Gilberto Neves is a soft-spoken man. He occupies a high-profile job. And he works for a company that carries a big – construction – stick.
Mr. Neves is president and CEO of Odebrecht USA, whose annual revenues totaled $2.4 billion last year, including income from the firms other interests in industrial engineering, oil and gas, and chemicals and petrochemicals.
The parent company of the US firm is Brazil-based Odebrecht, which was founded in 1944 by Norberto Odebrech. The company’s worldwide reach extends to 28 countries – from Africa to Europe and Asia – and boasts 190,000 employees.
The US company has been involved in a number of high-profile projects here in Miami-Dade County. They include the expansion of South and North terminals at Miami International Airport and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
“We chose Miami as a point of interest and we chose Miami-Dade as the corporate headquarters for the US corporation,” he said. “The company’s philosophy is based on trust, based on delegation, and the spirit of service. That is very strong.”
Mr. Neves talked about the company and his family at the Odebrecht offices in Coral Gables with Miami Today reporter Lou Ortiz.