GSI BUILDERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Leader
- President
- President, GSI Builders, Inc.
The GSI Builders core group has had over 25 years of successful experience in the affordable housing market. Alex, Lina, Steve, Christa Griffiths, and Joe Abbett have collectively been responsible for numerous past affordable housing projects and have worked with many non-profit CDCs over the years. Having worked in the affordable housing market, we are very familiar with all funding and application requirements including OHCS, Prosper Portland, Home Forward, Portland Clean Energy Fund and the Oregon Multifamily Energy Program. A representative list of past projects completed in the Portland metropolitan area include the following;
Alex is an emerging leader in the local construction industry. He is a third-generation commercial contractor and has had the benefit of being exposed to the construction industry his entire life, possessing over 15 years of direct experience in the field. Alex is the principal owner of GSI Builders.
As President of GSI Builders, Inc., Alex relies on a leadership-by-example approach that includes integrity, high standards and a strong work ethic. He has a proven ability to communicate with diverse clients and business cultures to secure trust, understanding and confidence in delivering successful projects. The execution of quality projects is the primary focus of GSI Builders. With a committed group of highly accomplished professionals who, are prepared to go to work to deliver high quality projects on time and within budget, GSI Builders is proud to have them on the Team.
Performance and knowledge of commercial construction principles and practices are the strong suite and base of GSI Builders. Together, with his father and business partner, Stephen C. Seabold, they have a combined experience of over 40 years in the local construction industry. Individually, they each have a proven track record in the Portland area and surrounding markets of trustworthy performance in the field. Alex's Mother and business partner, Lina Garcia Seabold, also brings experience as well as a perspective unique to the Latino/a and BIPOC community and is a valued member of our Team. Lina has maintained a high profile in the Latino/a community in Oregon for years and is a respected Leader. With Alex at its helm, GSI Builders will continue to build on those valuable relationships in the Latino/a, BIPOC and OMWESB community.
Job Titles:
- Contracts Manager
- Contracts / Project
As Contracts Manager Christa Griffiths oversees projects from inception to occupancy, ensuring all work is completed on time and within budget. Christa works on a wide variety of projects, from office developments to senior housing, schools, tenant improvements, and retail. She is just as comfortable working on a single scheme as working on several ones.
Christa is the first point of contact for all clients, subcontractors, and site managers, for the duration of the contract. Christa brings her experience and education to the execution and oversight of all contracts with a keen eye for monitoring project budgets, scheduling, and overall project integration of Owner and Contractor activities. She helps to resolve disputes and identify areas for improvement in GSI's contracting processes.
Christa Griffiths comes to GSI Builders with 25 years of varied construction experiences. Rising through the construction ranks from purchasing, estimating, accounting, contracts, field engineer, and project manager; Christa's strength lies in her flexibility to manage multiple projects, as well as multiple tasks. She has worked with Steve and Alex previously for 12 years.
Education
2010 Project Management Certification PSU
OSHA 30Hour, Safety
LEED Green Associate
AAS Science Construction Management
Christa also is committed to community activities including time as school board member and chair, neighborhood committee member, HSBA handicap ramp building, and food pantry volunteer.
Job Titles:
- Construction Manager
- Builders' Construction Manager
Joe is currently GSI Builders' Construction Manager with oversight of all Field Operations. Joe is a self-motivated individual with a knack for solving difficult project related issues. Utilizing over 35 years of experience in the construction industry, Joe meets with building owners and tenants to discuss build-out specifications and improvements. He mediates between landlords and tenants to find workable solutions that appeal to both parties. Joe has also assisted in the renovation and construction of a HUD 811 project.
Joe is a deadline-driven Construction Superintendent who oversees construction projects and acts as a link between various project parties. He leads and manages the onsite construction team and oversee all work onsite. Joe maintains orderliness on site, as well as ensure compliance with safety regulations are followed. Joe ensures quality standards are met, and all equipment and materials are always available onsite. Joe serves as liaison with inspection authorities regarding approvals.
Job Titles:
- Manager / Executive Assistant, GSI Builders, Inc.
Kiki oversees all executive functions for GSI Builders. She is focused on aligning external and internal priorities in achieving organizational results. She assist s executive staff in Marketing, Human Relations (HR), Contract Administration, Contractor Outreach and internal project systems management.
Job Titles:
- Owner
- Secretary
- Owner, GSI Builders, Inc.
Lina Garcia Seabold brings over 30 years' experience in the construction industry in both the public and private sectors. Her experience in the construction industry was acquired through contract management, contract administration, small business advocacy and human relations training, all of which helped her gain real world knowledge and expertise needed to facilitate transformative change in professional lives, businesses, and organizational culture change initiatives.
Among her leadership roles, Lina's experience includes work on two design/construction phases of the Tri-Met Light rail Projects (Eastside and Westside) where she administered the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. In this capacity, she worked with national construction companies bidding on large and small scale federally funded construction projects working toward meeting specific diversity goals. This effort led to record-breaking heights of participation and support for small businesses especially minority and women-owned businesses who had historically been underserved. She identified and developed contracting, mentorship and workforce development efforts for local construction industry companies in the Pacific NW.
