into his career. And rather than focus his success and project management gifts inward, Mauro is now giving back as the team leader for Balfour Beatty’s 2024 Bridges to Prosperity team, leading the charge to build a footbridge in rural Rwanda that will connect communities to education, water and food year-round.
Leaving Everything Behind
Mauro was 16 when his family resettled in Doral. While still a young age, and young enough to quickly adapt to a new culture, new language and new way of life, 16 is still old enough that leaving everything behind was a profound and lasting loss. Nothing was as difficult as the family who stayed. Mauro’s great-grandmother Angela had lived with his family his entire life, but at the age of 101 was unable to follow them to Florida.
“All of my friends, all of my family, my entire life was back in Venezuela, and that was very difficult to leave behind,” Mauro recalls. “Still, Venezuela was and still is going through a very hard political and economic situation, and I know deep inside that it was the best decision to give my family better opportunities.”
While his immediate family was a crucial system during the initial challenges of relocation, Mauro says that a newfound family – fellow students at Ronald Reagan Doral Senior High School in a large community of Venezuelan immigrants – helped create a new sense of community and a shared vision for brighter futures.
“I found good people with stories similar to mine, and they’re still my best friends today,” Mauro says. “We supported each other through school, through jobs and through the entire process of adapting to a new place and culture.”
Connecting with Construction
Mauro worked as a restaurant waiter through the remainder of school, and when considering higher education and career paths after high school, family again shaped the direction of his life. Mauro intended to pursue a civil engineering degree and an architectural career, but his uncle Ernesto Rangel, an engineer back in Venezuela sagely advised a slight change of course: with Mauro’s natural relationship-building skills, a field career might suit him better. His uncle was absolutely right
“I continued studying engineering and design, but my uncle’s wisdom and my first internship made me reconsider,” Mauro recalls. “Working in the field, I still got to experience the aspects of design I most enjoyed, but I also got to have a better feel for the environment, build bridges between people and solutions and coordinate complex problems. I knew this was my path.”
Throughout university, Mauro’s family, both born and found, remained his touchstone. Both at Miami Dade College and later at the University of Florida, Mauro found large communities of Hispanic and Latin American students who understood and valued his roots and shared his drive to excel in construction.
His layers of support systems, including a roommate and classmate with a similar background, translated into a successful educational career and he soon landed his first construction job with Balfour Beatty, recruited as a project engineer and mentored by Project Executive Tom Stedem. Even better, his roommate joined him.
Mauro has since followed Tom to several successful Florida projects, created his own successes and now serves as an Assistant Project Manager on the Broward County Convention Center and Hotel project in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Giving Back
When Mauro first heard of Balfour Beatty’s partnership with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), he was instantly drawn to the mission and intended to apply for the team as soon as he was eligible. He didn’t, but regretted it immediately when the same roommate was selected for the 2022 B2P team. From that point, Mauro knew that his participation in B2P wasn’t a question of “if” but “when.”
“Bridges to Prosperity is a great opportunity for me to contribute to something real, lasting and life-changing for many families,” Mauro says. “I grew up relatively fortunate in Venezuela, but the conditions for rural Rwandans are not unlike situations I remember from back home, so I understand how this could impact the lives of people who need it most.”
As leader of our 2024 B2P team, Mauro is faced with a difficult task: coordinating a team of ten from every corner of Balfour Beatty’s US operations (yet another found family), spurring each teammate on to contribute to a successful and safe accelerated two-week bridge build. Despite the monumental logistical effort of the task at hand, Mauro’s focus, as ever, is on the people involved – both the families being served and the team traveling to serve.
“I feel strongly that B2P is not just an opportunity to provide critical infrastructure for a community in need, but also for our team to learn,” Mauro says. “My hope is that our team seizes the opportunity to open our eyes, minds and hearts, to understand the privileges we take for granted in the U.S. and to catch a glimpse of what really matters in a community with much less.”
Mauro and the B2P team depart for Rwanda on November 7. Balfour Beatty teammates, clients, trade partners and friends and family are invited to support their effort and to follow their journey before, during and after the bridge build.
