Private Work

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 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.

Leslie Godfrey is a seasoned Project Manager at Elite Construction & Development, bringing over 14 years of experience across civil, structural, architectural, and MEP construction. Since joining the team in September 2024, Leslie—known as “Les” to his colleagues—has quickly become the company’s lead for federal projects at Hanford, managing three high-complexity jobs with consistency and technical excellence. 

With a career spanning over $3 billion in completed construction value, Les brings both depth and range to his role. His background includes managing mission-critical data centers, large-scale infrastructure, high-rise towers, and government facilities. His ability to coordinate across trades, manage stakeholder expectations, and ensure quality control has earned him a reputation as a results-driven leader who thrives under pressure. 

Les is a certified AWS Welding Inspector and ICC Special Inspector, with advanced knowledge of codes like AWS, ASME, and AISC. His field-tested skillset includes quality assurance, steel fabrication, special inspections, and subcontractor oversight—making him uniquely qualified for technical and regulated environments like Hanford. 

He is also known for his problem-solving approach, leadership under pressure, and ability to translate complex requirements into actionable plans. Whether building relationships with federal agencies or leading field teams through tight schedules, Les brings structure, strategy, and follow-through. 

At Elite, Les is more than a Project Manager—he’s a trusted leader driving some of the company’s most demanding work. His presence strengthens Elite’s federal portfolio and reflects a deep commitment to doing the job right, every time. 

Kelley is a highly skilled and organized project management and administrative professional with over 30 years of experience. She works closely with the preconstruction and estimating teams to create precise project proposals, budgets, and schedules. Kelley plays a key role in evaluating project needs, preparing bids, and generating estimates. She carefully reviews project plans, specifications, and drawings to identify potential challenges and opportunities for value engineering. Additionally, Kelley manages subcontractor and vendor quotes, supports project managers with crucial documentation such as drafting contracts, submittals, RFIs, and change orders. She actively participates in project meetings, provides regular updates on progress, and contributes to ongoing improvement efforts. Kelley is dedicated to maintaining strict adherence to safety protocols and regulations on construction sites.

Kelley grew up in the suburbs of Boston, MA, before making her way west and settling in the Pacific Northwest in early 2020. She is a proud mother of five and a doting Nana to two young grandsons. In her free time, Kelley enjoys cooking and caring for her large family, a role she knows well, having come from a big family herself. Some of her favorite pastimes include watching football, sharing laughter with her sisters, and spoiling her grandbabies.

Zach oversees the implementation and maintenance of Elite’s Nuclear Quality Assurance program, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. He also leads project integration and process modernization for commercial and nuclear-graded initiatives. In addition, Zach assists with bids, proposals, and cost estimates for new projects, and coordinates inspections with municipal and state authorities to ensure ongoing compliance.

Cwentin Clifton brings over 24 years of heavy civil construction experience to his role as Superintendent at Elite Construction & Development. Since joining the company in December 2024, Cwentin has quickly become a trusted field leader known for balancing safety, production, and quality with calm consistency. 

His career spans a wide range of earthwork and underground utility projects, with hands-on experience operating heavy machinery from compact excavators to 600-series mining shovels, D10 dozers, and scrapers. He’s worked for firms like Phillips & Jordan, Rummel Construction, and C&E Trenching, where he served as a working superintendent leading crews, managing equipment, and training operators. 

Cwentin is well-versed in Trimble GPS and has trained others on its use. He excels in coaching teams, maintaining schedules, and ensuring smooth jobsite operations. His certifications include CDL Class A with endorsements, MSHA, and Excavation Safety Competent Person. 

More than just a skilled operator, Cwentin is a steady leader who leads by example. He’s known for solving problems in the field, staying ahead of project needs, and fostering a culture of respect and performance. 

At Elite, Cwentin continues to make an impact with his depth of experience and commitment to excellence, helping projects stay on track and teams perform at their best.