Who We Are

Being a successful CEO requires a mindset to look at obstacles differently, to see them as opportunities to learn new skills, leverage situations, and reflect on what can be done better rather than as objects that stand in the way. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” is a quote that has become a mantra for Trini and shapes his role as CEO and Co-Founder of Elite Construction and Development.

Trini co-founded Elite Renovations (original name of Elite Construction and Development) a dozen years ago and always envisioned their future as a larger international company. Not an easy task for a young entrepreneur with no formal experience in construction but, he started the company “with the end in mind” and made a conscious effort to put in motion an insightful direction to make that happen. “We stay true to our vision, work hard and hire good people. We also remain curious to learn, evolve and advance.”

Elite, now on the verge of regional growth, has grown to a team of more than 80 full-time team members, with divisions that span both public and private sectors, yet their mission and values remain unchanged. They are growing at a slow and steady pace to make sure the company continues to reflect a commitment to client, craft, team, and community.

If you ask Trini, his professional resume not only speaks to his role as executive and entrepreneur but also his time on the basketball court. “There are so many lessons to learn from organized sports that I apply to my job as both CEO and dad”. “Coaching my son and advising him on discipline, teamwork, vision, hard work, and having fun is the epitome of how we run our business.”

Competitive by nature, Trini credits his middle-school sweetheart, now wife, and kids, which include a son and daughter, for keeping him grounded. “They are my whys”, he says. As a car and book aficionado, he also loves fast cars and great reads.

As COO and co-founder of Elite Construction & Development, David exemplifies how humble leadership and active listening can be powerful. He lacks what is sometimes a stereotypical trait in some leaders – an exaggerated ego. Having started in the field of his 2-person company, Elite Renovations (original name of Elite Construction and Development) over a dozen years ago, he leads by example and truly understands what it means to work hard and stay humble. David also works on creating a culture, especially as Elite demonstrates unprecedented growth, where ideas are welcomed, expert opinions are shared, and where everyone has a chance to contribute, share in the process, and have ownership in the result.

The son of farmworkers, David learned at an early age what it means to be an entrepreneur, as his dad moved from an agriculture laborer to owner of Magaña Farms, a farm and produce company that sells to schools, produce stands, and farmers markets. David recalls his summers as a teen spent working at Pike Place Market in Seattle, selling fresh fruits and vegetables to tourists, with his little brother, from his father’s produce stand. “Not only did I learn about pride in ownership but also in the importance of making sure our clients were happy with both our product and service. We wanted them to come back and refer their friends.” David’s work and life experiences continue to be the driving force behind Elite’s focus to continuously “elevate the client experience”.

His relationship with God and family are of utmost importance. David’s brood includes two sons and a daughter, in them, he hopes to instill the belief that “challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful”.

“Be Happy”, is Chris’ advice to most, which is a saying we appreciate from the head of our Human Resources department. But don’t be fooled by this simple quote as Chris knows it takes dedication, determination and character to achieve this state. He spent 23 years in the US Air Force, retiring as Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) before joining the civilian ranks. In 2003, while on active duty, he earned a Bachelor of Science in both Management and Human Resources followed by a Master of Arts in Education in 2014. In addition to human resource management, he is also skilled in operations management and operational planning.

Chris joined Elite in 2020. As a company, we pride ourselves in hiring the best people while embodying teamwork, embracing new ideas, and maintaining an informal and welcoming culture. Chris leads by example and is the perfect person to spearhead this effort.

A devotee of fine cigars and the NFL, Chris also enjoys woodworking and spending time with his wife.

Curtis “CJ” Black joined Elite earlier this year and excelled in his previous role as Director, Project Controls, responsible for comprehensive oversite of Elite’s projects on scope, schedule, and cost. In his new role as Project Executive, CJ provides leadership, oversight, and direction of our project management team and all commercial developments within our portfolio while focusing on three key areas – exceeding client expectations, managing projects to meet business objectives, and leading and developing project teams.

CJ brings 14+ years of Project Management and Strategic Business Integration including construction management, strategic planning, risk management, project controls, scheduling, and estimating. Throughout his career he has worked in a variety of industries including DOE (Government), Commercial, Civil, Nuclear, Chemical, and IT projects which line up nicely with Elite’s current slate of clients and projects.

Originally from Pasco, CJ attended the University of Washington in Seattle on an academic scholarship. He is a UW Huskies fanatic and even has two Siberian huskies as pets. When not working, he enjoys listening to local live music, preferably outdoors on a nice patio somewhere, with family and friends. He also makes a conscious effort to continually improve his mental and physical health through regular workouts and continuous learning. A self-proclaimed numbers, data, and trends “geek”, we would say that CJ is an EXCEL(lent) addition to our team.

