June 3, 2026 • 39 mins
In this episode of NABWIC Talks, host Alicia Nurse interviews Tiffany Pratt, founder and CEO of Breeze Construction and Houston area leader for NABWIC. Tiffany shares her unconventional journey from finance to construction, the work her MWDBE-certified company does in concrete, infrastructure, and environmental services, and her dedication to workforce inclusion and second-chance employment.
The conversation also covers navigating government contracting, balancing motherhood and leadership (including parenting a hard-of-hearing child), and the legacy Tiffany aims to leave by creating access and opportunity for underserved communities. Plus, learn about NABWIC’s presence at the Build Expo and how women can get involved and supported in construction.
Tiffany Pratts, Founder & CEO of Breeze Construction
- Area Leader of NABWIC Houston Chapter
- “Changing the face of construction.”
- Innovation, Workforce Development and long-term community investment
Contact: breezeconstructiontx.com
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Episode Transcript
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to the world.
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Good morning. You're listening to NABWIC, the National Association of Black Women in
Construction Blog Talk radio show founded to increase the national awareness of black
women in the construction industry. NABWIC is the charge and takes the charge for black
women in construction. Our mission as a core foundation is to strengthen the building blocks
of new educational, entrepreneurial, professional, and social network connections. The vision
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of NABWIC is to build long-lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations
and individuals that will provide groundbreaking and innovative solutions for black women in
construction and their respective communities. We invite you to call or text or email families,
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show, just tap the call-in button or microphone icon to request to join the conversation with
questions or comments. Enjoy today's show.
Good morning and welcome to another exciting episode of NABWIC Talks, the voice of black
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women in construction, where opportunity meets access and connections build success.
I'm your co-host, Jackie Perry, and we're delighted you've chosen to spend a few moments
with us today. Before we begin, I'd like to recognize the incredible women who helped
make this platform possible. A special shout out to our visionary founder, Anne McNeil,
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whose commitment to creating opportunities for black women in construction continues
to inspire us all. I'd also like to acknowledge my fellow NABWIC Talks hosts, Odedra Williams
and Alicia Nurse, who bring their unique perspectives, energy, and expertise to every conversation.
Today's episode features a phenomenal guest, Tiffany Pratt, whose story, experience, and
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insights are sure to inform, inspire, and empower. You won't want to miss this conversation.
And speaking of powerful conversations, today's host is none other than Alicia Nurse. Born
in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Long Island, New York, Nurse has built an extraordinary
global career in hospitality, customer experience, and brand strategy. From becoming one of Marriott's
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youngest assistant general managers to leading major initiatives with Deloitte across more
than 70 countries, she has spent her career helping organizations elevate performance
and strengthen their brands. Today, she brings that same passion, excellence, and global
perspective to NABWIC Talks, helping us spotlight the leaders, innovators, and changemakers
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shaping the future of construction and business. So sit back, lean in, and get ready for another
great conversation. Nurse, the mic is yours.
You're listening to NABWIC Talks. We are the podcast with the voice of black women in construction.
Welcome to NABWIC Talks. I'm your host, Alicia Nurse. And today we have a guest who is doing
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something truly remarkable. She's not just building structures, she's building communities
and changing the very face of construction one project at a time. She's a native of Oakland,
California, a finance and business scholar and the founder and CEO of Breeze Construction,
a construction and waste management company serving clients across Texas. She's also the
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area leader of our very own NABWIC Houston area, a passionate advocate for workforce
inclusion, second chance employment, and a devoted mother who leads with purpose every
single day. Please welcome the absolutely phenomenal Tiffany Pratt. So Tiffany, welcome
to the show this morning.
Oh, thank you so much for having me.
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You're more than welcome. I'm excited to talk to you. You were definitely referred by Mia
Ferguson. Go figure. Mia's fabulous. She refers a lot of people, which I thank her every day
for.
She's like so on it all the time. I'm like looking at her and her level of energy with
Indie. Like, I don't know how she does it.
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Yeah, same here. Same here. Between her, Miss Anne, Jackie, those who I coordinate with
every day. I said, how are you guys always on 100? I don't know. But they are. They are
and they're doing it. So good people to look up to. So I love that.
For sure.
But I thank you for being here. So I want to dive in a little bit and get to know a
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little bit about you. So I always start off with just tell people a little bit about who
you are. We know you're from Oakland, California. Right. But give us a little bit about
your background.
Yes, so I, I was born and raised in the Bay Area in California. I'm from Oakland and I
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am a mother of two and a business owner who started in finance and landed in the field
of construction.
Very big gap right there. Very big gap from finance to construction. How did that journey
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start? So I know you started doing your finance at Xavier University of Louisiana, and
then you continue your journey to doing an MBA at Tulane University. Is that correct?
That is correct. So I, I always say that my, my path to construction was unconventional.
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But it's always very intentional. So I, I left Oakland to go to college in New Orleans. So I
studied finance at HBCU, Xavier University, like you mentioned. And then I continued on to
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start my MBA at Tulane, where I decided early on that being in finance every day was not the
path for me.
Okay. Okay. And what made you figure that out? So for me, when I think about finance, when I think
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about numbers, I immediately go into anxiety mode. Automatically. Yeah. So to do that every
day. Yes. I can only imagine, right?
Yeah. So definitely anxiety, definitely a lot of responsibility. I've always been a numbers girl.
I'm still a numbers girl. I really enjoy numbers. What I don't like is confinement. And so the
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idea of sitting in front of a computer 80 hours a week and crunching numbers was nerve wracking to
me. I was like, Oh yeah, this is not gonna work. Like I like to go outside. I like the sun. I like
to touch grass. I'm not gonna be able to do this. So it has served a great purpose for me. It's
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really created a great foundation for where I am today. So I would not have changed my path. Finance
really taught me how to analyze risk and how to understand systems and really think long term. But
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entrepreneurship has really taught me resilience. So when I moved into construction and into waste
management, I realized early on that there was a correlation between finance and business and running a
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construction company.
