The Westport Way

Founded in 1987 by Ray Apodaca, Westport Construction quickly gained a reputation for outstanding quality and stand-up integrity. Joanne Apodaca joined as a partner in 1989. Westport soon began joint-venturing with partners who shared its values and complemented its capabilities. Those successful joint ventures formed the foundation of today’s Westport Companies, still managed and led by the Apodaca family.

The Westport Companies are made up of Westport Construction—specializing in affordable housing, WPIC—Westport’s partnership with the Sands family, specializing in large-scale, value projects, and West + Creek—Westport’s partnership with Creekside Construction and the Sosner family, concentrating on commercial and residential projects in Northern California.

Our portfolio includes over tens of thousands of units, and is a testament to the experience and vision we lend to each. It validates a process that imagines each project holistically—from the perspectives of the owner, the architect, and the contractor.

The Westport Companies Timeline

1987

Westport

Westport was founded by Ray Apodaca. Joanne Apodaca joined as a partner in 1989.

2017

WPIC

Westport (the Apodaca family) partnered with Kelly Sands to create WPIC in 2017.

2019

West+Creek

Westport (the Apodaca family) partnered with Creekside Commercial Builders Inc. (Dave Sosner) to create West+Creek.

Westport

A culture of growth and support, with family values setting the tone.

A Southern California Affordable Housing Leader

Specializing in affordable housing, Westport’s strength is a reflection of the depth and variety of the professional experience of our team. It includes an extensive background in the construction of multi-family residential, commercial, and institutional facilities. And it comes to fruition via fine-tooth planning and follow through. With Westport, senior management isn’t off in an ivory tower overseeing. Senior management is onsite, seeing for themselves. That attention to detail speaks to a standard that differentiates the company.

It’s a hands-on standard that pays dividends in every detail and dimension of a project—from understanding the spectrum of client needs during and after construction, to the fulfillment of those needs through our value engineering process.

WPIC

A history of big thinking, with teamwork and vision leading the way to constant improvement.

Large-Scale, High-Value Specialists

WPIC is the Westport partnership company specializing in large-scale value construction. WPIC’s work covers a diverse spectrum of governmental, institutional, non-profit, private, residential, and commercial projects. The company is the result of Westport’s 25+ years of partnering with the Sands family, highly regarded in this construction segment. Kelly Sands, an expert general contractor, has an outstanding background in finance, sustainability, and due diligence. The partners have built thousands of units of multi-family housing in the state of California, and have over $100 million in contract backlog and bonding capacity for large scale projects.

West + Creek

Do the right thing commitment exemplified by outstanding industry leadership in Northern California.

Northern California Multi-Family & Commercial Experts

Westport’s partnership with Creekside Commercial Builders is West + Creek. The Northern California yin to Westport’s Southern California yang, Creekside is a family run business begun by Dave Sosner. It specializes in general contracting, consulting, preconstruction, construction management, detailed cost estimating, commercial construction, and multi-family.

West+Creek brings over 42 years of experience, along with the strength of two like-minded and like-valued families and collaborators to multi-family, senior care, institutional, commercial and varying-sized tenant improvement projects in Northern California.

Meet the Team

Based in Los Angeles, CA, Mr. Apodaca specializes in business strategy, corporate growth planning, operations and business development. He oversees Westport and the Apodaca family’s investments, both domestically and internationally. He is currently managing a large-scale growth initiative for Westport Construction and WPIC Construction which includes technology integration, creation of advanced standard operating procedures, employee education and advancement, implementation of a board of directors and an increase in project capacity and size. Westport and WPIC have seen large scale growth since Andrew’s involvement and expect to continue their successes for years to come.

In 2016, Andrew played an integral role in launching Clhub, an Italy-based venture incubator. Since its inception, Clhub has invested into and grown many successful startups in Italy, specializing in green technology that marries Italian innovations and advancements with the US construction market for international growth. He currently sits on the Clhub board of directors and is involved in international financing rounds, ICO’s, and other investments on behalf of the portfolio companies.

Andrew is an active member of SCANPH & Urban land Institute.

Kelly Sands has owned and successfully operated numerous general contractor and subcontractor construction companies over the course of the last 40 years, with aggregate sales exceeding $2 billion. Through his vast experience and success in the construction industry, Kelly understands field operations, business and financial management, and the delicate balance of growing a company while managing market cycles. By successful performance and financial management, Kelly has never had a surety bond called, despite over 90% of the work performed requiring Performance and Payment Bonds. His current bond aggregate of approximately $500 million with Travelers insurance, the world’s largest bond company.

Ms. Apodaca is a dynamic leader, senior manager and problem solver with over 25 years demonstrated success in operations, strategic planning, human resources, organizational and logistical administration. A collaborative team builder, as well as an insightful analyst with superb communication skills, she is adept at communicating across the complete spectrum of organizational levels.

Ms. Apodaca has guided Westport in delivering exceptional contract performance and customer satisfaction since inception. She has led the company in establishing and managing numerous complex and multi-year projects as a prime contractor, joint venture partner and subcontractor. Her leadership and vision have allowed the company to assist Westport’s clients achieve their goals with minimal risk and optimal efficiencies of internal and external resources.