In her new position as Director of Business Development, Grace leads the company’s business development and client engagement efforts along with marketing and community relations. Grace joined Elite in 2020 as Director of Marketing + Client Experience overseeing Elite’s efforts in marketing, client experience, and community outreach. Previously, she spent 17+ years as a sales and marketing executive with organizations like Discovery Networks, Viacom, and NBCUniversal.

In her spare time, Grace enjoys time with family, indoor cycling, traveling, and art. Most recently, she founded a fine art and creative solutions studio committed to social impact. She is also a graduate of Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, in Seattle, WA.

Originally from Grandview Washington, Grace spent most of her professional career in Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Barcelona, Spain before moving to the Tri-Cities in 2019. Starting in 2022, she will split her time between the corporate office in Tri-Cities, WA and her new home in southern California with her husband, Ryan, and two teen daughters.

As Payroll Specialist, Vanessa is responsible for processing weekly payroll for all employees. Her primary focus is importing and validating time sheet information into the payroll system, regularly completing State and Federal reporting and determining payroll liabilities by calculating State and Federal taxes. Additionally, she works with the HR department to reconcile compensation and benefits.

Vanessa began her career as Elite HQ’s administrative assistant. Given her ability, she quickly received extended responsibilities assisting the accounting and procurement departments which made her promotion inevitable.  Her “team first” attitude, exceptional attention to detail, and above reproach commitment to protecting highly confidential information continue to make her an indispensable part of our team.

Vanessa also has her cosmetology license and was a popular hair stylist before realizing she preferred spending her weekends and evenings with her family When not working, Vanessa enjoys creating memories with her husband and two daughters.

As Accounting Specialist, Erica brings almost 15 years of accounting experience to Elite. Her meticulous handling of accounting procedures, accounts payable and receivable along with organizational management, make her a vital part of our team. Beyond longevity in her chosen profession, Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Accounting along with additional accounting system certifications. She LOVES accounting as much as she loves iced coffee, which says a lot about her easy-going personality and enthusiastic nature.

Her true love however is her family. She considers her sons, delivered on Christmas Day, her greatest achievement. When not busy with twin boys, Erica enjoys DIY projects and perusing the aisles of Target and Home Goods with iced coffee in hand, of course.

“From small humble beginnings come great things.”, a quote Jesus took to heart when he was given the opportunity to build the company’s health & safety program. Jesus started with Elite in 2017 as superintendent of the painting division but his work ethic, self-starter attitude, aptitude to learn quickly and ability to manage both roles at once led him to acquiring the singularly focused position of Safety Director a year later.

From an OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer, obtained through the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington, to numerous Craft Professional Mentor (CPM) credentials in safety, he does what it takes to keep our team members safe. He is also an authorized CPR, AED, First Aid Instructor through (HSI) Health & Safety Institute and, an Idaho State Health & Safety Instructor.  For three years running he has been recognized as a top performer for safety and claims management by the Associated General Contractors of America Inland Northwest Chapter along with the Associated Builders and Contractors of America Inland Pacific Chapter. At Elite, safety is a top priority and having someone like Jesus at the helm is a valuable asset.

When Jesus isn’t saving Elite team members from potential injury or educating us on the importance of safety, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He’s known as a “master chef” on the grill and enjoys the Pacific Northwest outdoors. He also makes time to volunteer in his community.

As Quality Assurance (QA) Manager, Phil ensures the highest level of procedural compliance from procurement through each phase of construction. Phil started his career in Virginia, graduating in the top 5% of his class from Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Design Training program. Upon graduation, he started in the Nuclear Fuels Department where he developed design and fabrication drawings for the for re-fueling and de-fueling efforts of Nuclear Navy Aircraft Carriers and Submarines. The rest, we say, is history, as Phil gradually moved to the Pacific Northwest in increasing responsibility positions for nuclear-related companies. A golf enthusiast, he decided to relocate to the Tri-Cities (from Idaho) after witnessing golfers on the course on Christmas Day!

He brings almost 40 years of experience working under ASME NQA-1 requirements as well as experience developing and implementing NQA-1 programs to the highest level of Safety Significant. “The depth of Phil’s experience and knowledge of nuclear quality assurance are a great resource for us as we take on more government contracts”, says CEO Trini Garibay. Likewise, Phil sees the opportunity to help develop Elite’s government division as well as it’s NQA-1 Quality Assurance as the pinnacle of his career.

Phil loves music and attending live music concerts and sporting events. As a true outdoorsman he enjoys camping, fishing and riding 4-wheelers along with spending summers grilling and swimming in his backyard. He also enjoys visiting his children in Idaho.

As Environmental Safety & Health Specialist, Government Division since 2019, Kyler is responsible for developing and tailoring Elite’s safety program for federal government projects which is no easy task given the complexity of nuclear waste clean-up. He ensures our safety procedures and plans are followed correctly through regular field surveillances and investigations. He also tracks and coordinates all training for Elite construction workers on the Hanford site. Concurrently, Kyler is finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety from Eastern Kentucky University. But, let’s not stop there…Kyler served as supervisor in the US Marine Corp. prior to garnering 13+ years of safety and health experience at government contract heavyweights and several OSHA certifications to make him an expert in his field.

