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Bill Owens, former Colorado Governor, has been retained by PCL Construction as senior advisor for the company’s U.S. operations, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The PCL family of companies collectively form the seventh largest contracting organization in the U.S. with major offices in 29 locations across North America, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Caribbean.
Owens will advise PCL and its clients in the areas of infrastructure related development and ways to encourage the private and public sector to work together to finance, develop and build both private and public sector projects. PCL is well-known in Colorado having been the general contractor for numerous large scale projects including Denver International Airport, Ellie Caulkins Opera House and several high rises that shape Denver’s skyline.
“Bill’s belief in market-based approaches supports what we bring to the table on all of our projects, large and small, “Peter Beaupré, president and chief operating officer, PCL Construction said. “The timing of his support could not be better as PCL counsels current public-sector and private partners in Colorado and across the country on ways to make their projects viable.”
Owens has vast experience in public-private partnerships in Colorado. As governor, Owens brought transportation funding initiatives to the ballot called TRANS, which accelerated federal funding on 28 projects across the state including T-REX (TRansportation EXpansion). T-REX was the first design-build concept of its kind in Colorado that greatly reduced construction time, allowing the project to be finished in less than five years and under budget.
As a State Senator, Owens sponsored the legislation creating the E-470 Authority and the Northwest Parkway. The Owens Administration also pioneered in the development of HOV toll lanes (I-25 north from Coors Field) and financed and built the new University of Colorado Medical School complex at Fitzsimons.
“I look forward to working with PCL in helping to address critical infrastructure needs and challenges,” Owens said. “Beside PCL’s more than 100 years of doing business, the company is a great corporate citizen which ads value to anything with which it is involved.”
Owens remains a principal in Denver-based JF Companies, a land and water firm with interests in Colorado, Arizona and Texas, which will complement his new advisory role with PCL. He remains active on a number of public and private boards and advises private equity firms.
Owens served two terms as Governor of Colorado, from 1999-2007. Prior to his election as Governor, he served as State Treasure for four years and in the Colorado Legislature for twelve years.
