Where Are They Now? Catching up with Mentorship Program Graduates

When Luis Pilo joined Robins & Morton in 2015, he was a carpenter. Now, he’s an assistant superintendent. Yessenia Alvelo rejoined the team in 2013 as an administrative assistant, and today, she’s an assistant project manager.

What do these two have in common? They both jumped at the opportunity to participate in the Robins & Morton mentorship programs.

This National Mentoring Month, both Pilo and Alvelo’s stories showcase how mentorship can transform careers and shape futures.

Assistant Superintendent Luis Pilo

After discovering a love for the construction industry while in architecture school at Miami Dade College, Pilo decided to pursue a career at Robins & Morton as a finish carpenter.

With his enthusiasm and dedication to the Robins & Morton Way, Pilo quickly became a standout team member. At the first project he worked on, Baptist Health South Florida’s Miami Cancer Institute, he often willingly went above and beyond his responsibilities as a carpenter.

As he grew in his role, his commitment to continuous improvement prompted him to look for ways to expand his capabilities and experience.

“I wanted more,” Pilo said. “I enjoyed management and administration responsibilities, and I wanted to see what was out there.”

Through conversations with his team members, he discovered the Rocky McMichen Field Leadership Program, which provides a pathway for career progression for craft professionals who wish to move into management positions, and with encouragement from Senior Superintendent Ryan Monaghan, Pilo applied for the program.

In 2021, with Monaghan as his mentor, Pilo embarked on a 15-month journey of growth and connection.

“I got to travel, see other projects, meet other team members, share experiences, and learn the different ways people do things on their jobsites,” Pilo said. “The hands-on, experiential trainings were especially helpful.”

Not only did the Rocky McMichen Field Leadership Program give Pilo new skills, but it also gave him the confidence he needed to advance in his career.

“Ryan pushed me to do more,” Pilo said. “The program gave me more confidence in my technical and administrative knowledge, which gave me the confidence to take on a bigger role.”

Since graduating from the program in 2022, Pilo certainly has taken on increased responsibilities as assistant superintendent at the UHealth Tower expansion project in Miami, Florida.

Having seen the benefits of mentorship firsthand, Pilo encourages other team members to explore similar opportunities to gain knowledge, discover career options, and network.

“I liked everything about the program, from the instructors to the experiences,” Pilo said. “I’d encourage others to discover the possibilities that are out there for them.”

Assistant Project Manager Yessenia Alvelo

Yessenia Alvelo was first introduced to Robins & Morton in 2005 when she was working at an electrical company. About a year later, she became part of the team.

Alvelo worked in administrative roles on many of projects, and as she learned about the company and the role of a general contractor, she decided she wanted more.

“Learning about how everything worked intrigued me,” Alvelo said. “When my kids got older and graduated, I decided I wanted to learn more and gain more responsibilities.”

One day at an Admin Summit, Alvelo stepped up to the microphone with an idea. She envisioned a mentorship program like the Rocky McMicken Field Leadership Program but for administrative team members who wanted to learn more about the field.

In 2020, she became one of three women in the first cohort of the Barbara Wilson Mentorship Program.

Though she had already begun helping in the field before the program, the formal mentorship structure — led by Project Director Leif Helms and Senior Superintendent Noah Johnston — gave her the opportunity to expand her knowledge with more in-depth experience.

“I didn’t think I knew that much about the field, but my mentor, Leif Helms, always told me, ‘You know more than you give yourself credit for,’” Alvelo said. “Once I dove into the program, I realized that I was taking what I already knew from the office and linking it to how it works in the field.”

Throughout the program, she also developed a strong relationship with her mentor and learned how to handle the pressures of the field.

“It was definitely a challenge,” Alvelo said. “But it was a challenge I was willing to take.”

Alvelo successfully graduated from the Barbara Wilson Mentorship Program in 2022 and received a promotion to field engineer. Two years later, in October 2024, she received another promotion to assistant project manager and is now working at our UHealth at SoLé Mia ambulatory care center project.

“The Barbara Wilson Mentorship Program helped me grow in my career from an administrative position to a field engineer and now to my role today,” Alvelo said. “I would encourage others to consider the program, if you’re willing to take a challenge. Don’t think twice about it. Your mentors will help you along the way.”