At Nacional, we embrace our role as responsible stewards of the opportunities we receive. Brian Ortiz’s journey—from the loss of his family’s minority-certified business to building a successful enterprise serving global corporations—is why we’re committed to uplifting diverse businesses through mentorship and real project opportunities.

Most certified diverse-owned businesses depend on government programs with diversity-utilization requirements. The low-bid, slow-pay dynamics of that work have pushed many capable firms toward failure—the same forces that closed Darrell Ortiz’s business. Nacional grew on a different model: partnering with corporations that create meaningful opportunities because they want to collaborate, not because they feel obligated to.

Brian created Changing the Face to equip MBEs with the experience and skills that have enabled us to serve more than 35 Fortune 500 clients. The program honors his father, Darrell Ortiz—a proud Mexican American who made his way into the construction trades and started his own business, and who impacted many as a husband, father, church leader, neighbor, and business owner. Changing the Face is our tribute to this caring industry pioneer.

The program offers direct mentorship to diverse business owners and collaborates closely with our clients. Our goal is to be “super-intentional” about creating winning project opportunities for these firms alongside Nacional’s corporate clients.

What began as one company’s mission has become a national movement. Nacional’s President, Mike Meagher—who recognized the need for innovative approaches to bring diverse individuals into the construction trades—co-founded HIRE 360 Chicago, drawing on more than 30 years leading one of the Midwest’s premier construction companies.

HIRE 360 aligns the largest contractors, developers, trade unions, and labor associations in a joint effort to diversify the construction workforce. It has grown into a national leader in this space, and its success now serves as a blueprint for America’s largest cities seeking to replicate its model. At Nacional, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this transformative movement, shaping a more inclusive future for the construction industry.