Okay. And so you took that, I don't even want to say clue, but you took that as a need, a basis, and saying,
Hey, I could actually do something with this because I have a finance background. I'm into, I'm finding
this interest now in construction, waste management. And now you figured out a way how to put those two
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together to actually run your own business, which is Breeze Construction.
Absolutely.
Hmm. I love that. I love that. So like both my sister and my mom are both finance and I am not, I'm more of the
operations mind. And so I would then say, Hey, I need you guys to, to tell me what the risks are, analyze the
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budget, let me know if I could move forward or not move forward. And, and you use your, you know what your
weaknesses and you know what your strengths are, right? And you're saying that you're a numbers person and you
use your strength to now start a business within the Breeze Construction field and waste management, within
the construction field and waste management field. I love that. I really love that. That's awesome.
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Yeah.
That is awesome.
Yeah.
That's awesome. Okay. And you've been widely recognized for changing the face of construction.
That is like a very powerful statement. So as a founder of a MWDBE certified construction and waste
management company specializing in concrete, masonry, infrastructure support, roadway maintenance, and
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environmental remediation, what does it mean to you personally to show up every day in spaces where women
and minorities are still so underrepresented?
Whoa. So for me, changing the face of construction is not just about visibility. It's about access and
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ownership and leadership. So every day I walk into spaces where women, especially Black women, are still
very underrepresented in leadership, in contracting, in infrastructure development. So I understand that
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my presence alone challenges outdated ideas about who belong in this industry. But I realized early
on that representation without impact is just simply not enough. So I really take pride in showing up.
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Like I show up authentically as a Black woman. I show up unapologetically as a mother and a business
owner in an industry that's traditionally dominated by men. So for me, I want young women and minority
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entrepreneurs to really see someone who looks like them operating confidently in boardrooms, on these
job sites, at these industry expos, and in government contracting spaces. So at Breeze Construction,
we're not just trying to win contracts. We're trying to really create visibility and economic
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opportunity and long-term sustainability for underserved communities. So that means a few things.
That means hiring inclusively. That means creating these workforce opportunities and proving that
excellence and diversity absolutely belong together. They absolutely go hand in hand in construction.
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And you're making that way with trying to find, even like with government contracting work.
Do you do a lot of government contracting work as well?
Yes. You do? Okay. So I figured that within the government contracting, it's definitely
a game changer because breaking into that, it's very hard. It's very challenging, especially
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as a minority and especially as women-owned businesses. Because I remembered when I was
working, when I was doing government contracting for about four years and we were working with
contractors because we were with FEMA and helping families who lost their homes during
the hurricanes that we had here in North Carolina and South Carolina. And we had to find contractors
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who were willing to help because now they're going into those neighborhoods where it was low income,
and we figured that we had to more reach out to those that looked like them to help within the
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contracting realm. And we saw such a great feedback and assistance with that because we had to make
sure that they were trained against government policies and regulations, the laws, the grants
that are being passed that change constantly. And I was like, this is crazy. And I navigated
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that for four years. The thing about that, it's extra challenging when you're talking about a
crisis, right? Because not only are these people that you guys are working for and trying to help
rebuild, but typically they're not dealing with contractors every day, right? That's not something
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that you do. People don't really build houses. They don't have multiple houses. And then they're
in distress and they lost so much, if not everything. And so then to have to navigate
that. So you have so many different dynamics when doing that on top of the preexisting challenges.
So kudos to you because I can imagine where your temperament had to be to be doing that for four
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years. Oh, yes. It was me and the Lord every morning. I love that. And night. Yes, and night.
Because you realize you come home and you're still like, whoa, this is still going on and my phone is
still ringing. What is happening? Yes. Wake up praying, go to sleep praying. Exactly. And it
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held me for four years. That was it. Yeah, that was it. But what advice would you give to women
in the NAPA community who are trying to navigate and trying to get into government contracting?
Like there are opportunities there for us. What advice would you give to the women in our
community or any tricks or trades you may have? Yeah. So government contracting can absolutely
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change the trajectory of a business. It's not easy, especially as a black woman entrepreneur.
You have a lot of barriers that are related to access and relationships, capital and like simply
just really being taken serious in these rooms. But one thing that I learned quickly is that
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preparation matters. Certifications alone are not enough. You really need systems, you need
relationships, you need persistence and the ability to consistently deliver. And that's where that
prayer that you were talking about comes in, because some days are better than others and
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you're going to wake up and you're going to be depleted or you're not going to have a good day
the day before, you're not going to reach whatever those goals are, you're not going to feel like
doing it. But people are not, when they want a job done, they're unforgiving and the government
has no emotions. They want stuff to be done and they want it to be done how they want it to be
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done with no exceptions. And so you have to really consistently be able to deliver. My advice to
women in the National Association of Black Women in Construction Community would be, do not
disqualify yourself before you start. Start building relationships early, attend industry
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events, learn the language of contracting, invest in your operational infrastructure. And you,
as a person with an operational background, you understand how prevalent that is. And most
importantly, stay visible. There will be moments where you feel underestimated. Do not let that
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stop you. Your expertise, your perspective, your leadership is needed in this industry.
Yes, it is. It is. And the more phenomenal woman we have on our show, like yourself,
telling our community every day, don't dismiss yourself thinking that you won't be able to get
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this and get this contract just because you are Black and telling them every day that they can
is going to make us move even further up the bar than we possibly can. So I appreciate those
sentiments. I really do. And you, as an entrepreneur, you are balancing every day.
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You have been incredibly open about balancing your work as an entrepreneur and motherhood.
And, you know, we just finished Mother's Day, right? So including raising a hard of hearing
child and navigating the unique needs of parenting children with diverse learning and communication
styles, how has motherhood shaped the way you lead? And what do you want other women to know
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about showing up fully as both a mother and a CEO in high-pressure industries?
