Fortis Construction makes appointments to board of directors

Fortis Construction Inc., a Portland, Oregon-based general contractor, has appointed two additional members to its board of directors: Michele Leiva and Briston Blair.

With offices in Oregon and Utah, Fortis and its team of more than 600 employees have performed projects in multiple U.S. states and across the globe, specializing in the data center, science and technology, commercial, healthcare and education markets.

The addition of Leiva and Blair to the board aims to support the company’s growth and regional expansion, Fortis says. Both new members bring a wealth of construction industry experience and have extensive backgrounds in guiding companies through long-term expansion.

“Both Michele and Briston bring different and unique perspectives that will help Fortis grow in the right way while staying true to our purpose and culture,” Fortis CEO Rob Fallow says. “Their expertise will help guide some of our largest strategic decisions to date and provide valuable insight as we expand our footprint. We are also proud that Michele will be our first female board member as we continue to focus on bringing a variety of voices and talents into our company and into the construction industry.”

Leiva has been a leader in the construction industry for more than 40 years, with roles at Rudolph & Sletten, of Menlo Park, California, and DPR Construction, of Redwood City, California, prior to her retirement. As an early employee at DPR Construction, she played a role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and growth trajectory, serving as chief financial officer.

“I’ve been impressed by the strength of leadership and the shared commitment to people, company values and quality of work I’ve seen at Fortis,” Leiva says. “I look forward to offering my support as Fortis continues to build its company and grow its impact in the construction industry and with the clients and communities it serves.”

Blair is an operations and technology executive with more than two decades of experience across the construction, engineering and industrial services sectors. He currently serves as senior vice president of innovation and strategy at Comfort Systems USA, a provider of mechanical, electrical and modular MEP (or mechanical, electrical and plumbing) systems headquartered in Houston. Blair has experience working with construction trade partners.

“Fortis has earned a reputation for excellence through its people and culture,” Blair says. “I’m excited to join Fortis Construction’s board at such a pivotal time in the industry, where innovation, partnership and disciplined execution will define the next generation of high-performance builders.”