2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Mike Esquivel-Lieb, CM&B

“Mike’s career path at CM&B is one of my favorites. He joined us from Virginia Tech and found the first six months challenging, but pushed through with hard work, determination, and a positive attitude. He quickly became a trusted superintendent our clients love, and his transition to project management has been just as impressive. Proud of Mike, just getting started, and the best is ahead.” 

What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role?

My father was a carpenter when I was growing up, and he’d always show me the projects he was most proud of. I could see how much each one meant to him. I was fascinated by the work and always wanted to understand how everything came together. I knew I wanted to be in the construction industry, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity, so I decided to study construction management to figure that out. After graduation, I connected with CM&B and was hired right out of school. I spent five years in the field and, earlier this year, transitioned into a project manager role.

Who has been a mentor or influential figure in your career, and what is the most valuable advice they have shared with you?

I have had the pleasure of working with Jeff Anderson, one of our senior VPs/project executives at CM&B, when I started running projects on my own as a Project Superintendent. My time with him was invaluable, and I’ve learned countless lessons from him. The most valuable piece of advice he shared with me was to value partnerships in this industry. He always thought about the “next project,” and that you never know who you’ll need down the road. Whether it was the client, architect, or vendor, he treated everyone with equal respect and always wanted to do right by them.