Yes, yes. I am a mommy. I am a mommy. And I like to say that that's my favorite thing to be,
right? As I wear all these different hats and I juggle all these different roles,
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being a mom is definitely my favorite thing to be. So I enjoy it. So that helped for sure.
Motherhood has completely shaped the way that I lead. So raising children with different learning
and communication needs, including my son, who, as you mentioned, is hard of hearing,
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has really taught me patience and adaptability and empathy and advocacy at a level that I
probably would not have developed otherwise. As a mother, you learn how to problem solve
under pressure, right? Like while you're still creating emotional safety and stability for your
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children, you're making decisions, you're navigating somebody else's life, right? And
ironically, those same skills translate directly into leadership and entrepreneurship. So,
you know, I really want for women to know that it is possible to be both nurturing and powerful.
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You do not have to separate motherhood from leadership. I remember being in corporate
America and being at work and almost feeling bashful about being a mother and being hesitant
to mention that I had kids because I didn't want for anyone to think that that would be a
disadvantage for me at some point down the line. And I learned that in many ways, motherhood
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strengthens your leadership capacity. There are definitely difficult days,
balancing business and construction operations and travel and parenting and advocacy.
But I also believe that our children benefit from seeing us pursue with courage and, you know,
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really pursuing purpose and putting our best foot forward and trying. And so for me,
I want for my children and for other women watching to really understand that ambition
and motherhood can absolutely coexist. You do not have to shrink yourself to fit into high
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pressure industries. You can lead with compassion and strength and excellence at the same time.
You sure can. And I see phenomenal women doing that every day who are mothers. I'm not a mother.
That was not the path I chose, but I feel like I am a mother anyway, because, you know,
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I did leave corporate America, but, you know, having a staff of 123 under me, I'm just like,
okay, y'all are in my office.
Right. I automatically felt like a mother. So I was like, okay, all right, well, this, this,
I got it. So let me help. Yes. I get a little taste of this. Yes. I get a little taste of it.
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And then, and then my nieces and nephews, I, I think they think I'm their mother. Cause they're
always coming at me for money, but I'm like, this is what we're doing right now are the best.
Yes. That's what they say. We're here to spoil and I will take that any day over anything,
but it is definitely uplifting to hear that because I look up to my mother who has been
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balancing her career and balancing kids at home as well. So, and it's a lot when you have,
honestly, I think anybody who has more than two kids and if you have four kids,
that's a lot going on in your household, you know, from activity.
They're like, if you have one kid, it's like having one kid. If you have two kids,
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it's like having three kids. And if you have anything more than that, it's like having six
kids. It's like a soccer team. That's exactly what was happening. Cause I was speaking to my
friend today earlier before our call and, you know, she has four kids, but she's like, I had
to take one to swimming, then ballet, then soccer and violin practice. I said, power to you, girl,
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and you work in, I said more power to you. So mothers are very much needed and I could see that
every single day. And they are definitely balancing the workload, definitely balancing
the workload. Yes. And one thing I do want to talk to you about is I read that you, you are very
big into second chances and workforce inclusion. I know that you're passionate about that and you
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believe construction and environment services can truly transform communities and lives.
So what does that look like in the practice of breeze construction? And why do you believe
the construction industry is a unique position to create pathways for people who have been left
behind? Yes. So second chance employment is deeply personal to me because I believe that
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people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity. So at breeze construction,
that means creating pathways for individuals who may have faced incarceration or any type of
hardship or barriers to traditional employment. We focus on giving people meaningful work and
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giving people structure and accountability and really just the ability to provide for themselves
and their families. So my faith has really reinforced the importance of grace and redemption
and creating opportunities for people who simply need someone to believe in them. I do not believe
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that a person's lowest moment should define the rest of their life and construction and
environmental services are uniquely positioned to transform lives because these industries create
tangible opportunities for upward mobility. So a person can learn skills and they can earn
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income and gain certifications and really completely change the direction of their future
through workforce inclusion. So for me, this is bigger than labor. It's about reconciliation. It's
about reducing cycles of poverty and reducing instability and hopelessness by creating access
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to opportunity. I believe that when communities invest in people and when people invest in people
instead of discarding them, entire neighborhoods, entire societies benefit.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And that's an amazing thing that you're doing. And some people don't really think
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about that, the second chances, you know, as soon as they see someone has been incarcerated, they pass
their resume or don't even look at them a second chance, right? Yeah. But being able to give them
that path, that new path where they can now transform their lives and build now stability
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for themselves and their future family to therefore give another chance to somebody else,
it's literally, what is that word that I'm looking for that I'm going blank right now?
It definitely helps perpetuate a great theme of succession, you know, like bringing it down the
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bloodline, you know. Yeah. And times are changing. It's time to reevaluate and rewrite stuff. You
know, we have people in very high positions with backgrounds that historically have gotten a lot
of people written off, right? And so we need to reevaluate that and we need to look and we need
to really assess these rules and these regulations and possibly, you know, make some type of change
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and adjust because we're living in different times. We are. We are definitely living in
different times and I am excited that you are giving people the opportunity for that.
Excited. So we're going to continue talking. I think I have a little bit more questions for you,
but you're listening to NowBreak Talks where Black women in construction build more than
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structures, we build legacies. We'll be right back from this quick commercial break.
Are you ready to build more than projects? Are you ready to build legacy? The National
Association of Black Women in Construction is where women in construction come to grow,
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(28:08):
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Visit NowBreak.org and click join to start your NowBreak journey today
because when women build together, we don't just change skylines, we change futures.
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All right. Welcome back. Welcome back. We are with Tiffany Pratt, the CEO and founder
of Breeze Construction. We are having a great conversation. Tiffany, welcome back to the show.
Thank you.
