Subcontractor Spotlight: Twenty Eleven Construction

As founder and President of Twenty Eleven Construction — an MBE-, WBE- and DBE-certified firm helping build the Obama Presidential Center — Vanessa Rhodes-Lovelace is breaking barriers and making history.

Growing up on Chicago’s West Side, where her parents and many others in her community were business owners, Rhodes-Lovelace always knew she had the leadership skills to be an entrepreneur. Since charting a new course in the construction industry in 2010, she has driven her company’s evolution from residential to large-scale commercial projects. Twenty Eleven’s work on the Center is one of its largest contracts to date.

For Rhodes-Lovelace, this project isn’t just about building structures — it’s about building a legacy. Lakeside Alliance spoke with her about her journey in construction, her experience as a woman in the industry and what makes the Center unique.

What led you to pursue the kind of work you’re doing today?

After earning my real estate license and flipping properties for a number of years, I decided I needed to give something different a try. I got certified to work with both the city and the state before starting my first contract with UJAMAA Construction doing excavation work on a project right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s when people started to know who Twenty Eleven was. We focus on excavation and concrete, and I recently added an asphalt division to our firm because we have the qualifications and equipment to win that work.

What sets your business apart? 

We self-perform our work. We don’t subcontract anything out. I love being a part of the day-to-day and ensuring that I have the workforce to get the work done for the scopes of work we’re delivering.

Tell us about your experience as a woman in the construction industry. 

Starting out, I felt like people didn’t count me in because I am a younger woman. You get people who think there’s a man behind the scenes like “The Wizard of Oz” pulling strings and making it work. But I did this with all of my hard-earned money…I think the industry is changing; however, the stigma is still there. What I had to understand is the importance of relationships. Now that I am the President of BCOE, a board member for USMCA and a member of HACIA, I’ve been able to network with different agencies, primes and subs who have all gotten to know me, including my work ethic.

What is your role in the Obama Presidential Center project?

We are working with BrightView. Twenty Eleven’s scope includes all of the concrete piers, miscellaneous concrete on the rooftop and the exposed aggregate. It’s a really unique opportunity because there are different types of structures we’ve now had the chance to install…I am going to be able to take on more intricate work in landscaping that I ordinarily wouldn’t have been able to do because of this experience. There is a lot of coordination involved and both BrightView and Lakeside Alliance have been ensuring we can meet all of our marks, which has also been priceless.

I am proud that this is one of our largest projects to date. What it has done is provide us with an additional skillset and capacity building, that is allowing us to grow and scale. 

What excites you the most about being a part of this historic undertaking?

This building is going to be around forever and will one day be a Chicago landmark. To be a part of this legacy and tell my children “we helped build that” is incredible. As someone from the community, it means so much to be in a position to provide employment and positively impact people’s lives and livelihoods. I believe there's real value in this project — not just in the work itself, but in the opportunity to create long-term jobs for those from the neighborhood. That kind of impact is truly priceless.

What is your greatest hope for the outcome of the Obama Presidential Center?

Unity. As a future travel destination, it holds the potential to bring renewed energy, pride, and opportunity to the community. I’m confident it will be a tremendous success.

What advice would you give others thinking about pursuing a career in construction?

I would tell them not to give up, especially if it’s a dream of theirs. It was rough starting out — stressful days, long nights. But once you get going, you can’t stop. If you continue to be consistent and push through, you will be successful.