Fulfilling a Need in South Florida

Eduardo Tesi (MPM '11) looks at life through a positive lens. 

“I was fortunate enough to earn my master’s degree in a cohort that was affected by the Great Recession of 2008 to 2010,” Tesi said. “I had the chance to learn with many excellent industry professionals from around the world who went back to school to sharpen their skills, improve their resumes, and get ready for the next boom.”  

That is exactly what Tesi wanted to do. He received his undergraduate degree in architecture from his native Venezuela, and he turned to Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Project Management (MPM) program  to help become an established leader in the built environment.  

“After working for a couple of architecture firms in Chicago, I felt the need to expand my skill set to become a more complete and more efficient professional,” he said. “I felt I needed a framework of knowledge powerful enough to convey to a client that I was not only able to deliver a conceptually and programmatically strong idea, but also able to manage and execute it in the real world of construction if needed. I was delighted to discover Northwestern offered a project management degree tailored for the construction industry.” 

It wasn't long before Tesi had the chance to demonstrate all he learned in MPM. He spent nearly nine years with Riviera Point Invest + Develop, where he started as a senior project manager.  

Tesi said the company's CEO seemed to appreciate the knowledge taught in MPM.   

“I will always be grateful to my mentor and CEO of the company, Rodrigo Azpurua,” he said. “Coming right out of the MPM program, I think Rodrigo recognized that I had a strong fundamental knowledge of the project management discipline, and he was eager for me to apply it to the real world.” 

That support enabled Tesi to work with Azpurua on a $17 million project soon after getting hired. Tesi eventually became director of development for the company, and during his tenure at the firm, he completed a portfolio of projects totaling more than 500,000 sq. ft. of office and hospitality space valued at more than $150 million.  

Now Tesi has his own venture. In June 2022, he founded Excellence PMO, a consulting firm specializing in commercial real estate project management.  

"I saw an opportunity to fulfill a need in the South Florida commercial real estate market, which is a strong and stable market that requires experienced and committed project management professionals for real estate and construction industries," Tesi said. "COVID-19 disrupted supply chains, caused labor shortages, and triggered the great reshuffle, which led to high turnover of talented project managers in companies that could not compete or retain their top talents and keep their ongoing projects on track. Excellence PMO is the solution for those affected by these market forces." 

Headquartered in Miami, Tesi caters the company's services to small business owners and commercial real estate developers who need hands-on assistance to achieve their visions and goals. Tesi serves a variety of clients within the commercial real estate sector, including: 

• Brick-and-mortar business owners who are expanding their operations to new locations 
• Private equity investment firms who need owner’s representation to oversee their developments and investments 
• Developers from outside of Florida who are entering the South Florida market 
• General contractors and subcontractors who need to fill in-house project management gaps 
• Commercial real estate asset managers in pursuit of recertification of their properties 

Tesi credits his native Venezuela for instilling him with ambition and optimism. He encourages his fellow Venezuelans to follow in his footsteps — starting with applying to the MPM program. 

“I’m not exaggerating when I say that Venezuelan professionals have proven time and time again in every country where they have landed that they can get the job done with the highest level of integrity, commitment to improving our communities, and, cherry on top, with charisma and friendliness,” he said. “Your first step to begin this journey is to join a program like MPM at Northwestern University. It provides everything you need to succeed.”