You're welcome. Now, you are about to be at the Build Expo. You and Mia Ferguson will be
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representing NowBreak at the Build Expo today and tomorrow in Austin, Texas. I believe Miss Anne is
going to be there for you, with you guys as well. One of the most, so the Build Expo is one of the
most significant construction industry events in the region. What are our goals and objectives
for NowBreak's presence at the Build Expo? And what do you hope to accomplish for the organization
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and for the women in construction by attending? Yes. So I am incredibly excited to be
attending and representing NowBreak there alongside Miss Mia Ferguson.
And, you know, our goal is really to increase visibility for women in construction,
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while also creating meaningful connections between women-owned businesses, contractors,
developers, government agencies, and industry leaders. We really want attendees to see that
women, especially Black women, are actively leading in construction and infrastructure
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and business development. We also want to educate women on the opportunities that are available
within the industry, from entrepreneurship to government contracting to workforce development.
And when people connect with us at the Expo, I hope they walk away inspired and informed
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and empowered. We are there to build relationships and to create opportunities
and continue expanding the pipeline for women in and entering construction and related industries.
And most importantly, we want to make sure that women understand that they belong in these spaces.
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Yes, yes, yes. And trust me, you are with two powerful people that's going to make that happen
and make people understand that they belong in those spaces. So I believe you guys are a good
power team there in Austin. I'm jealous I can't be there. I did attend my first one last year
in Charlotte. I am looking forward to ours again this year, but it's definitely a good
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outlet to definitely promote NowBreak, our presence, what we stand for, and then connect
with attendees for future membership. So I'm very excited for that moment with you guys there. And
you guys will be at booth 719, correct? I believe so.
Yeah, 719. Okay. Awesome. Awesome. And good luck with that. Well, to wrap up, Tiffany,
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it was so good talking to you. I have one last question for you, your legacy at Breeze Construction.
Your mission is centered on creating stability, access, and opportunity for youth, families,
and underserved communities through business and workforce inclusion. When you look at everything,
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Breeze Construction, the Houston chapter, your personal platform, what is the legacy you are
working toward? And what do you want the next generation of Black women in construction to know?
Because I believe you built this to leave a legacy. What is that? What does that look like?
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Yes, I love this question. So when I think about legacy, I think beyond construction,
I think beyond buildings and contracts or business success. I think about people.
I think about creating opportunities that make life feel possible for someone else, right?
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Through Breeze Construction, through workforce inclusion, through advocacy, and through my work
with organizations like the National Association of Black Women in Construction, my goal is to help
create more space for women and for Black women to see themselves in industries where
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we have historically been overlooked. I want them to know that they belong in these rooms.
They belong leading companies. They belong building communities. They belong making decisions
that shape our cities and our future. And yeah, I also want people to understand that the journey
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is not always polished. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we take losses. Sometimes we bump our
heads trying to figure life out. And the truth is that some people begin their journey carrying
burdens others never had to carry. Some start with fewer resources, with fewer connections,
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and more obstacles standing in front of them, which is why grace matters so much to me.
I really, yeah, we have to stop being so quick to write people off because of a difficult season
or a misstep. Growth takes time. Healing takes time. Building takes time. And sometimes the
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strongest people are the ones who simply refuse to quit. My faith has really taught me the
importance of delusion, right? It's funny because it's like, oh, you're so delusional, and it's always
been looked at as like this bad thing. And I realized that the ability to believe in something
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greater than your life before you can fully see it, like, you really have to, like, you really
have to have crazy faith, like, to keep showing up, to keep working, to keep believing even when
the outcome is uncertain. Like, sometimes you truly have to delusionally believe your way into
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the very future that you're praying for. And I hope that my legacy reminds people that resilience
matters, that compassion is important, that persistence matters, to keep trying, to keep
learning, to keep growing, keep believing. And if my journey can inspire even one little girl,
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one mother, one Black woman to dream bigger, to move boldly, and to have crazy enough faith to
trust that her life can become something greater than her current circumstances, then I will feel
like I have done meaningful work. I love that. I love that. That sounds amazing. And with the work
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that you're doing, it's definitely going to happen, and people are going to see that through you as a
woman of faith and then through Bree's construction. So I am praying and praying that everything works
out according to his word, right, and his steps, and you're moving in the direction that you
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want to move and are covered by his grace. So I love that. Thank you. You're more than welcome.
So Tiffany, thank you so much for joining us today. Before I close out, is there a website or a
email or a social media tag that you want to leave the community today? Yes, so Bree'sconstruction.com,
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T-X, like Texas, dot com. You can get online, any contact information needed is on there. And then
also let me add that we are actively working to build up the Houston chapter of NABWG. So if
there's anyone that knows anyone that thinks that they know anyone that would be interested in
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joining or want to just get an idea of what we have going on in the Houston area, please reach out.
Great, great. Yes, we are all trying to build up our chapters. So Tiffany is the area leader for
Houston. So definitely please give her a shout. Tiffany, thank you so much for joining us today
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and showing every woman listening that when you lead with purpose, integrity, and a heart
for your community, there's absolutely nothing, absolutely nothing you cannot build. Your story,
your mission, and your passion for creating access and second chances for families
and undeserved communities is the very heartbeat of what NABWG stands for. And we are so incredibly
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proud to have you representing us at the BUILD Expo in August, in Austin, sorry, today and tomorrow.
Make sure you guys connect with Tiffany, Mia, and Cash Miss Anne. They will be at the booth number
719 and show them some love. And do not forget to tune in next Wednesday at 8.30 a.m. right here on
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NABWG Talks. Until next time, keep building, keep breaking barriers, and keep changing the face of
construction. This is the Listeners with NABWG Talks.
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This concludes our show. Thank you for listening to NABWG, the National Association of Black Women
in Construction. For more information about NABWG and our membership, please visit us on the web at
our www.nabwic.org. We're the voice of black women in construction. Have a great and prosperous day.
to the world.
