Sitlalic Aguilar – VJS Construction

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When Sitlalic Aguilar was a senior in high school, she had no idea what she wanted to study in college.

But after enrolling in Alverno College’s School of Business Administration, Aguilar met a teacher who helped her find her path and pursue a career in construction management.

Today, she is an estimator for VJS Construction Services in Milwaukee. Her experience and expertise in Latin outreach and advocacy have aided in building long-lasting relationships within the subcontractor community.

Beyond her estimator responsibilities, Aguilar has served as a mediator for the development arm of VJS when negotiating land purchases in Spanish-speaking communities.

“My favorite part of my job is working with subcontractors and my coworkers,” she said. “We all work together to create budgets for our clients. When we do conceptual estimating I like thinking and visualizing how the building is going to be put together and associate cost to all the components.”

Aguilar volunteers at the Urban Ecology Center, assisting in their efforts to clean the community and increase awareness of the ecosystem. As a known Latin advocate, she has a relationship with the United Community Center and supports it in its efforts to educate the community about their rights and representation.

“She has also volunteered at Milwaukee School of Engineering, teaching up-and-coming young professionals about the career path of an estimator,” said Pam Lyons, communications manager with VJS.

One of the biggest challenges of being an estimator, Aguilar said, is finding the time to put together a complete and accurate estimate.

“Sometimes we must turn estimates around in two weeks and because we rely on information from vendors and subcontractors, sometimes meeting those deadlines becomes challenging.”

Outside of work, Aguilar likes spending as much time as possible outside.

“In the evening I go running. On the weekends I go biking. I also like to spend time with my family and friends,” she said.