For over 70 years, the Puerto Rico Builders Association (PRBA), a non-profit organization, has strived to serve developers, investors, and builders in the changing social, economic, and environmental ecosystem of our Puerto Rico. Established in 1951, we have been recognized as a relevant force in the construction and real estate sectors of our economy, by government and private sector decision-making leaders, providing the platform for connecting with all players of the real estate industry.
THE PRBA’s mission is to promote and lead planned development that is safe, sustainable, and serve as an economic driver for our island, working hand in hand with the private and public sectors in Puerto Rico.
First row (left to right): Nory Rivera, Esq., Patricio Martínez-Lorenzo, Esq., Federico Sánchez-Ortiz, Eng. Orlando Méndez, María de Los Ángeles Rivera, CPA, Nydin Watlington, Esq., Arch. George Pavarini, Waleska Rivera, Arch. Vanessa de Mari, Alfredo Martínez-Álvarez, Jr., Wilma Alejandro, Victoria Colón, Larry Padilla, Agustín Rojo. Second row (left to right): Christian Bernaschina, Esq., Alejandro Longo, Rafael Rojo, Alejandro Brito, Eng. Fernando Sumaza, Pablo Dardet, Esq., Ricardo Agudo, Jorge Guerrero, Emilio Colón-Zavala, PE, Eng. Adolfo "Tito" González, Arch. Antonio Garate, Roberto J. Trápaga Fonalledas, Eng. Ramón de León. Absent in the image: Daniel Acosta, Arch. Ricardo Álvarez-Diaz, and Eng. Francisco Arteaga.
The PRBA and our members have delivered world-class products in different real estate segments such as Residential, Tourism, Commercial and Industrial. Our members have been able to increase their services and production of goods, with a strong export activity to the United States, Latin America and other countries, many benefitting from Act 20 and smart business planning.
Agustín Rojo Montilla, an accomplished leader in real estate development and mortgage banking industry in Puerto Rico is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance. Mr. Rojo furthered his academic journey by obtaining a law degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
His professional path in real estate development commenced in 2001 at VRM Companies as an Assistant Project Manager, laying the foundation for fruitful a career. In 2003, Mr. Rojo pivoted to mortgage banking, joining FEMBi Mortgage as Marketing Manager.
His performance led to his promotion to Executive Vice President, where he significantly contributed to the firm's success in Puerto Rico until 2014 when Mr. Rojo returned to his roots in real estate development with VRM Companies in order to spearhead their expansion in the Dominican Republic market.
His leadership has been instrumental in the completion of the firms developments in Dominican Republic, most notably an 18-story, 77-unit high-rise residential development and two 288-unit multi-family projects.
Currently, Agustin, together with his partners and team, is overseeing a 92-unit apartment high rise and a commercial retail development in Dominican Republic, while also involved in VRM’s multiple developments in Puerto Rico and Florida.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Rojo was a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s board from 2009 to 2017 and was elected by his peers and served as president from 2013 to 2015.
Since 2014 Mr. Rojo has been a member of the Puerto Rico Builders Association's board exemplifying his dedication to the industry.
His commitment to excellence continues as he currently serves, in addition to his role at VRM Companies, as the President of the Puerto Rico Builders Association, striving to foster growth and innovation in the construction industry.
Armando Vilas, Esq., is Executive Vice President and Partner at Interlink, an integrated real estate company with over 44 years of experience in development, construction, and asset & property management in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Vilas has a bachelor’s degree in Economics, with a concentration in Finance and Real Estate, from The Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Law in San Juan. He was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 2012 and the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in 2013.
Vilas is an active member of the Puerto Rico Builder’s Association since 2015, where is has held the role as Secretary of the Board of Directors (2019-2021) and is currently the Vice President of the Board.
Ms. Pinsy Rivera Ortiz is the Director of Empresas Rivera Siaca (ERS), a family-owned conglomerate founded in 1974. The primary focus is in the commercial/housing and development of real estate primarily in Puerto Rico along with various other businesses.
Ms. Rivera-Ortiz’s set out over 27 years ago to tackle challenges that were faced by the population of PR. Pinsy’s uncanny ability to see opportunity has brought innovation and creativity to a predominately man ruled island as she was able to successfully bring an impactful result building over 1 million square feet of construction projects. Pinsy possesses the knowledge to compete and the heart to understand the vast challenges that the Puerto Rico real estate market has. She tackles each project with an assertiveness, clarity and with a unique ability to envision what others simply can’t see.
Pinsy, is one of the few women in Puerto Rico in the real estate sector. Ms. Rivera has made a steadfast commitment to carry her father’s legacy, the industrialist and engineer Luis Rivera Siaca and founder of ERS, “to improve the lives of Puerto Rican families and to look out for those less fortunate”. This has led her to incorporate her father’s vision and mission in ambitious projects to create affordable housing to underserved communities with a design that combines empathy and dignity to new homeowners.