(00:13):
Good morning. You're listening to NABWIC, the National Association of Black Women in
Construction Blog Talk radio show founded to increase the national awareness of black
women in the construction industry. NABWIC is the charge and takes the charge for black
women in construction. Our mission as a core foundation is to strengthen the building blocks
of new educational, entrepreneurial, professional, and social network connections. The vision
(00:36):
of NABWIC is to build long-lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations
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can join us on the internet by logging into nabwictalks.podbean.com. To join our live
(01:01):
show, just tap the call-in button or microphone icon to request to join the conversation with
questions or comments. Enjoy today's show.
Good morning and welcome to another exciting episode of NABWIC Talks, the voice of black
(01:21):
women in construction, where opportunity meets access and connections build success.
I'm your co-host, Jackie Perry, and we're delighted you've chosen to spend a few moments
with us today. Before we begin, I'd like to recognize the incredible women who helped
make this platform possible. A special shout out to our visionary founder, Anne McNeil,
(01:42):
whose commitment to creating opportunities for black women in construction continues
to inspire us all. I'd also like to acknowledge my fellow NABWIC Talks hosts, Odedra Williams
and Alicia Nurse, who bring their unique perspectives, energy, and expertise to every conversation.
Today's episode features a phenomenal guest, Tiffany Pratt, whose story, experience, and
(02:04):
insights are sure to inform, inspire, and empower. You won't want to miss this conversation.
And speaking of powerful conversations, today's host is none other than Alicia Nurse. Born
in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Long Island, New York, Nurse has built an extraordinary
global career in hospitality, customer experience, and brand strategy. From becoming one of Marriott's
(02:26):
youngest assistant general managers to leading major initiatives with Deloitte across more
than 70 countries, she has spent her career helping organizations elevate performance
and strengthen their brands. Today, she brings that same passion, excellence, and global
perspective to NABWIC Talks, helping us spotlight the leaders, innovators, and changemakers
(02:49):
shaping the future of construction and business. So sit back, lean in, and get ready for another
great conversation. Nurse, the mic is yours.
You're listening to NABWIC Talks. We are the podcast with the voice of black women in construction.
Welcome to NABWIC Talks. I'm your host, Alicia Nurse. And today we have a guest who is doing
(03:12):
something truly remarkable. She's not just building structures, she's building communities
and changing the very face of construction one project at a time. She's a native of Oakland,
California, a finance and business scholar and the founder and CEO of Breeze Construction,
a construction and waste management company serving clients across Texas. She's also the
(03:33):
area leader of our very own NABWIC Houston area, a passionate advocate for workforce
inclusion, second chance employment, and a devoted mother who leads with purpose every
single day. Please welcome the absolutely phenomenal Tiffany Pratt. So Tiffany, welcome
to the show this morning.
Oh, thank you so much for having me.
(03:56):
You're more than welcome. I'm excited to talk to you. You were definitely referred by Mia
Ferguson. Go figure. Mia's fabulous. She refers a lot of people, which I thank her every day
for.
She's like so on it all the time. I'm like looking at her and her level of energy with
Indie. Like, I don't know how she does it.
(04:17):
Yeah, same here. Same here. Between her, Miss Anne, Jackie, those who I coordinate with
every day. I said, how are you guys always on 100? I don't know. But they are. They are
and they're doing it. So good people to look up to. So I love that.
For sure.
But I thank you for being here. So I want to dive in a little bit and get to know a
(04:40):
little bit about you. So I always start off with just tell people a little bit about who
you are. We know you're from Oakland, California. Right. But give us a little bit about
your background.
Yes, so I, I was born and raised in the Bay Area in California. I'm from Oakland and I
(05:01):
am a mother of two and a business owner who started in finance and landed in the field
of construction.
Very big gap right there. Very big gap from finance to construction. How did that journey
(05:28):
start? So I know you started doing your finance at Xavier University of Louisiana, and
then you continue your journey to doing an MBA at Tulane University. Is that correct?
That is correct. So I, I always say that my, my path to construction was unconventional.
(05:54):
But it's always very intentional. So I, I left Oakland to go to college in New Orleans. So I
studied finance at HBCU, Xavier University, like you mentioned. And then I continued on to
(06:14):
start my MBA at Tulane, where I decided early on that being in finance every day was not the
path for me.
Okay. Okay. And what made you figure that out? So for me, when I think about finance, when I think
(06:38):
about numbers, I immediately go into anxiety mode. Automatically. Yeah. So to do that every
day. Yes. I can only imagine, right?
Yeah. So definitely anxiety, definitely a lot of responsibility. I've always been a numbers girl.
I'm still a numbers girl. I really enjoy numbers. What I don't like is confinement. And so the
(07:05):
idea of sitting in front of a computer 80 hours a week and crunching numbers was nerve wracking to
me. I was like, Oh yeah, this is not gonna work. Like I like to go outside. I like the sun. I like
to touch grass. I'm not gonna be able to do this. So it has served a great purpose for me. It's
(07:30):
really created a great foundation for where I am today. So I would not have changed my path. Finance
really taught me how to analyze risk and how to understand systems and really think long term. But
(07:52):
entrepreneurship has really taught me resilience. So when I moved into construction and into waste
management, I realized early on that there was a correlation between finance and business and running a
(08:15):
construction company.
Okay. And so you took that, I don't even want to say clue, but you took that as a need, a basis, and saying,
Hey, I could actually do something with this because I have a finance background. I'm into, I'm finding
this interest now in construction, waste management. And now you figured out a way how to put those two
(08:40):
together to actually run your own business, which is Breeze Construction.
Absolutely.
Hmm. I love that. I love that. So like both my sister and my mom are both finance and I am not, I'm more of the
operations mind. And so I would then say, Hey, I need you guys to, to tell me what the risks are, analyze the
(09:05):
budget, let me know if I could move forward or not move forward. And, and you use your, you know what your
weaknesses and you know what your strengths are, right? And you're saying that you're a numbers person and you
use your strength to now start a business within the Breeze Construction field and waste management, within
the construction field and waste management field. I love that. I really love that. That's awesome.
(09:27):
Yeah.
That is awesome.
Yeah.
