One out of every five workers in the U.S. workforce is Hispanic or Latinx, yet they only fill around 4% of leadership positions. Carlos Acosta, a project engineer in PCL’s Minnesota office, is working to change that by building a community of support and raising money through a beloved worldwide sport — fútbol (soccer in the United States).

Acosta’s construction story began long before he immigrated to the United States in 2008 from Bogotá, Colombia. Growing up, he watched his father build a successful career as a civil engineer and, at one point, Acosta even considered moving back to South America to take over his father’s company. However, he decided to stay in the United States, continue his studies in Minnesota, and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. Now, as a member of the board of directors for LatinoLEAD, a network-based leadership non-profit organization, Acosta is giving back and helping Latinxs in Minnesota have opportunities for success.

“LatinoLEAD helps inspire Latinos to aim for executive levels of leadership in their companies and provides resources and support to help them get there,” says Acosta. “I have a passion for helping my community and want to make a change by creating a culture where Latinos can be recognized for their hard work and talent as any other person can.”  

In a recent fundraising effort for community health and wellness resources for Latinxs in the Twin Cities area, LatinoLEAD held its inaugural fútbol tournament.

“I had to come up with a team and knew right away who I wanted to reach out to at PCL,” says Acosta. “Felipe Munoz [superintendent] and Mark Carpenter [scheduling manager] were immediately on board, ready to support a movement that I was passionate about.”

LatinoLEAD unites Latinx leaders across Minnesota to collaborate and create valuable, equitable resources to aid the professional development of the state’s Latinx community. The organization frequently holds events aimed at fundraising and helping Latinxs across Minnesota network with professionals.

Munoz, who became involved with LatinoLEAD earlier this year, says joining the team was a no-brainer.

“This is a worthy organization for PCL to be involved in the long term, especially with the growth of the Hispanic community in Minnesota,” says Munoz. “LatinoLEAD truly invests in individual development to strengthen people, helping our community to better influence and grow our impact for positive change.”

The single-elimination tournament was hosted by 12 teams led by LatinoLEAD board members. The PCL team finished in second place and raised $1,000 for the organization. As a reward for finishing second, the PCL team was invited to attend a Minnesota United Football Club match at Allianz Field.

“We are proud of our employees and their passion for improving the community as we constantly strive to build a better future for everyone,” says Trent Johnson, who leads PCL’s Minneapolis office as district manager. “The Latinx community has made an undeniable mark on the construction industry, and we’re proud to support Carlos, Felipe and Mark in their efforts to help develop the next generation of leaders.” 

In addition to his work with LatinoLEAD, Acosta also visits his former college’s career fairs to inspire students to look for construction leadership opportunities and keep PCL in mind after graduation.

“I don’t do this work alone. I have seen tremendous support from all levels at PCL, everyone from the district managers to the marketing and safety teams,” Acosta says. “They show up and rally for our community and the causes that are important to PCL employees. That’s what makes change, and that’s what’s going to bring more diversity into leadership.”