Thuli Lushaba grew up in South Africa and moved to the United States in 2010. She has since risen through the ranks of the construction industry, starting at a drywall company in New York City before transitioning to a high-end residential general contractor. Thuli managed small projects and performed estimating services on endeavors valued between $1 million and $50 million. Later, she relocated to Los Angeles, California, where she served as a project engineer and project manager for high-end residential projects in Malibu.  Currently, Thuli serves as the Director of Diversity and Community Outreach at Korsmo Construction.

As the primary developer of Korsmo’s diverse business inclusion plan, she oversees various equity-oriented projects such as DBE/WMBE/SBE subcontractor outreach, small business empowerment initiatives, workforce development, and student engagement.

• Why did you decide to join the EDB Board when you were invited to do so?

My journey from South Africa to the United States in 2010 gave me a unique lens on economic opportunity and its ripple effects through communities. As an immigrant, I landed my first job at a drywall company in New York City because someone took a chance on me – a moment that profoundly shaped my understanding of how access to opportunities can transform lives. This perspective deepened as I progressed through the construction industry, from managing high-end residential projects in California to my current role as Director of Diversity and Community Outreach at Korsmo Construction.

I joined the EDB Board because I see Pierce County as a place of belonging, ripe with opportunity for all who call it home. Economic development is about creating a thriving ecosystem where businesses want to invest, where industries can grow, where innovation flourishes, and where residents can build prosperous lives. My experience with workforce development initiatives and growing opportunities for underutilized businesses has shown me how these elements interconnect with broader economic growth. At Korsmo, we’ve proven across the Pacific Northwest that when we strengthen local businesses and create pathways for inclusion, the entire economy benefits. By setting ambitious goals on our projects, we’re actively contributing to regional economic vitality. These aren’t just statistics – they represent Pierce County businesses growing, local families thriving, and our communities strengthening.

Pierce County has all the elements needed to be a powerhouse of economic opportunity – from our strategic location and strong infrastructure to our skilled workforce and diverse business community. But what truly sets us apart is our spirit of welcome and belonging – a community where everyone can find their place and pathway to success. Through my board service, I can help forge the connections needed to unlock this potential and ensure our region’s growth benefits everyone.

• What do you feel is the most important element you bring to this Board?

I bring a proven track record of turning inclusion initiatives into tangible economic results across the Pacific Northwest. At Korsmo Construction, we’ve built a comprehensive approach to economic inclusion that encompasses everything from local business utilization and workforce development to student engagement and community partnerships. Our initiatives have created pathways for diverse businesses to access major construction projects, helped students transition into industry careers, and fostered lasting economic growth in the communities we serve.

But perhaps more importantly, I bring an integrated approach to economic development. Our Annual Trades and Hiring Fair, held at the Tacoma Dome, exemplifies this holistic vision. What started as a simple idea has grown into a powerful regional collaboration between Korsmo Construction, the City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Schools, and multiple school districts across Pierce County. The fair now attracts over 4,500 participants and takes a comprehensive approach to community development – connecting people not just to construction careers, but to opportunities in education, healthcare, housing, and other vital sectors. This event shows how bringing together diverse partners can create pathways that strengthen our entire regional economy.

• What accomplishments have you already achieved as a board member and are there other things you would like to achieve?

While I’m still in the early stages of my board service, I’ve been focused on strengthening Pierce County’s economic foundations through integrated workforce and business development strategies. Though my background is in construction, my experience has shown me how various sectors of our economy interconnect and support each other. We’ve developed comprehensive talent pipelines through strategic partnerships with multiple school districts, offering internships that span from high school juniors to community college and four-year university students. These partnerships are creating pathways across multiple industries, preparing our future workforce for the diverse opportunities our region offers.

Looking ahead, I envision Pierce County as a model for inclusive economic growth. This vision rests on three strategic pillars. First, I want to help create an ecosystem where our educational institutions and industries work in seamless partnership, ensuring our workforce development directly aligns with economic opportunities. This means not just training for today’s jobs, but preparing for tomorrow’s industries – from advanced manufacturing and healthcare to technology and clean energy.

