Heather Rouba, CMSWillowbrook
Heather works for CMSWillowbrook, the state’s 3rd largest construction management firm, in Project Development and is responsible for identifying and developing new client relationships, while maintaining existing client relationships, leading to new company revenue and business opportunities. She works in collaboration with construction executives, subject matter experts within the organization, and project teams to identify, qualify, and position for opportunities aligning with market sectors and the strategic plan. She also works on private project origination where CMS partners on the development side to create projects from inception.
Some current and recent projects Heather has worked on:
1. Dunbar Commons – historic preservation school on 7th and Lottie, converted from historic all black school to senior housing with senior and historic tax credits, also LIHTC.
2. Homeland – working in partnership with the Alliance and partners to bring the first grocery store in 30 years the NE side of Oklahoma City, which is considered a food desert.
3. Tulsa Parking Authority Public Private Partnership Mixed Use – we recently won this project, where we are co-developing and building a mixed use parking garage, multi family, retail and boutique hotel concept in downtown Tulsa’s Brady District on Main & Cameron.
4. Residences at Classen Curve – working with developer Hines to build a 326 unit class A multi family complex just north of Whole Foods in OKC.
Rouba holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design with a minor in art history from the University of Central Oklahoma and was awarded the Presidential Leadership Scholarship and the Award of Excellence in Design. She worked for JHBR Architects and the UCO Architectural and Engineering Services Department as an interior designer. Rouba later completed graduate work at the University of Oklahoma and earned her master’s degree in construction management, where her master’s thesis was published and accepted for presentation at the Associated Schools of Construction’s international conference in Liverpool, London. She worked for Manhattan Construction and Gumerson Blake Design Build prior to her work at CMSWillowbrook.
Rouba was named as a Journal Record’s Achievers under 40 in May 2019, is in the 2020 Leadership OKC class and recently completed the Leadership Exchange Academy program through the State Chamber. She also represented the state as Mrs. Oklahoma in 2009.
In 2017, she was named the National Associated General Contractors Scholar, National Association of Home Builders Professional Women in Building Scholar and received the TEXO Construction Association Foundation Award.
A former model herself, Rouba opened Brink Model Management in 2009 and has led the modeling industry in Oklahoma ever since, with models featured in campaigns such as Gucci, Balenciaga, Jean Paul Gauthier, Miu Miu and Chloe, and on covers of magazines such as Vogue Italia, Elle, and Vogue Paris. Her models work for brands such as Nike, Levi’s, Aeropostale, Urban Outfitters, ASOS, and more. Rouba competed at the International Model and Talent Association convention in New York City in 1998, where she placed as 1st runner-up in both the “Most Sought After Model” and “Model of the Year” categories. Rouba signed with Karin Models (now MC2 Models) in New York and Miami during her modeling tenure.
Attend the December OVF Power Lunch
