A member-owned cooperative created to change the economics of construction work.
TWBB grew out of a simple observation: construction professionals in BIPOC communities face the same operational challenges over and over. High overhead. Fragmented compliance. Limited access to the administrative infrastructure that larger firms take for granted. And too often, the only options available are expensive services designed for someone else, or going it alone.
Together We Build Better was founded to change that equation. Not by creating another organization that tells builders what to do, but by building a cooperative where builders share what they need.
The model is straightforward. Members pool resources to access shared back-office administration, compliance support, estimating help, contract management, workforce coordination, and procurement power. The cooperative is owned and governed by its members. Decisions are made collectively. Value flows back to the people doing the work.
TWBB is not a trade association that charges dues for a directory listing. It is not an investor-backed platform looking for a return. It is a shared economic platform built by and for the people who build our communities.
Small and mid-size construction firms, especially those in BIPOC communities, carry a disproportionate share of operational burden. The cost of compliance alone can determine whether a company bids on a project or sits it out. Estimating takes time that could be spent on revenue-generating work. Administrative overhead eats into already-tight margins.
These are not character flaws. They are structural problems. And structural problems require structural solutions. TWBB provides that structure. By sharing the operational costs and infrastructure that individual firms struggle to afford, the cooperative lowers the barrier to professionalism, compliance, and growth for every member.
TWBB is in its founding phase, establishing governance, building its membership base, and preparing to launch shared services. The cooperative is led by a Leadership Circle of experienced construction professionals who are building the organization with the same discipline they bring to job sites. We are actively welcoming construction professionals, service partners, and strategic allies who share our commitment to structure, accountability, and community impact.
To empower skilled tradespeople, professional service partners, and community developers through our Shared Services Cooperative. We foster a collaborative environment that promotes sustainable construction practices, economic growth, and community development, ensuring our efforts lead to inclusive and vibrant neighborhoods for all.
To be the pioneering force in community-driven construction and real estate development, harnessing our expertise as skilled contractors, designers, business professionals, and community developers to create sustainable ecosystems that promote economic growth, energy efficiency, and wealth creation in BIPOC communities.
These are internal operating commitments. They apply to how we run the cooperative before they apply to anything external.
We tell the truth even when it is uncomfortable. We do not manage appearances. We fix problems.
Issues are addressed directly. Information is shared openly. No one is left guessing.
We correct, we coach, we help. We do not shame, blame, or punish. Every member is working to get better.
Everything has a process. Roles are defined. Expectations are documented. Predictability is a feature.
Standards exist and are enforced. But enforcement is about growth, not punishment. We hold each other up.
The health of the organization and its members matters more than how it looks from the outside. We invest internally first.
Centralized accounting, estimating, administrative workflows, and compliance management. The backbone that makes member businesses more efficient.
Governance sets direction. Operations execute. These are deliberately separated. Every role is defined, every boundary documented.
Skills development, capacity building, and economic mobility. Members grow, and the cooperative grows with them.
Workforce development, wealth creation, and sustainable building practices in BIPOC communities.
Succession planning, financial durability, and systems that outlast any individual, project, or person.
Trade associations charge dues for networking and directory listings. TWBB provides operational infrastructure that directly reduces your costs and increases your capacity.
TWBB is owned by its members. There are no outside investors expecting a return. Value created by the cooperative flows back to the members who create it.
Decisions are made by the members, not by a board disconnected from the work. Governing members have fiduciary responsibility and voting authority.
Every service, process, and membership tier is designed for the realities of construction: cash flow cycles, compliance requirements, project-based operations, and workforce dynamics.
TWBB is led by its founding member-owners, construction and financial professionals who bring decades of combined experience to the cooperative. Their leadership is hands-on, accountable, and committed to the same values we ask of every member.
Christina brings over 20 years of experience with the IRS and a deep background in finance, tax strategy, and business development. She has helped small businesses navigate complex funding landscapes, securing over $2 million in capital during the pandemic. Her passion for cooperative development and community wealth-building drives her work creating sustainable pathways for minority-owned and women-led enterprises.
Charles founded Landmark Management Solutions in 2018 to help entrepreneurs grow business capacity. His career across the U.S. Military, construction, and accounting shaped the discipline behind his CPA, PMP, and CM certifications. He focuses on building shared services cooperative models that empower small businesses through collaboration and collective impact.
Kelly is a licensed CPA with more than 15 years of accounting experience and a background in engineering. Before opening her own firm in 2005, she led financial audits for Metra, PACE, the RTA, Chicago Public Schools, and local municipalities. Today she helps businesses and nonprofits build lasting financial strength with clear, steady guidance.
Roxanna has spent more than 40 years in the trades and over 25 years in construction development. As the first LGBTQ-certified Black lesbian contractor in Illinois, she is a trailblazer for inclusion and equity in the building industry, serving on the Black Contractors Owners and Executives Association Policy and Legislative Committee and the Chicago LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.
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