www.negociosnow.com
Junio 2023 21
JOSE DUARTE
Founder
In 2007, Jose Duarte founded Blackwood Group LLC. In 2018 Rafael
Hernandez joined the firm as a principal. Blackwood grew rapidly in
the last four years. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blackwood was
contracted for just under $10 million of work. Emerging from COVID
in 2021, Blackwood won the $60 million-plus contract for Invest
Southwest Back of the Yards Project as co-developer with Celadon
Partners.
In 2022, Blackwood won a $70 million-plus joint venture contract
with Skender. In May 2023, Blackwood was chosen as co-developer,
with Celadon Partners, on a contract for $178 million for the
redevelopment of 105 W. Adams as part of Chicago's LaSalle
Re-Imagined initiative.
Claudette Soto leads baso Ltd.,
a construction management,
owner representative, and permit
coordination firm in Chicagoland
whose mission is to elevate
equitable procurement and
meaningful minority and women-
owned business participation
while delivering projects on
time and on budget. In 2022
Soto launched baso Tecnica, the
only Latina-owned architectural
and structural forensics firm in
Chicagoland.
Soto has been working in the
construction management,
architectural, and engineering
field for over 20 years. In
2001, while an undergrad
at the Illinois Institute of
Technology, she started VAMOS,
which introduced STEAM
fields (science, technology,
engineering, arts, mathematics)
to underserved middle school
students. VAMOS now includes
mentoring and career guidance
for first-generation university
students and architects and
engineers who identify as people
of color.
Baso Ltd.
CLAUDETTE SOTO
President & CEO
RAFAEL HERNANDEZ
Principal
Burrito Parrilla Mexicana
MARTIN HERNANDEZ
& MANNY FAVELA
Co-founders
Burrito Parrilla Mexicana is one of the fastest-
growing businesses in Illinois. In the last five
years, the company led by Martin Hernandez
and Manny Favela has opened five restaurants
for a total of 11 in various suburbs and
representing 83% growth. Sales increased 92%,
going from $9.9 million to $19.2 million.
The company was started in 2010. Based in
the suburb of Lombard, the company has 200
employees and was named No. 428 among the
largest private companies in the Chicago area.
Blackwood Group
