Leadership

In addition to project involvement and corporate responsibilities, Ms. Velez is a staunch advocate for diversity in procurement and employment. In that capacity she co-chaired a seminar on Women Entrepreneurship for the New York State Assembly, the New York Construction News, Bronx Life, The Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, El Diario La Prensa and Hispanic Business. ENR and Crain’s New York Business have published interviews with Ms. Velez. She was interviewed by ABC television’s “Tiempo” show as an industry leader, and has appeared on NY1 on several occasions, most recently on NY1’s “Inside City Hall” to discuss the importance of effective NYS policies and budget.

Ms. Velez serves as Co-Chair of the NYC Mentorship Advisory Board, is a member of the diversity advisory boards for the NYS Department of Transportation, NYC Small Business Services, NYC School Construction Authority and NYC Department of Environmental Protection. She also chairs the Latino Builders Council and serves on the Board(s) of the Association of Minority Enterprises of NY, ACE Mentor NY, the NY Building Congress and the Women Builders Council. She is on the Board of Trustees of Boricua College. On the international front, Ms. Velez is Co-Chair of Iran 180 – an organization that advocates for human rights and the end of the threat of nuclear arms proliferation in Iran.

Ms. Velez was honored by the Professional Women in Construction at their “Meet the Construction Chiefs” event, was a panelist at ENR’s “Groundbreaking Women in Construction” event, and has participated in many discussions on the significance of diversity in the workplace alongside such distinguished panelists as the Rev. Al Sharpton. In April 2013, she was invited to the White House for a “Women in Transportation” Roundtable Forum with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Senior Advisors to President Obama. A recognized advocate and spokesperson on diversity and construction industry issues, Ms. Velez was the keynote speaker at the launch of the Global Women’s Network for Skanska – one of the top ten construction and engineering firms in the world, and was a panelist at the Women Construction Owners and Executives 2013 “Women Build America” National Conference in Washington D.C. Among her most memorable experiences in 2013 was participating in the ringing of the NASDAQ closing bell with the U.S. Hispanic Advocacy Association, and traveling to Israel on a JCRC-NY peace and education mission with other community leaders from New York.