Gilbane Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Employee Spotlight of Cleveland’s Operations Excellence Manager, Leo Torres

One way that Gilbane Building Company is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is by highlighting the incredible contributions of its diverse workforce – both on the job and in the community.

Cleveland, Ohio – October 17, 2023 – Leonardo (Leo) Torres, originally from Venezuela, moved to the United States in 2011 to study English in Boston for a year.  He returned home to Venezuela before moving to Greater Cleveland to continue his college education.

Leo earned a bachelor’s degree in education (Mathematics) from the Universidad de Carabobo, an associate’s degree in science from Lakeland Community College (LCC), and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Cleveland State University (CSU).

While  studying at LCC, Leo met a civil engineer with Gilbane, who was working on a project at the college. That encounter led to Leo joining Gilbane as an intern in 2016 and working on the Health Technologies building at LCC.  After graduating from CSU in 2019, he began with Gilbane full-time as a project engineer, working on major projects, including The Lumen at Playhouse Square.

Today, Leo is an Operations Excellence Manager and teaches construction management and engineering classes at LCC two days a week during the fall and spring semesters. He also serves as the national chairperson for HOL@, Gilbane’s Hispanic-focused employee resource group, which helps him advance his goal of making Gilbane the most Hispanic-friendly company in the construction industry.

Under Leo’s leadership, HOL@ is advancing its mission as a trusted resource for Hispanic employees, promoting Hispanic culture and awareness and supporting efforts to ensure that Latinos and Hispanics find paths to leadership and professional opportunity.

This mission is reflected in Gilbane’s Hispanic Heritage Month activities, including free Spanish lessons for employees, a new professional development series and a mentorship program for Hispanic employees, and access to conversations and resources that highlight the history and diversity of Hispanic heritage.

When asked to reflect on his time at Gilbane and what motivates him, Leo points to the family-like culture and the supportive nature of the Gilbane team. He points to the fact that senior leaders attend community activities and events hosted by HOL@.  He shared the story of Gilbane’s support during the time when his father was gravely ill and Leo had to take time off of work. The message he received was that his well-being and the well-being of his family came first.

In Leo’s own words: “It’s knowing that they have your back. That they’ll be there for you and help you learn and grow. That they’ll show up for you and for our community. That’s why I work for Gilbane.”