That's awesome. Okay. And you've been widely recognized for changing the face of construction.
That is like a very powerful statement. So as a founder of a MWDBE certified construction and waste
management company specializing in concrete, masonry, infrastructure support, roadway maintenance, and
(09:49):
environmental remediation, what does it mean to you personally to show up every day in spaces where women
and minorities are still so underrepresented?
Whoa. So for me, changing the face of construction is not just about visibility. It's about access and
(10:18):
ownership and leadership. So every day I walk into spaces where women, especially Black women, are still
very underrepresented in leadership, in contracting, in infrastructure development. So I understand that
(10:41):
my presence alone challenges outdated ideas about who belong in this industry. But I realized early
on that representation without impact is just simply not enough. So I really take pride in showing up.
(11:02):
Like I show up authentically as a Black woman. I show up unapologetically as a mother and a business
owner in an industry that's traditionally dominated by men. So for me, I want young women and minority
(11:24):
entrepreneurs to really see someone who looks like them operating confidently in boardrooms, on these
job sites, at these industry expos, and in government contracting spaces. So at Breeze Construction,
we're not just trying to win contracts. We're trying to really create visibility and economic
(11:52):
opportunity and long-term sustainability for underserved communities. So that means a few things.
That means hiring inclusively. That means creating these workforce opportunities and proving that
excellence and diversity absolutely belong together. They absolutely go hand in hand in construction.
(12:22):
And you're making that way with trying to find, even like with government contracting work.
Do you do a lot of government contracting work as well?
Yes. You do? Okay. So I figured that within the government contracting, it's definitely
a game changer because breaking into that, it's very hard. It's very challenging, especially
(12:45):
as a minority and especially as women-owned businesses. Because I remembered when I was
working, when I was doing government contracting for about four years and we were working with
contractors because we were with FEMA and helping families who lost their homes during
the hurricanes that we had here in North Carolina and South Carolina. And we had to find contractors
(13:10):
who were willing to help because now they're going into those neighborhoods where it was low income,
and we figured that we had to more reach out to those that looked like them to help within the
(13:31):
contracting realm. And we saw such a great feedback and assistance with that because we had to make
sure that they were trained against government policies and regulations, the laws, the grants
that are being passed that change constantly. And I was like, this is crazy. And I navigated
(13:52):
that for four years. The thing about that, it's extra challenging when you're talking about a
crisis, right? Because not only are these people that you guys are working for and trying to help
rebuild, but typically they're not dealing with contractors every day, right? That's not something
(14:14):
that you do. People don't really build houses. They don't have multiple houses. And then they're
in distress and they lost so much, if not everything. And so then to have to navigate
that. So you have so many different dynamics when doing that on top of the preexisting challenges.
So kudos to you because I can imagine where your temperament had to be to be doing that for four
(14:41):
years. Oh, yes. It was me and the Lord every morning. I love that. And night. Yes, and night.
Because you realize you come home and you're still like, whoa, this is still going on and my phone is
still ringing. What is happening? Yes. Wake up praying, go to sleep praying. Exactly. And it
(15:05):
held me for four years. That was it. Yeah, that was it. But what advice would you give to women
in the NAPA community who are trying to navigate and trying to get into government contracting?
Like there are opportunities there for us. What advice would you give to the women in our
community or any tricks or trades you may have? Yeah. So government contracting can absolutely
(15:31):
change the trajectory of a business. It's not easy, especially as a black woman entrepreneur.
You have a lot of barriers that are related to access and relationships, capital and like simply
just really being taken serious in these rooms. But one thing that I learned quickly is that
(15:56):
preparation matters. Certifications alone are not enough. You really need systems, you need
relationships, you need persistence and the ability to consistently deliver. And that's where that
prayer that you were talking about comes in, because some days are better than others and
(16:20):
you're going to wake up and you're going to be depleted or you're not going to have a good day
the day before, you're not going to reach whatever those goals are, you're not going to feel like
doing it. But people are not, when they want a job done, they're unforgiving and the government
has no emotions. They want stuff to be done and they want it to be done how they want it to be
(16:40):
done with no exceptions. And so you have to really consistently be able to deliver. My advice to
women in the National Association of Black Women in Construction Community would be, do not
disqualify yourself before you start. Start building relationships early, attend industry
(17:06):
events, learn the language of contracting, invest in your operational infrastructure. And you,
as a person with an operational background, you understand how prevalent that is. And most
importantly, stay visible. There will be moments where you feel underestimated. Do not let that
(17:34):
stop you. Your expertise, your perspective, your leadership is needed in this industry.
Yes, it is. It is. And the more phenomenal woman we have on our show, like yourself,
telling our community every day, don't dismiss yourself thinking that you won't be able to get
(17:57):
this and get this contract just because you are Black and telling them every day that they can
is going to make us move even further up the bar than we possibly can. So I appreciate those
sentiments. I really do. And you, as an entrepreneur, you are balancing every day.
(18:18):
You have been incredibly open about balancing your work as an entrepreneur and motherhood.
And, you know, we just finished Mother's Day, right? So including raising a hard of hearing
child and navigating the unique needs of parenting children with diverse learning and communication
styles, how has motherhood shaped the way you lead? And what do you want other women to know
(18:42):
about showing up fully as both a mother and a CEO in high-pressure industries?
Yes, yes. I am a mommy. I am a mommy. And I like to say that that's my favorite thing to be,
right? As I wear all these different hats and I juggle all these different roles,
(19:05):
being a mom is definitely my favorite thing to be. So I enjoy it. So that helped for sure.
Motherhood has completely shaped the way that I lead. So raising children with different learning
and communication needs, including my son, who, as you mentioned, is hard of hearing,
(19:30):
has really taught me patience and adaptability and empathy and advocacy at a level that I
probably would not have developed otherwise. As a mother, you learn how to problem solve
under pressure, right? Like while you're still creating emotional safety and stability for your
(19:56):
children, you're making decisions, you're navigating somebody else's life, right? And
ironically, those same skills translate directly into leadership and entrepreneurship. So,
you know, I really want for women to know that it is possible to be both nurturing and powerful.
