Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, Caleigh Raymer never envisioned a career in construction. Yet, after nearly 20 years in the industry, this unexpected path has led to a distinguished and commendable career.
Raymer attended North Carolina State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Environmental Engineering. “I thought I wanted to go into environmental science and work as a broadcast meteorologist,” says Raymer. “Fortunately, I realized pretty quickly that that wasn’t the path for me, so I started looking at careers in engineering and landed my first construction job as a project engineer.”
During Raymer’s first week on the job, she was introduced to the complicated and fast-paced world of competitively bidding on a project. It was then that she realized construction was the industry for her.
“I fell in love with the industry, particularly the bidding process,” says Raymer. “The combination of math, engineering, negotiation and people skills required for a career in construction really drew me in. Within my first month on the job, I enrolled in graduate school to set myself up for long-term success in the industry.”
As she built the early foundation of her career, Raymer earned a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of South Florida and a PhD in Structural Engineering from Florida International University.
Today, Raymer serves as the Director of Preconstruction and Estimating for PCL’s California offices, overseeing the preconstruction and estimating departments and ensuring they have the resources and training to be successful and win work. She specializes in planning and managing highly complex, large-scale projects in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County.
Since joining PCL in 2023, Raymer has embraced the culture that exemplifies the company.
“Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work with various contractors, both as a colleague and on the client side,” says Raymer. “PCL stands out with its exceptional culture of trust.”
Raymer credits PCL’s supportive environment and ownership mindset for creating a welcoming and collaborative workplace, all while driving innovation across the industry.
“I've often heard that there are people you enjoy working with but wouldn't spend time with outside of work, and vice versa,” says Raymer. “PCL has managed to strike the perfect balance, fostering genuine friendships and a strong sense of community. Additionally, PCL is committed to advancing the industry with high standards for excellence and innovation. I'm proud to be part of a company that is actively addressing the challenges facing the construction industry.”
It is this approach that Raymer believes also makes PCL the best advocate for clients. With an extensive database compiled from building across North America for over 100 years, PCL is not only an expert builder but also an expert planner.
“In addition to building projects, our teams at PCL can serve as valuable advisors for designing, maintaining and operating them,” says Raymer. “That sets us apart from a lot of other general contractors.”
Raymer’s reputation as an outstanding construction professional has been exemplified through numerous awards. Additionally, she is dedicated to the advancement of women in the construction industry and sponsors a scholarship program for women in engineering at a local high school.
Awards:
- 2024 Los Angeles Times Commercial Real Estate Professionals Visionary Award
- 2022 Globe St. Top 50 under 40 in Commercial Real Estate
- 2021 ENR Top 20 Under 40 in the US
- 2021 ENR Top 20 under 40 in the California Region
- 2021 Commercial Observer Breakthrough Award
- 2021 Los Angeles Business Journal Outstanding Women in Design and Construction