Lina went on to work on legislation for the State of Oregon's First Minority Business Advocate in the Governor's Office and served in that initial role. In this position, she oversaw the certification process for Minority, Women and Emerging Small Businesses and advocated for those businesses by bringing them together with key procurement representatives at Federal, State and local levels. Lina has a passion for bringing diverse voices to the table to realize common goals and has dedicated much of her professional career to the goals of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.
In terms of the private sector, Lina is part owner of GarciaSeabold Investments, LLC, which has managed several Senior Housing facilities that provide independent, assisted and memory care services to Seniors in the Western Region: Washington Gardens in Oregon, Canyon Valley Memory care and Hacienda Crossings Assisted Living and Memory Care both in Arizona.
In her role at GSI Builders, Lina, who is 100 percent bilingual in Spanish and English, is involved in the executive day to day management of the company overseeing outreach and marketing, human resources, finance, COVID-19 health and safety issues, contract administration, OMWESB minority contracting/workforce plans and general administration. Lina recognizes that GSI Builders has faced many of the same challenges experienced by MWESB contractors and recognizes that collective success to improve the inequities that exist, goes beyond percentages.
One of Lina's greatest professional joys has been serving on the Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation Board where she currently serves as the incoming Board Chair. Lina received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon in 1974 and her family was one of the First Founding Families of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. Much of the groundwork was done in the 1970's and what began as a small clinic serving the local farmworker community all from a 3-car garage in Cornelius, Oregon, Virginia Garcia Health Clinic is now a 17-site Clinic providing culturally specific services to 52,000 low- income individuals in 62 languages. Lina maintains a high profile in the Latino community in Oregon and Arizona and she and Steve continue to actively support several Latino organizations in the local community. Lina has served on the Boards of numerous Latino non-profit organizations and has been recognized as a Leader by many of those organizations. Currently, Lina sits on the LatinoBuilt Board which advocates for Latino Contractors in Oregon and the EngAGE Board which deals with Seniors and building communities for all ages through the creative arts. Lina also sits on the Hispanic Women's Corporation Board (HWC) a national organization that sponsors a one-day conference designed to empower Latinas of all ages and in various professional fields.
Lina believes that arts build emotional resilience and coping skills and strengthens our sense of identity and community. Lina is a huge supporter of the Arts and is a practicing plein-aire painter. She Chaired the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) and was responsible for the adoption of the Agency's First Equity Plan. She also spearheaded the art gift exchange of "Hermano Mago," an iron sculpture housed in the lobby of Portland5 Centers for the Arts. This piece of art was donated (and transported) to the City of Portland by its Sister City of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
She remains committed to staying healthy by practicing Pilates. She loves to travel and explore towns, villages, old colonial haciendas and world heritage sites throughout Mexico and Espana. What Lina enjoys most is spending time outdoors at the Oregon Coast with her rapidly expanding family of 4 Grandsons: Cameron, Elliott, Mateo, and Jaden. Lina celebrates Diversity every day!
Paul is Senior Project Estimator at GSI Builders and handles all project estimates and bidding.
Paul's primary focus is bidding private and public projects, including the accurate and comprehensive process of bid preparations, submittal and follow up. Paul has a wide range of talent and works well with teams in all fields of construction management. Paul gladly welcomes challenges in which he and his team can produce completed projects that will set a tone and precedent for future endeavors.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Project Manager
Scott Pilcher comes to GSI with a very diverse career background having got back into construction 14 years ago. Most recently working as a concrete estimator for a large GC that was building the Portland Airport's new Parking Garage. He has worked in several different Industries from Systems furniture to Network and Telcom systems.
Education
Bachelor of Science Business Management, Oregon State University
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice - President / Secretary, GSI Builders, Inc.
In the Fall of 2018 Steve, Lina and their son Alex made the decision to create a new commercial construction company, GSI Builders, Inc. GSI Builders derives its beginnings from the family investment entity, GarciaSeabold Investments, LLC. which is Alex's mother, Lina's maiden name Garcia and Seabold. Steve is Vice President and is primarily responsible for marketing and job development and serves as General Managing Partner for GSI Builders.
Prior to the Fall of 2018 Steve and his wife Lina traveled to numerous places both near and far. They also had the opportunity to spend quality time with their three grandsons, Cameron, Elliott, and Mateo.
In the Fall of 2015 Steve retired from Seabold Construction Co. Inc. Steve founded Seabold Construction Co., with his father in 1984. As acting President of the company, Steve oversaw its growth for over 30 years as it became recognized as a very successful and reputable mid-sized construction company in the Northwest. Steve's experience included commercial, industrial, retail, renovation, multi-family, and senior housing projects. During his tenure as President, Steve managed all phases of the construction business including marketing, project development, project management, estimating, scheduling, project closeouts and the warranty period. During the last 10 years of Steve's tenure, the company saw significant emphasis on senior housing projects including construction, development, and ownership.
Prior to founding Seabold Construction Co. Inc. Steve began his construction career in 1973 as a laborer with Moran Construction Co. He steadily advanced within the company and became Vice President of the Pacific Northwest Division of Moran. Steve was directly responsible for the development, administration, and project management of many large commercial projects in the Portland area including Freightliner E-Wing Corporate Headquarters, 3 Freightliner distribution facilities in Reno, Chicago and Atlanta, and first-generation tenant improvements in the 200 Market building.