Mahonrri Penilla - BIM Manager

Mahonrri is a second-generation pipefitter and was introduced to the industry by his dad. After deciding to take a break from college where he was pursuing an engineering degree, his dad invited him to come work on a job in Arizona. He fell in love with the work and never looked back. 

Mahonrri’s favorite aspect of his work is designing systems with a focus on how they work, not just how they fit. Being able to sort through the chaos of a piping system and create a functional, efficient model is an exciting creative challenge. With his team, it’s important to build community and trust with the people he works with. Sharing his own strengths and weaknesses lets team members know they can share their own weaknesses, ask questions, and get the support they need to grow in their roles.

How long have you been in the construction industry?

• • Over 17 years

Which union are you affiliated with?

• • UA Local 62 out of Monterey, California

What problem would you love to solve for the construction industry?

• • Aligning clients’ expectations with their resources. Clients don’t always know what to expect from the detailing process and helping clients understand the deliverables and manage their expectations creates a more positive experience for everyone. 

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on?

• • A shutdown in Minnesota. This was a project where the people made the experience great. The weather was freezing, everyone was traveling for work and away from their homes, but I had the most fun and made some lifelong friends on that job. 

If you could live anywhere in America, where would it be?

• • St. George, Utah. It’s not too big or too small, it’s in the mountains, near parks, has good skiing, but is still close to Vegas when you want that big city feel.