In a parallel effort, she has assumed the responsibility for the leasing management, administration, maintenance, and development of the commercial spaces hosting the central administration offices of government agencies with an economic impact in the Island’s local construction sector, design, architecture, materials, and indirect services.
Adding to her diverse professional journey, Ms. Rivera is a turnaround senior executive where she assumed the Presidency of Grana, an iconic Puerto Rican textile company and one of ERS’s portfolio. She transformed the company’s culture and operating structure from a local conservative approach to one with a competitive global vision where profit margin grew from 17% to 32% and then sold the company 2 years later.
Most recently, Pinsy has expanded her love of nature on the premise that economic development and nature preservation can coexist in perfect balance. Her new venture Agro Excel Caribbean, where she serves as the President, is an eco-farm to grow the native Puerto Rican limes. The new farm has surpassed its production goals and is proud of its accomplishment of meeting the local demand of the Puerto Rican community.
Pinsy continues to stay focused on opportunities in and outside Puerto Rico as she searches for projects to exemplify her passion for design, sustainability affordability in both the housing, and eco-farming arena.
Acknowledging the importance of philanthropy, Pinsy serves as part of the Board of CNE (Centro para la Nueva Economía), and since 2019 she has served as the President of the Board of the Ricky Martin Foundation. In addition Pinsy is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), a prestigious global networking platform for executives.
Pinsy obtained a bachelor’s degree in food marketing at Saint Joseph University in Philadelphia, where she later obtained a master’s degree in international marketing and recently, she completed the Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School. She serves and is an active member of various trade organizations such as the National Association of Home Builders, Puerto Rico Builders Association, Urban Land Institute, and the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association.
Her biggest accomplishment ever is being the mom to her three college bound sons. Pinsy resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico and travels extensively to industry related events.
President of Danosa Caribbean, Inc., Waleska Rivera is aninfluential Puerto Rican entrepreneur known for her leadership and activemission of initiatives that strengthen economic and social development of theisland. Ms. Rivera is President of Danosa Caribbean, Inc., roofing membranesmanufacturer, and market leader that has begun to emerge as an exporter toLatin America, the Caribbean and United States.
Rivera has held multiple business leadership positions suchas: former President of the Puerto Rico Manufacturer Association and currentlyis the Puerto Rico Builder’s Association’s Treasurer, among others, fosteringcollaboration and partnerships with other sectors, to create initiatives toimprove economic development.
Her commitment to business development in the region has ledher to lead various diplomatic missions, including delegations to Cuba.
Ms. Rivera holds a BA with honors in Accountingfrom the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and an MBA in Industrial Managementfrom Inter American University. Ms. Rivera has received countless awards andrecognitions including Top 10 Business Leaders of Puerto Rico and theprestigious construction award Alejandro Herrero.
With more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Vanessa de Mari-Monserrate is a licensed architect and a real estate broker. She holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture and a Master’s Degree in Construction Management, both from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.
De Mari-Monserrate is Executive Vice-President at Interlink Group, a real estate developer company and General Contractor in Puerto Rico. Interlink develops residential, commercial and hotels developments.
Her vast experience and professional education as a licensed architect and real estate agent, as well as her experience in construction, permits and purchasing management, have contributed to the successful development of more than 2,270 dwellings, among other projects in the tourism, residential and commercial sector. Her participation in project management from start to finish is key to a successful completion on time, to the satisfaction of clients and future homeowners.
Vanessa de Mari-Monserrate has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Builders Association since 2011. The Puerto Rico Builders Association is one of the main professional organizations on the island and represents the real estate industry and the construction sector. De Mari-Monserrate was the first female Vice-president of said organization from 2020-2022 and was the first female President of the Association from 2022-2024. De Mari is also an active member of the College of Architects and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico and the Workforce Development Program from 2019 to 2021.
Nory W. Rivera, Esq., is the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Builders Association since September 2017. She arrived at the position one day before the passage of Hurricane Irma through Puerto Rico and two weeks before Hurricane María passed through the island.
Prior to her appointment at the Puerto Rico Builders Association, Nory worked for 22 years at El Nuevo Día, the leading newspaper in the Island, where she served as editor of Supplements, editor of the health magazine Salud al Día and for the last 16 years as editor of the Construction magazine, where she covered and analyzed issues related to the construction industry, mortgage banking and real estate. She has also worked as a professor in the Communication Program of the American University of Puerto Rico.
Rivera studied at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Public Communication, a Master's degree in Journalism and a Juris Doctor from the School of Law.