Ms. Apodaca provides administrative and operational support for Westport’s back office management including accounting, payroll processing, human resources, lien waiver management, and subcontractor payments. She also oversees Westport’s marketing and advertising activities.

Ms. Apodaca received her BA from Loyola Marymount University.

With over 30 years of construction industry experience, Mr. Eastman has an extensive background of overseeing and managing major projects throughout Southern California. Mr. Eastman has completed a wide variety of projects including custom single-family, private school buildings, institutional & apartment facilities, seismic remodels, R&D facilities, retail centers, restaurants, medical buildings, interior office building improvements and industrial parks. Mr. Eastman began his career in the construction industry with a family owned business and owned a general contracting company for 10 years. The variety of experiences gained within both the field and office enable Mr. Eastman to maintain a balanced approach to all aspects of each individual job. Mr. Eastman’s enthusiasm and construction knowledge make him a valuable asset to Westport and our clients.

Mr. Cummings has over 35 years of experience in construction and engineering and brings diverse skill sets to Westport.  As Executive Vice President of Operations, he is responsible for developing new and augmenting existing client relationships for government, military and business sector projects.

Prior projects to Mr. Cummings credit include: Angelus Plaza, 1,063 unit, 17-story senior living; North Valley Commerce Center, 7 buildings, 300,000 SF industrial complex; Howard Business Park, 4 buildings, 200,000 SF industrial complex; and Burbank Airport Commerce Center, 10 buildings, 500,000 SF industrial complex.

Mr. Shaw oversees the construction operations and business development. He effectively and positively represents the company to clients, vendors, subcontractors and company employees. Oversee development of initial sales, proposals and project estimates and is responsible to maintain client relationships. Provides oversight on prime contract negotiations and assure that projects are properly estimated, contracted, planned, organized, managed and reported, including planning, project team establishment, project forecasting, schedule development and management, quality assurance, purchasing, sub-contracting, and budget management. Additionally, he is responsible for corporate reporting and communications and ensuring project safety compliance consistent with established company policies. Manages and monitors subcontractor services, submittal schedules, project schedules, and update cost controls. Mr. Shaw stays familiar with all project drawings, specifications and project requirements and reviews scopes of work for subcontractors and vendors. Management of Compliance & Claims Officer in negotiating subcontracts utilizing the company’s standard procedures and risk management policies. Also, he meets with job superintendents and client representatives as required to provide/secure information and/or to resolve problems and is responsible for maintaining systems that track the progress and assure the success of each project including monitoring of schedule and financial performance and then conducting periodical reporting and communication with the President. Prior to working for the Westport Companies, Mr. Shaw was the Director of Construction for Cobalt Construction, a large multi-family general contractor located in Simi Valley. Additionally, worked for Casden Properties as Director of Construction, located in Beverly Hills, an Owner Builder of Multi-Family Market Rate Apartments in Southern California and held the title of Director of Purchasing for Forest City Development, located in Brentwood, an Owner Builder of Multi-Family Market Rate Apartments throughout Western States.

Mr. Wile supports Westport’s finance and corporate development teams.  He is responsible for financial reporting & analysis, management of financial administrative support, accounting operations, fiscal forecasting, establishing performance benchmarking, cost control activities and maintaining financial relationships to support company growth needs.

Mr. Wile received his BA in economics from University of California, Los Angeles.

Mr. Dauth has over 20 years of multi-family, residential, and commercial construction experience.  As the Vice President of Pre-Construction, Mr. Dauth leads an integrated team that encompasses all aspects of the pre-construction process including estimating, value engineering, scheduling, and constructability review.  Mr. Dauth also has extensive prior developer experience in acquisition, entitlement and product development which ensures full understanding of the developer / general contractor relationship.

Ms. Bures joined the company in 2020 to develop and manage the newly created Purchasing Department. Ms. Bures brings 20 years of industry experience having previously worked for local developers and large general contractors focusing on urban infill podium residential apartment projects throughout Southern California for various clients. Nicole’s previous roles including positions in purchasing, estimating/pre-development, project management, and development. At the Westport Companies, Ms. Bures will serve as the main conduit between the Estimating / Pre-Construction and Project Management teams in order to enhance Subcontractor selection, contract negotiation, and standardized processes throughout the company. Ms. Bures regularly interfaces with our Client and Design Team to collaborate on value engineering solutions, interior and exterior finishes, specification development, and plan coordination.

Ms. Bures received her BS from Arizona State University

Mr. Bohling brings over 35 years of construction client relations, strategic planning, and marketing experience.  In addition to business development, Mr. Bohling also has extensive past construction operations experience as owner of Bohling Enterprises and as Vice President of Creative Construction, a Southern California based general contractor.

As Human Resources Manager, Mario Willis brings more than ten years of human resources leadership experience to Westport. In his current role, Mario leads Westport’s Human Resources department, focusing on reinforcing a strong company culture; developing, enhancing, and leading employee engagement and development programs; and implementing innovative people strategies that support the achievement of Westport’s business goals and objectives.