Eloise and her son, Francisco Geller, who is now a partner in her business
If you’ve been a South Florida resident, traveler, sports or culture fan over the past 35 years, you’ve likely walked on and admired the work of pioneering Miami entrepreneur Eloise Gonzalez.
Her construction company, Commercial Interior Contractors (CIC), is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, and has completed flooring, walls and other interior projects in scores of high-profile South Florida venues, including Miami International Airport, Adrienne Arscht Center, Marlins Park, American Airlines Arena, Broward County Courthouse and more.
Running a construction business was an unlikely career choice for a Latina in 1984, and largely came about because the big construction companies would only hire Gonzalez -- any woman, really -- for administrative or secretarial roles.
“I was determined to construct things, so I had to strike out on my own and first build my own company,” Gonzalez said. Her first inspiration for the industry came as a young girl, watching skyscrapers rise along I-95 and downtown Miami from her Little Havana home. “I would see those buildings go up, and say ‘I want to do that’ while everyone told me I had to be a teacher or another job they thought suitable for a woman.”
Today, she helps construct those tall shimmering buildings that caught her eye as a child, and his very pleased that her son, Francisco, is now a partner in the business. He returned to Miami and joined CIC in 2016 after graduating from Columbia University and working for HSBC Bank in New York.
The company employs 12 full-time workers and has offices in both Miami and near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Eloise hugging the winner of the EO’s Global Student Entrepreneur Award in Miami
Current projects include City of Miami Beach commission chambers and the Miami-Dade County Overtown Village municipal building, commercial offices on Brickell Avenue, Treasures On The Bay condominiums in North Bay Village, Florida International University and Miami Dade College.
The company manages commercial projects of any size small to large, but Gonzalez says the large-scale governmental, commercial and institutional projects have particularly challenging specifications, timelines and funding.
CIC earned industry awards for its complex work at MIA, which covered hundreds of thousands of square feet for South Floridians to enjoy, as well as accolades for the intricate installations at the iconic venues for the Miami Heat and Miami Marlins.
“No matter the project’s scope or size, we’ve never missed a deadline or budget in 35 years,” she proudly states.
In addition to CIC’s anniversary, Gonalez is celebrating another milestone in 2019. It is her 20th year as a member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization South Florida, the group she credits for her company’s initial and long-term success.
“I couldn’t ask questions as a woman within the construction industry when I started out, because it would be seen as a sign of weakness,” Gonzalez said. “But my EO peers were incredibly helpful, they provided so much guidance and a safe place to learn and collaborate.”
EO SOFLO is one of the world’s largest EO chapters, with member businesses accounting for more than $2 billion in yearly revenues and 10,000 jobs in this region.
Gonzalez serves on the chapter board and leads the groups Global Student Entrepreneur Awards initiative. The University of Miami and Miami Dade College graduate also sits on the board of advisors for MDC’s Idea Center, and supports other local institutions such as Florida International University, Broward College and others.
“Eloise is one of the most giving, gracious people on this planet, as well as a smart, driven, trailblazing entrepreneur who’s transformed some of our most important South Florida landmarks,” said Jerry Katz, president of EO SOFLO and Premier Protection Insurance in Fort Lauderdale. “Our EO chapter, the construction industry, the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and really the entire community, all are so fortunate to enjoy her grace and amazing talent.”
For details on EO SOFLO, please go to www.eosoflo.com, and for more information on Commercial Interior Contractors, visit www.cic-corp.com.
