
Joel Velasco is an accomplished construction consultant and project management leader with more than 17 years of experience supporting major capital programs across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. His background spans the full project lifecycle, including advisory, operations, delivery, and dispute resolution. He offers a uniquely holistic perspective on how complex projects succeed and where they encounter risk. He has deep experience in schedule and delay analysis, quantum and damages evaluation, cost and process audits, project controls, workflow optimization and the development of operational systems that strengthen performance.
Across his career, Joel has led and supported complex engagements involving multibillion-dollar airports, ports, energy facilities, healthcare expansions, hospitality developments, highway infrastructure and international arbitration matters. He has managed cross-functional teams, built internal operating frameworks, overseen budgeting and scheduling for large capital projects, and supported clients through disputes by preparing delay analyses, quantum assessments and expert-level reporting. His work has helped organizations secure favorable outcomes, recover costs, strengthen internal controls and enhance project delivery processes. A native Spanish speaker, Joel brings global fluency, operational discipline, and a solutions-oriented mindset to every engagement.
- Assisted with independent cost and quantum analysis for a terminated contractor on a 52-story residential tower in Warsaw, including expert report support and arbitration assistance.
- Evaluated project management and cost controls for major renovation programs at a Beverly Hills healthcare facility, including bid processes, cost reporting, materials, changes and payment procedures.
- Supported quarterly monitoring for a new $350M hospital, including subcontractor reviews, cash flow analysis, percent-complete verification, change order entitlement and quality oversight.
- Analyzed delay and disruption issues on a $2.3B hospital project in Doha, Qatar.
- Conducted quantum analysis for an oil refinery expansion in Suriname, addressing acceleration, delay and disruption impacts and supporting arbitration.
- Analyzed additional costs on an Abu Dhabi oil field project following MEP subcontractor termination, including delay, disruption, and defect impacts, and contributed to arbitration preparation.
- Assessed delay and disruption claims for MEP subcontractors on a new air traffic control tower and TRACON facility in the Western United States.
- Analyzed delays, disruptions, and prolongation costs for an $8.8B port project in Doha, including change order review and entitlement assessment.
- Performed quantum analysis of additional costs and acceleration claims on an $800M highway project in Kuwait, including elevated and at-grade roadway systems.
- Conducted quantum analysis for an MEP subcontractor on an $850M stadium project in Al Khor, including valuation of prolongation, disruption, mitigation, variations and related cost impacts.
Education
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California State University Long Beach
Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Management
Licenses/Certifications
- California State License Board – General Building Contractor License, 2014
- Project Management Professional (PMP), March 2021
- Certified Cost Professional (CCP), AACE, July 2018
Affiliations
- Member, Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Member, AACE International
Languages
English, Spanish
