Our Leadership

Ernest Brown

Brown & Momen

After graduating from UIC with a degree in architecture and construction management, Ernest began his career in Washington, D.C. where he became one of the foremost experts in construction scheduling. Returning to Chicago to serve as project administrator for the Downtown State Street Revitalization Project, he went on to found Brown & Momen — a general contracting, construction management and carpentry firm — in 1987. His office is four blocks away from where he grew up and attended Dunbar Vocational Career Academy on Chicago’s South Side. A longtime advocate of creating an atmosphere of inclusion for minority contractors in Chicago, Ernest hopes the OPC will shine a positive light on the City of Chicago and continue cultivating a renewed interest in the trades among youth. 

 

Mamon Powers Jr.

Powers & Sons Construction

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a builder in Mississippi, and his father, who was a home builder, developer, and founder of Powers & Sons, Mamon continues to grow his family’s legacy in the construction industry. As Chairman and CEO, Mamon’s strategic direction and leadership is a driving force behind Powers & Sons’ successful diversification and expansion efforts, which include over $1 billion in general contracting work since 1967. In 2015, Mamon played a leading role in the historic formation of Lakeside Alliance by helping bring four Black-owned firms together to choose a majority contractor. A true trailblazer, he aims to create a new paradigm in construction where community and capability merge, making a positive economic impact and raising the quality of life for those who live in and around Jackson Park. 

 

John W. Bonds

Safeway Construction

John Bonds has always been committed to fostering strong community ties through each and every project he’s involved with. With a multitude of experience in the construction, development, and property management sectors, John founded Safeway Construction Company in 1986. John’s commitment to the communities of Chicago have enabled Safeway, a construction management firm that specializes in the development and rehabilitation of residential and commercial structures, to meet and exceed racial and economic diversity goals in employment and subcontracting. With the OPC, John hopes to continue fostering strong community ties and help diverse contractors build capacity.

 

Kate Van Zeyl

Turner Construction

With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Kate Van Zeyl brings her diverse project background and passion for community service to the OPC. Kate earned a Master of Architecture from Tulane University and worked as a licensed architect for nearly a decade before joining Turner in 2008. She has advanced through a number of operational roles and is currently Vice President, General Manager for Turner Chicago, where she has been instrumental in many of the company’s largest pursuits. Active in various industry and community organizations, Katie is a member of the American Institute of Architects, serves on the Chicago Product Council for the American Institute of Architects, and is a board member for ACE Mentor Chicago. She is a founding board member and Vice President of the Board of the Chicago chapter of Professional Women in Construction, and hopes to further her efforts to create opportunity for women and minorities through her work on the OPC.

 

Jimmy Akintonde

Ujamaa Construction

Jimmy Akintonde claims that he only knows how to do two things: watch movies and build buildings. Inspired by the legacy left behind by each building he helps erect, Jimmy founded Ujamaa Construction Inc. (UJAMAA) in 2002 with the goal to build an organization equally dedicated to responsibility, profitability, and citizenship. A graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology with a degree in architecture, Jimmy grew UJAMAA from a single employee, to a team of 70-plus with more than $80 million in revenue in 2020. As part of the executive management team for Lakeside Alliance, Jimmy’s aim is to create replicable pathways and partnerships to advance equity in the construction industry and inspire more women and minorities to enter construction.