AutoBuilders

Ray Horta is an extension of the senior leadership team with a geographic area of responsibility encompassing AutoBuilders’ operations and projects on the West Coast of the United States.  Ray is domiciled in AutoBuilders’ Irvine, California office.  Ray oversees and manages all aspects of the West Coast Regional Office, including client relationships and is a member of the AutoBuilders Management Committee responsible for ensuring the mission and values of the company are upheld.

Ray has 22 years of core level construction operations and business development expertise.  Ray’s responsibilities include contract negotiations, pre-construction services, and oversight of estimating, project management and superintendent departments.  He works closely with all clients and the professional project management teams for all of the projects under his direction.  He is routinely in the field and on-site to ensure all projects are facilitated in keeping with AutoBuilders’ standards of excellence.  Ray is a Licensed General Contractor in the State of California and a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Robert W. Rawe II is Chief Executive Officer and President of AutoBuilders General Contracting Services, Inc.   As the sole shareholder and steward of the company’s core values and leadership teams, Bob Rawe has ultimate oversight and accountability for AutoBuilders’ operations, projects and client partners nationwide.  A dynamic, plain spoken and direct leader, Bob Rawe plans and, with the help of a handpicked team of executives, executes the strategic direction of AutoBuilders nationwide.

Building on a near three-decade body of success across the construction, development and real estate finance sectors, Bob brings virtually unrivaled knowledge of automobile dealership and adjunct and ancillary automotive facility design and construction. This, coupled with his teams’ understanding of dealership and facility operations, provides the edge that distinguishes AutoBuilders’ methodology, processes and outcomes.

Intensely entrepreneurial, a trait he shares with many of AutoBuilders’ client partners, Bob Rawe has taken the time and expended the effort to understand all facets of the automotive dealership and automotive facilities operation. Rather than accept industry norms, he has challenged outdated ways of thinking and building and consistently brought to the table creative construction delivery methods such as Integrated Project Delivery “IPD” to clients across the country.  AutoBuilders’ team approach and culture is a reflection of Bob Rawe.  The company is focused on successful client relationships, repeat business, and delivering what is promised to our clients.  All of these things drive successful businesses.

Passionate about AutoBuilders’ work and compassionate about the people and causes he and the company support, Bob Rawe mandates that AutoBuilders give back to the communities it serves. Without fanfare and being mentioned by name here, yearly dozens of not for profit organizations and the individuals they assist are supported by AutoBuilders’ giving programs.

Having majored in Finance at Florida Atlantic University, Bob Rawe is a Certified General Contractor in many States and a Member and Past President of the Florida East Coast Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.  He is also a Member of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Manny Lopez brings AutoBuilders and its customers nearly three decades of experience in all facets of construction management. Manny spent his first six years with AutoBuilders as a Project Manager, distinguishing himself and his projects by an insatiable desire to build better, smarter and more efficiently realized projects. Having completed several large-scale ground-up and renovation construction projects, his strong pre-construction skill and planning were clearly evident. Manny soon became a prominent and valuable asset in AutoBuilders’ Estimating Department, where he quickly ascended to the position of Chief Estimator.

Today, an integral part of the management team, Manny is instrumental in all bidding, consulting, and planning and pre-construction evaluation activities as Vice President of Pre-Construction Services. His oversight extends to operations and personnel in the Estimating Department, as well as coordination and management of the pre-construction costs analyses for existing clients and ongoing projects. Manny Lopez developed and manages AutoBuilders’ national subcontractor and vendor database and provides ongoing support to the construction management teams after project turnover. Having completed his education at Florida International University in Architecture and Construction Management, Manny still maintains Florida General Contractor’s and Roofing Licenses.

Prior to joining AutoBuilders, Manny Lopez grew and maintained a successful contracting business, facilitating both commercial and residential construction and roofing projects, as well as the manufacturing and wholesale/retail distribution of aluminum hurricane protection components. Manny Lopez also has vast experience in civil engineering, management and consulting for heavy highway construction projects for the Florida Department of Transportation, as well as the supervision and inspection of roadway and bridge construction operations.

Nicole has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Nicole is responsible for directing Quest’s marketing efforts and developing new business opportunities in all market sectors nationwide.

Michelle Granlund is the longest tenured member of the AutoBuilders leadership team.  Her 20 years outpaces even AutoBuilders’ CEO and President Robert W. Rawe II.  In addition to her roles analyzing, interpreting and controlling AutoBuilders’ accounting and financial functions, her responsibilities directly support the CEO and COO respectively, in the organizational, administrative and human resources functions.  Michelle is also the person best suited, next to the company CEO, to distill the core values of AutoBuilders to its professional team members and subcontractor partners.

Michelle oversees project financing, asset management, due diligence and risk management and accounting and reporting, as well as coordinating internal and external audits.  She develops and retains qualified financial staff for the departments she oversees, including finance, accounting, administrative and compliance.  She oversees the hiring of all skilled project personnel and has authored the employee excellence standards handbook and compliance regulation. Additionally, Michelle’s purview includes treasury functions and benefit management.

Michelle is a LEED Accredited Professional.