When Camilo Renteria launched Bravo Construction Group, a service-disabled veteran and minority-owned construction firm, he had about $500 in the company’s bank account. Today, the firm manages millions of dollars in construction projects and continues to grow year over year. 

“The biggest change is that Bravo has established real credibility in the Indianapolis construction market,” said Camilo. “We’re now being invited to interview and compete for projects with established contractors that have been around much longer than we have.” 

Camilo attributes part of that success to the education he gained in UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s Construction Management Certificate Program, which he enrolled in to expand his skill set and help scale his business. 

“The company has grown significantly since I completed the certificate program,” said Camilo. “I feel like we’re just getting started.” 

Building a Reputation in Healthcare Construction 

At Bravo Construction Group, health care has become a major part of the company’s work. Bravo recently completed the renovation of interventional radiology suites for Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis. 

“Working inside an active healthcare environment and coordinating complex construction around hospital operations is exactly the type of work I wanted Bravo to eventually be trusted to perform,” said Camilo. 

Bravo Construction Group has completed several other health care, commercial and logistics projects that have helped build its reputation. While the company has grown exponentially in the last two years, Camilo said the bigger story is how much it has matured during the time. 

“We’re building a real team now, adding project management and field leadership, improving our systems and becoming much more selective about the work we pursue,” he said. “My focus has shifted from simply finding enough work to keep the company moving to figuring out how to build Bravo into a sustainable regional contractor.” 

Turning Education Into a Business Advantage 

Camilo, whose background includes more than a decade of military service in the Air Force, didn’t come from a traditional construction background. He turned to the Construction Management Certificate Program to fill gaps in his knowledge and build a stronger foundation for running his construction company. He said he now uses what he learned in the program regularly. 

“The technical knowledge around estimating, scheduling, contracts, risk and project management has been extremely valuable,” said Camilo. “But something I didn’t fully appreciate when I started the program was the credibility that the UC Davis name would carry.” 

According to Camilo, his UC Davis education stands out when interviewing for projects. 

“As the owner of a relatively young construction company, that credibility matters,” he said. 

Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation 

Beyond building Bravo Construction Group, Camilo is committed to creating opportunities for others, particularly in the construction industry. 

As president of the Construction Industry Education Foundation Indiana, he works with high school students through programs such as Design Build and Trades Day to introduce them to careers in construction. He’s also a dedicated leader and advocate for veterans and the Latino community, actively recruiting veterans and mentoring Latino professionals through his service with the Association of Latino Professionals for America. 

“I want Bravo to be a company where someone with leadership ability and work ethic can learn construction management and build a career,” he said. “Our responsibility is bigger than just hiring people. We need to help create the next generation of people who want to be in this industry.” 

Building Bravo for the Long Term 

Camilo sees disciplined growth in the company’s future and said Bravo is on track to grow significantly again as it prepares to enter its third year. His long-term vision is for Bravo Construction Group to become a recognized regional general contractor and construction manager, particularly in health care, commercial and institutional construction. 

“The goal isn’t just revenue,” he said. “I want to build the team, systems and leadership structure that allow us to take on larger and more complex projects without losing what made us successful in the first place.” 

Looking back, Camilo said “it’s pretty wild” to see how much the company has grown in the past two years. 

“UC Davis was part of that journey,” he said. “I’m proud to have it as part of my story.”