(20:20):
You do not have to separate motherhood from leadership. I remember being in corporate
America and being at work and almost feeling bashful about being a mother and being hesitant
to mention that I had kids because I didn't want for anyone to think that that would be a
disadvantage for me at some point down the line. And I learned that in many ways, motherhood
(20:46):
strengthens your leadership capacity. There are definitely difficult days,
balancing business and construction operations and travel and parenting and advocacy.
But I also believe that our children benefit from seeing us pursue with courage and, you know,
(21:10):
really pursuing purpose and putting our best foot forward and trying. And so for me,
I want for my children and for other women watching to really understand that ambition
and motherhood can absolutely coexist. You do not have to shrink yourself to fit into high
(21:31):
pressure industries. You can lead with compassion and strength and excellence at the same time.
You sure can. And I see phenomenal women doing that every day who are mothers. I'm not a mother.
That was not the path I chose, but I feel like I am a mother anyway, because, you know,
(21:53):
I did leave corporate America, but, you know, having a staff of 123 under me, I'm just like,
okay, y'all are in my office.
Right. I automatically felt like a mother. So I was like, okay, all right, well, this, this,
I got it. So let me help. Yes. I get a little taste of this. Yes. I get a little taste of it.
(22:15):
And then, and then my nieces and nephews, I, I think they think I'm their mother. Cause they're
always coming at me for money, but I'm like, this is what we're doing right now are the best.
Yes. That's what they say. We're here to spoil and I will take that any day over anything,
but it is definitely uplifting to hear that because I look up to my mother who has been
(22:38):
balancing her career and balancing kids at home as well. So, and it's a lot when you have,
honestly, I think anybody who has more than two kids and if you have four kids,
that's a lot going on in your household, you know, from activity.
They're like, if you have one kid, it's like having one kid. If you have two kids,
(23:01):
it's like having three kids. And if you have anything more than that, it's like having six
kids. It's like a soccer team. That's exactly what was happening. Cause I was speaking to my
friend today earlier before our call and, you know, she has four kids, but she's like, I had
to take one to swimming, then ballet, then soccer and violin practice. I said, power to you, girl,
(23:25):
and you work in, I said more power to you. So mothers are very much needed and I could see that
every single day. And they are definitely balancing the workload, definitely balancing
the workload. Yes. And one thing I do want to talk to you about is I read that you, you are very
big into second chances and workforce inclusion. I know that you're passionate about that and you
(23:51):
believe construction and environment services can truly transform communities and lives.
So what does that look like in the practice of breeze construction? And why do you believe
the construction industry is a unique position to create pathways for people who have been left
behind? Yes. So second chance employment is deeply personal to me because I believe that
(24:19):
people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity. So at breeze construction,
that means creating pathways for individuals who may have faced incarceration or any type of
hardship or barriers to traditional employment. We focus on giving people meaningful work and
(24:41):
giving people structure and accountability and really just the ability to provide for themselves
and their families. So my faith has really reinforced the importance of grace and redemption
and creating opportunities for people who simply need someone to believe in them. I do not believe
(25:07):
that a person's lowest moment should define the rest of their life and construction and
environmental services are uniquely positioned to transform lives because these industries create
tangible opportunities for upward mobility. So a person can learn skills and they can earn
(25:29):
income and gain certifications and really completely change the direction of their future
through workforce inclusion. So for me, this is bigger than labor. It's about reconciliation. It's
about reducing cycles of poverty and reducing instability and hopelessness by creating access
(25:53):
to opportunity. I believe that when communities invest in people and when people invest in people
instead of discarding them, entire neighborhoods, entire societies benefit.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And that's an amazing thing that you're doing. And some people don't really think
(26:15):
about that, the second chances, you know, as soon as they see someone has been incarcerated, they pass
their resume or don't even look at them a second chance, right? Yeah. But being able to give them
that path, that new path where they can now transform their lives and build now stability
(26:35):
for themselves and their future family to therefore give another chance to somebody else,
it's literally, what is that word that I'm looking for that I'm going blank right now?
It definitely helps perpetuate a great theme of succession, you know, like bringing it down the
(26:56):
bloodline, you know. Yeah. And times are changing. It's time to reevaluate and rewrite stuff. You
know, we have people in very high positions with backgrounds that historically have gotten a lot
of people written off, right? And so we need to reevaluate that and we need to look and we need
to really assess these rules and these regulations and possibly, you know, make some type of change
(27:26):
and adjust because we're living in different times. We are. We are definitely living in
different times and I am excited that you are giving people the opportunity for that.
Excited. So we're going to continue talking. I think I have a little bit more questions for you,
but you're listening to NowBreak Talks where Black women in construction build more than
(27:47):
structures, we build legacies. We'll be right back from this quick commercial break.
Are you ready to build more than projects? Are you ready to build legacy? The National
Association of Black Women in Construction is where women in construction come to grow,
lead, and win. Whether you're an entrepreneur, industry professional, or just getting started,
(28:08):
NowBreak connects you to real opportunities, powerful partnerships, and a network that
understands your journey. From business development and contracting opportunities
to leadership training and national exposure, this is where your next level begins. So why wait?
Visit NowBreak.org and click join to start your NowBreak journey today
because when women build together, we don't just change skylines, we change futures.
(28:39):
All right. Welcome back. Welcome back. We are with Tiffany Pratt, the CEO and founder
of Breeze Construction. We are having a great conversation. Tiffany, welcome back to the show.
Thank you.
You're welcome. Now, you are about to be at the Build Expo. You and Mia Ferguson will be
(29:00):
representing NowBreak at the Build Expo today and tomorrow in Austin, Texas. I believe Miss Anne is
going to be there for you, with you guys as well. One of the most, so the Build Expo is one of the
most significant construction industry events in the region. What are our goals and objectives
for NowBreak's presence at the Build Expo? And what do you hope to accomplish for the organization
(29:26):
and for the women in construction by attending? Yes. So I am incredibly excited to be
attending and representing NowBreak there alongside Miss Mia Ferguson.