La Familia es Todo
Throughout his education, career and now effort to selflessly give back, Mauro has never lost sight of the importance of family. Mauricio and Valbi still live in Doral, and though the two-hour round trip is substantial, he makes the drive as often as possible to visit and honor the family and community that provided for him, raised him and set him up to make a difference in the world from Florida all the way to Rwanda.
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Billy Webb
General Manager, Total Power Group
Relentless Ally since 2024
William “Billy” Webb serves as general manager for Total Power Group (TPG) and oversees the manufacturing facility in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He leads business development and operations delivering traction power projects in major cities across the country as well as customized energy solutions with a high-level of flexibility and value to TPG customers.
With over 35 years of experience in the power generation and electrical field, Billy joined TPG in 2024. TPG consistently works in tandem with Balfour Beatty’s rail division providing custom-designed traction power substations for the Caltrain Electrification project and Los Angeles World Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) project.
His career began by proudly serving his country in the U.S. Navy as an Electrician’s Mate Petty Officer Second Class aboard the USS Thomas C. Hart. In his personal time, Billy enjoys golfing, cooking and woodworking as well as motorcycle rides with his wife, Jami. He is passionate about raising awareness for and participating in events that support the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society.
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Carter Gulacy
Relentless Ally
Making Her Mark on Portland
When Superintendent Carter Gulacy isn’t working on impressive projects like The Springs, the Hoxton Hotel, the Portland Building, Broadway Tower or our very own Portland office, she is committed to guiding the next generation of construction professionals. How does she know the importance of mentorship? Because that’s what ignited her interest in construction.
Growing up working on the family ranch, Carter’s work ethic was no secret. She knew she wanted to pursue a career working with her hands and creating something, but she – like many teenagers – wasn’t sure what other opportunities existed.
When an acquaintance who worked in the construction industry mentioned they believed Carter had the skills to be successful, she kept his number for more than a year before finally reaching out. With his guidance and personal reference, Carter successfully jumpstarted her career.
Accomplished Field Leader
Today, no job is too big, too small or too challenging for Carter. Her impressive portfolio spans diverse market sectors from hospitality and commercial high-rises to mixed-use developments, special projects and beyond. This experience has honed Carter’s skillsets working on both core and shell structures and interiors, making her an even more well-rounded leader in the field.
In the process of helping transform Portland’s skyline, Carter has also become a cornerstone of our recruitment and retention efforts in the Northwest. Her passionate advocacy for the next generation of construction professionals, specifically tradespeople, has positively impacted our ability to attract and retain skilled workers, addressing a critical, industry-wide challenge.
“I began in the field and always want to be an outlet for who may be struggling on a job and not sure who to talk to about it,” she says.
Apprenticeship Advocacy
Carter is actively involved with two pre-apprenticeship programs offered by the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute (PNCI). Pre-apprenticeship programs help those starting out gain skills and experience as well as enhance their credentials and networks that are needed to begin a career.
The first, Portland Youth Builders, is a program that helps guide and educate young adults who are interested in working in the trades. During six- to eight-week programs, Carter (as well as other superintendents, project managers, project engineers and specialized tradespeople, such as masons and ironworkers) interview the young professionals and answer questions, explain roles within the industry and guide them to a field that suits their skillsets and passions.
The second is a Carpenters Pre-Apprenticeship Program for high school students interested in carpentry. This program has the same interview process, but provides students experience through summer internships, helping pave the way for their entry into the industry upon graduation.
Over the years, Carter has also mentored and supported numerous young professionals, all of whom have successfully secured employment within the local contractor community. Her commitment doesn't end with job placement; Carter maintains ongoing relationships with her mentees, continually leveraging her network to connect them with new opportunities in the industry.
Mentoring Close to Home
Turning her sights closer to home, Carter has also taken a leading role in strengthening the local Howard S. Wright “Foreman Four” training program. This initiative brings together laborers, carpenters and general foremen in monthly sessions to develop crucial skills such as communication, adaptability and leadership.
Carter is actively working to expand the program by incorporating a mentorship component, ensuring that foremen receive ongoing professional development support as they advance in their careers.
Carter's influence extends far beyond the projects she builds. Her dedication to sharing skills and supporting colleagues ensures that that influence will continue to shape our projects and our people for years to come.
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