Second, I aim to expand our region’s capacity for business growth and innovation. This involves scaling successful models across sectors, strengthening support systems for small and underutilized businesses, and creating more opportunities for local companies to participate in major regional projects. When local businesses grow, they create jobs, reinvest in our community, and build generational wealth.

Finally, I want to help position Pierce County as a premier destination for business investment while ensuring this growth creates opportunities for all our residents. This means leveraging our strategic advantages – our location, our infrastructure, our diverse workforce – while maintaining our commitment to inclusive growth. Economic development isn’t just about attracting new businesses; it’s about building a resilient economy where existing businesses can thrive and expand, where innovation is encouraged, and where prosperity is shared across our communities.

development to student engagement and community partnerships. Our initiatives have created pathways for diverse businesses to access major construction projects, helped students transition into industry careers, and fostered lasting economic growth in the communities we serve.

But perhaps more importantly, I bring an integrated approach to economic development. Our Annual Trades and Hiring Fair, held at the Tacoma Dome, exemplifies this holistic vision. What started as a simple idea has grown into a powerful regional collaboration between Korsmo Construction, the City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Schools, and multiple school districts across Pierce County. The fair now attracts over 4,500 participants and takes a comprehensive approach to community development – connecting people not just to construction careers, but to opportunities in education, healthcare, housing, and other vital sectors. This event shows how bringing together diverse partners can create pathways that strengthen our entire regional economy.

• What accomplishments have you already achieved as a board member and are there other things you would like to achieve?

While I’m still in the early stages of my board service, I’ve been focused on strengthening Pierce County’s economic foundations through integrated workforce and business development strategies. Though my background is in construction, my experience has shown me how various sectors of our economy interconnect and support each other. We’ve developed comprehensive talent pipelines through strategic partnerships with multiple school districts, offering internships that span from high school juniors to community college and four-year university students. These partnerships are creating pathways across multiple industries, preparing our future workforce for the diverse opportunities our region offers.

Looking ahead, I envision Pierce County as a model for inclusive economic growth. This vision rests on three strategic pillars. First, I want to help create an ecosystem where our educational institutions and industries work in seamless partnership, ensuring our workforce development directly aligns with economic opportunities. This means not just training for today’s jobs, but preparing for tomorrow’s industries – from advanced manufacturing and healthcare to technology and clean energy.

Second, I aim to expand our region’s capacity for business growth and innovation. This involves scaling successful models across sectors, strengthening support systems for small and underutilized businesses, and creating more opportunities for local companies to participate in major regional projects. When local businesses grow, they create jobs, reinvest in our community, and build generational wealth.

Finally, I want to help position Pierce County as a premier destination for business investment while ensuring this growth creates opportunities for all our residents. This means leveraging our strategic advantages – our location, our infrastructure, our diverse workforce – while maintaining our commitment to inclusive growth. Economic development isn’t just about attracting new businesses; it’s about building a resilient economy where existing businesses can thrive and expand, where innovation is encouraged, and where prosperity is shared across our communities.

• What is something about yourself that others in the business community might not know about you?

Many people know me through my professional work, but they might not know that my passion for economic and community development was deeply influenced by my upbringing in South Africa. I grew up during the era of Nelson Mandela and witnessed what many thought impossible – a country on the brink of civil war transforming itself through truth, reconciliation, and inclusive economic development. South Africa showed the world what’s possible when a community commits to lifting itself up together. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission showed us that healing and progress require honest dialogue and intentional inclusion – lessons that still guide my work today.

My background taught me that success isn’t just about individual achievement – it’s about creating conditions where everyone has a fair chance to succeed. This belief in shared success comes from my South African heritage and the concept of ‘Ubuntu’ – the idea that we are who we are because of others. It’s why I’m passionate about creating pathways to opportunity, whether through education, employment, or business development.

This understanding has shaped my approach to economic development in Pierce County. When we support local businesses, create job opportunities, and build strong educational partnerships, we’re not just growing an economy – we’re strengthening communities across Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood, and throughout Pierce County. Each community has its own unique character and needs, and when we embrace these differences while working toward shared prosperity, we all become stronger.