�۽�ֱ��

Relentless Ally

Transforming Projects through Technology

With over 21 years of experience in the design and construction industry, Elizabeth Angel is known as something of a technology wizard. In her role as director of BIM/VDC at Howard S. Wright (HSW), a �۽�ֱ�� company, Elizabeth focuses on implementing technologies that make projects located throughout the Pacific Northwest more safe, lean and efficient.

Her expertise using the latest technologies such as 3D modeling, and Procore, coupled with her strong network within the AEC community, places her at the forefront of her field. Elizabeth’s passion for technology ensures we are building to last, but her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) ensures we are also building new futures along the way.

Humble Beginnings

The sixth of seven children, Elizabeth grew up in San Ysidro, California where she and her brother spent countless hours in the back yard designing and creating structures of all shapes and sizes. She may not have realized it then, but it was during these early years that she honed her natural-born talent as an engineer. One of Elizabeth’s driving motivators has always been making her family proud—her maternal grandfather endured many hardships moving the family from Mexico in the 1960s, and her father, an engineer without a formal education, was the sole breadwinner for her large family.

Through her family’s support and guidance, Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She joined her six other siblings who all earned college degrees and are now part of her family’s legacy as first-generation college graduates.

“I came from very humble beginnings,” says Elizabeth. “I’m grateful for the help I received when I was growing up; now it’s my time to pay it back. My biggest focus is not to be a bottleneck but an enabler. I’m determined to do whatever it takes to generate results and make it happen.”

Collaborating for Success

For Elizabeth, “making it happen” means thoroughly testing new technologies to ensure they improve the work of the teammates she supports. Working with her technology counterparts across the U.S., Elizabeth is dedicated to finding tools that make the job easier, not harder.

When she tests a new tool, Elizabeth and her team seek out opportunities to pilot it before rolling it out broadly. After 12 years with HSW, project teams trust that any tool Elizabeth introduces will increase efficiency and improve client experience.

Elizabeth isn’t always the driving force behind new technologies; just as her teams trust her, she trusts them to tell her what tools will be most useful on their projects. This type of collaboration is a hallmark of her work.

“New technology can be intimidating for a lot of people,” Elizabeth explains. “Working together ensures that everyone feels that it is learnable, shareable and tangible. And, above all, that it will improve the quality of our projects.”

Embracing Diverse Perspectives

In addition to leveraging technology to improve the quality of projects, Elizabeth is also helping diversify our pool of trade partners to bring new perspectives onboard. She is co-championing DE&I in Seattle by hosting in which representatives from small, minority and women-owned businesses and enterprises (SMWBEs) can learn about upcoming partnership opportunities and get to know the HSW team.

“The Diverse Partnership Engagement meetings are dynamic and meaningful opportunities,” says Elizabeth. “We want to raise awareness about upcoming bids, but more than that, we want diverse businesses to know we are proactively advocating for their success.”

Internally, Elizabeth is the current co-chair of the Northwest chapter of Somos, the company’s employee affinity group representing our Hispanic/Latin@ teammates, as well as a member of Connecting Women, our employee affinity group supporting the advancement of women in construction. Through her involvement with these groups, Elizabeth is advancing �۽�ֱ��’s goal of creating a workplace that is more diverse, equitable and inclusive of a wide range of talents and perspectives.

Whether she is introducing new technology, hosting diverse partners engagement meetings, supporting teams for successful projects or celebrating the accomplishments of her peers, Elizabeth puts her all in everything she does. She is passionate about all aspects of the business and a true ally for clients and co-workers alike—her last name says it all!