While spare time is not something Kyler has much of, he does make coaching 11U tournament baseball, spending time with his kids, camping in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter top priorities.

Scott joined Team Elite in 2020 as Project Manager for our Federal Services department. His 15+ years of industry knowledge is incredibly additive in his role of overseeing construction projects for our fast-growing government division including working closely with clients to develop plans, establish timetables, and determine labor and material costs per contractual obligations, industry standards, and all regulatory guidelines. Before joining the team, Scott’s relevant experience included positions at top government contractors in the area.

While Tri-Cities is home, if Elite opens an office in Hawaii, Scott would likely be the first to relocate. He and his family love to travel but consider Maui a paradise and, with familial ties in the area, they hang like locals rather than tourists while there.

When not working, Scott enjoys spending time with family and friends. He and his wife, married for 18 years, have two athletic daughters and a chocolate lab. If not traveling for soccer or basketball tournaments, they enjoy spending time outdoors including hunting, fishing, and camping. However, they don’t have to venture far to enjoy being outside as backyard movie nights and steaks on the grill also count for recharging in nature.

Duane joins Elite as a Sr. Project Manager and part of the core team that supports the continued success of the company’s Operations Division. He has a combined 30 years of experience managing both federal government construction and private contracts working with some of the largest local and national developers. Duane provides overall project management and ensures the delivery of efficient projects across both sectors with a focus on client experience and trade partner development.

Duane and his family moved to the Tri-Cities in 2005 after selling their construction services company in California. He began working on Government projects at the Hanford site and traveling the nation working on federal projects.

Duane and his wife have been married for 28 years, and they have three children and seven grandchildren. They enjoy road-tripping with their family and creating memorable moments.

Katie joins Elite as Sr. Project Manager for the Operations Division.  She has a well-rounded skill set in project management and over  30+ years of progressive responsibility in a construction environment.  Katie is a “hands-on” senior project manager with extensive experience in multifaceted construction projects for private developers as well as public government agencies. She has worked collaboratively with multiple disciplines, including civil engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, land surveying, traffic engineering, and environmental consulting. Katie is also a recognized expert in commercial real estate development.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Katie has been in South Central Washington for almost a decade.  She enjoys the desert climate and relief from heavy traffic.  Katie is equally at home in the outdoors or in the kitchen as she loves camping and fishing along the Little Naches River and enjoys cooking and baking for friends and family.

In her position as Project Coordinator, Gina supports Elite’s Operations Division. With over ten years of experience in customer service and team supportive roles, she assists the team, from pre-construction through construction, in obtaining, evaluating, and coordinating all information needed to deliver on Elite’s mission of elevating the client experience. She works closely with the Project Managers and our trade partners to ensure the project is run in accordance with contract documents, meets all safety standards, is within schedule requirements, and is constructed to the highest level of quality possible.

Gina was born and raised in Gig Harbor before moving to Tri-Cities, WA, in early 2023. She is a mom of three teenagers which increases her experience in customer service and team supportive roles to over 20 years.

Gina’s life motto of “Work Hard. Play Harder” is evident in her extracurricular activities of riding ATVs and off-road sxss, watersports, camping, and entertaining friends and family.

David joins Elite as Superintendent in our Operations Division. He brings over 35+ years of residential and commercial construction experience with over a decade in a Superintendent role.  In this position, he is responsible for the supervision of all field construction and organization, planning, and scheduling of projects to complete the work on time, within budget, and to high-quality specifications. He leads, directs, and coordinates the work of trade partners and Elite team members while ensuring all applicable OSHA standards and safety standards are adhered to.

His strict attention to detail and ability to run a clean, safe job are just two examples of his dedication. David has a proven track record of delivering high-quality projects on time and on budget.

Dave started in construction right out of high school after moving to Tulsa, OK. He is honored to say that while living in Tulsa, he did some work on the movie set of “The Outsiders.” To date, “The Outsiders” remains his favorite movie.

When not on-site, you’ll usually find him on-stage. Dave is a multi-music genre-inspired bass player and accomplished guitarist. Currently, Dave is the Bass Player for the Nashville-based Country/Southern- Rock band Cage & Focx. He lives by a creed of due diligence and the belief that you should study hard as you’ll never finish learning what music has to offer. When relaxing, you will usually find him with his wife, Brenda, hanging out at their pool or snuggling his three-year-old Border Collie Mr. Dice, but most of the time, you will find him with an instrument in his hands. Dave and Brenda moved to the Tri-Cities area in 2021 in search of sunshine.

One of Dave’s favorite sayings is, “If you build it, they will come.”