Announcing Nontraditional Employment for Women’s New Ambassador Council Co-Chairs
We are thrilled to share that Laura Bush, Regional Director – NYC Metro, NJ/PA at Consigli Construction Co., Inc., and Raquel Diaz, Vice President and New York City Business Leader at Gilbane Building Company, are stepping in as the new Co-Chairs of NEW’s Ambassador Council.
Both Laura and Raquel have been longtime advocates for equity, mentorship, and opportunity in construction. They bring years of experience and a shared passion for helping women build strong, lasting careers in the trades—a mission that is at the heart of everything we do at NEW.
Laura Bush – Regional Director, NYC Metro, NJ/PA, Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
Laura Bush is the Regional Director – NYC Metro & NJ/PA for Consigli Construction Co., Inc., a leading construction manager in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Caribbean. She brings nearly 30 years of industry experience to her leadership role at Consigli, where she focuses on the firm’s regional growth, as well as manages day-to-day operations and develops the firm’s people and teams. Her specialized expertise in project planning, quality assurance and operational excellence has contributed to her proven track record of success delivering high-profile projects for academic, commercial, hospitality and residential clients throughout the region.
Consistently recognized for her achievement and contributions to the construction community, Laura has twice been named to the City & State New York’s Construction Power List. She has also been recognized by Construction Dive as a Construction Champion and most recently, by the New York Chapter of the Professional Women in Construction (PWC) as their annual Trailblazer Honoree. Additionally, she received the Torch Foundation’s Professional of the Year award, which recognizes an AEC industry leader who has made a measurable difference in the lives of young people through mentorship, education, or leadership programming.
Laura is a committed advocate for the growth and advancement of women and minority communities in the construction workforce and is an active member of several local nonprofits and industry organizations, including both the New York and New Jersey chapters of PWC. She currently serves on the Foundation Board of Governors for the New York Building Congress and on the Board of Directors for the Salvadori Center, which provides STEAM programming to local K-12 students.
Previously, she served on the Board of the Women Builder's Council in New York City, is a past Chapter President of the Greater New York and Long Island Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and was a founding Co-Chair of the Ambassador Council for NEW.
Laura received her start in the industry through a high school internship, which exposed her to construction and the trades. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Manchester University in England, Laura’s first job was in the field as a superintendent.
She met her husband, Andrew, while working on her first construction project in Manhattan. They live in New Jersey with their daughters, Alexis and Liza.
Raquel Diaz – Vice President and New York City Business Leader, Gilbane Building Company
Raquel Diaz leads Gilbane Building Company’s New York City operations as Vice President and Business Leader, setting the strategic vision, expanding market presence, and driving operational excellence. With over 19 years in the NYC construction industry, Raquel has delivered more than $2.8 billion and 4 million square feet of complex projects across public and private sectors.
Since joining Gilbane in 2019, Raquel has been instrumental in growing the firm’s public sector portfolio, securing and delivering work for clients such as NYC Department of Design and Construction, NYC Economic Development Corporation, NYC Health + Hospitals, New York Public Library, Hudson River Park Trust, NYC School Construction Authority, and State University Construction Fund.
Her career spans diverse operational roles, including MEP project manager, superintendent, estimating/purchasing engineer, senior project manager, project director, and project executive. Prior to Gilbane, Raquel led major projects for institutions such as NYU Langone Health, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Alexandria Center for Life Sciences, New York University, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
A passionate advocate for professional development and inclusion, Raquel serves on the board of Professional Women in Construction (NY Chapter) and is the national executive sponsor for Gilbane’s HOL@ (Hispanics Organizing Leaders at Gilbane) Employee Resource Group. She also supports organizations such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, NEW, and Gilbane’s Rising Contractor program.
Her leadership and community impact have earned numerous accolades, including the Hispanic Corporate Leadership Award from The National Hispanic Business Group, recognition as a Notable Woman by Crain’s New York, and designation as a Corporate Champion for Diversity by the Women Builders Council in 2023.
Raquel holds a Bachelor of Engineering from The City College of New York and certifications as an Associate Design-Build Professional and Healthcare Constructor. Known for her people-first approach and operational expertise, she is dedicated to building a more inclusive and innovative future for New York City.