And, you know, our goal is really to increase visibility for women in construction,
(29:52):
while also creating meaningful connections between women-owned businesses, contractors,
developers, government agencies, and industry leaders. We really want attendees to see that
women, especially Black women, are actively leading in construction and infrastructure
(30:16):
and business development. We also want to educate women on the opportunities that are available
within the industry, from entrepreneurship to government contracting to workforce development.
And when people connect with us at the Expo, I hope they walk away inspired and informed
(30:38):
and empowered. We are there to build relationships and to create opportunities
and continue expanding the pipeline for women in and entering construction and related industries.
And most importantly, we want to make sure that women understand that they belong in these spaces.
(31:00):
Yes, yes, yes. And trust me, you are with two powerful people that's going to make that happen
and make people understand that they belong in those spaces. So I believe you guys are a good
power team there in Austin. I'm jealous I can't be there. I did attend my first one last year
in Charlotte. I am looking forward to ours again this year, but it's definitely a good
(31:25):
outlet to definitely promote NowBreak, our presence, what we stand for, and then connect
with attendees for future membership. So I'm very excited for that moment with you guys there. And
you guys will be at booth 719, correct? I believe so.
Yeah, 719. Okay. Awesome. Awesome. And good luck with that. Well, to wrap up, Tiffany,
(31:48):
it was so good talking to you. I have one last question for you, your legacy at Breeze Construction.
Your mission is centered on creating stability, access, and opportunity for youth, families,
and underserved communities through business and workforce inclusion. When you look at everything,
(32:12):
Breeze Construction, the Houston chapter, your personal platform, what is the legacy you are
working toward? And what do you want the next generation of Black women in construction to know?
Because I believe you built this to leave a legacy. What is that? What does that look like?
(32:33):
Yes, I love this question. So when I think about legacy, I think beyond construction,
I think beyond buildings and contracts or business success. I think about people.
I think about creating opportunities that make life feel possible for someone else, right?
(33:02):
Through Breeze Construction, through workforce inclusion, through advocacy, and through my work
with organizations like the National Association of Black Women in Construction, my goal is to help
create more space for women and for Black women to see themselves in industries where
(33:24):
we have historically been overlooked. I want them to know that they belong in these rooms.
They belong leading companies. They belong building communities. They belong making decisions
that shape our cities and our future. And yeah, I also want people to understand that the journey
(33:48):
is not always polished. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we take losses. Sometimes we bump our
heads trying to figure life out. And the truth is that some people begin their journey carrying
burdens others never had to carry. Some start with fewer resources, with fewer connections,
(34:11):
and more obstacles standing in front of them, which is why grace matters so much to me.
I really, yeah, we have to stop being so quick to write people off because of a difficult season
or a misstep. Growth takes time. Healing takes time. Building takes time. And sometimes the
(34:36):
strongest people are the ones who simply refuse to quit. My faith has really taught me the
importance of delusion, right? It's funny because it's like, oh, you're so delusional, and it's always
been looked at as like this bad thing. And I realized that the ability to believe in something
(34:58):
greater than your life before you can fully see it, like, you really have to, like, you really
have to have crazy faith, like, to keep showing up, to keep working, to keep believing even when
the outcome is uncertain. Like, sometimes you truly have to delusionally believe your way into
(35:23):
the very future that you're praying for. And I hope that my legacy reminds people that resilience
matters, that compassion is important, that persistence matters, to keep trying, to keep
learning, to keep growing, keep believing. And if my journey can inspire even one little girl,
(35:48):
one mother, one Black woman to dream bigger, to move boldly, and to have crazy enough faith to
trust that her life can become something greater than her current circumstances, then I will feel
like I have done meaningful work. I love that. I love that. That sounds amazing. And with the work
(36:17):
that you're doing, it's definitely going to happen, and people are going to see that through you as a
woman of faith and then through Bree's construction. So I am praying and praying that everything works
out according to his word, right, and his steps, and you're moving in the direction that you
(36:38):
want to move and are covered by his grace. So I love that. Thank you. You're more than welcome.
So Tiffany, thank you so much for joining us today. Before I close out, is there a website or a
email or a social media tag that you want to leave the community today? Yes, so Bree'sconstruction.com,
(37:05):
T-X, like Texas, dot com. You can get online, any contact information needed is on there. And then
also let me add that we are actively working to build up the Houston chapter of NABWG. So if
there's anyone that knows anyone that thinks that they know anyone that would be interested in
(37:33):
joining or want to just get an idea of what we have going on in the Houston area, please reach out.
Great, great. Yes, we are all trying to build up our chapters. So Tiffany is the area leader for
Houston. So definitely please give her a shout. Tiffany, thank you so much for joining us today
(37:55):
and showing every woman listening that when you lead with purpose, integrity, and a heart
for your community, there's absolutely nothing, absolutely nothing you cannot build. Your story,
your mission, and your passion for creating access and second chances for families
and undeserved communities is the very heartbeat of what NABWG stands for. And we are so incredibly
(38:18):
proud to have you representing us at the BUILD Expo in August, in Austin, sorry, today and tomorrow.
Make sure you guys connect with Tiffany, Mia, and Cash Miss Anne. They will be at the booth number
719 and show them some love. And do not forget to tune in next Wednesday at 8.30 a.m. right here on
(38:39):
NABWG Talks. Until next time, keep building, keep breaking barriers, and keep changing the face of
construction. This is the Listeners with NABWG Talks.
(39:00):
This concludes our show. Thank you for listening to NABWG, the National Association of Black Women
in Construction. For more information about NABWG and our membership, please visit us on the web at
our www.nabwic.org. We're the voice of black women in construction. Have a great and prosperous day.
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