Meet Alex Kozlowski: A Journey from Michigan Winters to San Diego Sunshine
What is your role at VPCS and what will you be focusing on?
I am a Senior Project Manager working with the San Diego Unified School District. In this role, I manage multiple charter school projects, collaborating closely with design teams to develop project documents as they progress through each phase, including the DSA review process. I am also responsible for procuring general contractors through the RFP process to ensure successful project delivery.
How did you get your start in the construction industry?
You could say I found my way into the industry through exploration. While attending Michigan State University, I was navigating between engineering and business majors when a guidance counselor suggested construction management, recognizing my background of working for a residential contractor during high school summers. I enrolled in the program and quickly found it to be a great fit. I later joined the Construction Honor Society, Sigma Lambda Chi, which helped open the door to an opportunity with a national construction firm. I accepted a Project Engineer position in their Southern California division, which was an easy decision given the chance to trade Michigan winters for California’s climate. That was nearly 20 years ago, and since then I’ve worked with several general contractors across Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire, before transitioning to projects in San Diego about eight years ago.
What do you enjoy most about living in San Diego?
What I enjoy most about San Diego is its diversity of experiences. Whether it’s exploring Balboa Park, attending concerts at the Rady Shell or Humphreys, catching a Padres game, spending time in the various beach communities, or trying new restaurants, there is always something to discover. Combined with the year-round weather, it’s an exceptional place to live.
What inspired your transition from the GC side to construction management?
I’ve had the opportunity to work on several construction management projects throughout my career, and I found those experiences especially rewarding. For example, I’ve served in construction management roles for school districts such as Newport Mesa Unified School District and Fallbrook Union High School District, which confirmed that this was the path I wanted to pursue full time. When I began exploring new career opportunities, I was intentional about finding a role that would allow me to make that transition. I’ve also felt very fortunate to connect with Van Pelt. Before the opportunity came up, I had already heard a lot of great things about the people and the culture, and I was really impressed by how much the company has been growing. It felt like the right time to join a team with that kind of momentum.
What has stood out to you about the team so far?
One of the biggest things that has stood out to me is that everything I had heard about VPCS before joining has absolutely held up, and in a lot of ways, it’s even better. Seeing firsthand how supportive, welcoming, and committed everyone is has made a real impression on me. There’s a genuine sense of pride in the organization, and that has made the transition really positive.
What do you like to do outside of work?
In addition to enjoying everything San Diego has to offer, my wife and I enjoy wine tasting throughout California. We previously lived near Temecula Valley and were members at several wineries there. We also enjoy visiting Paso Robles and make occasional trips to Napa and Sonoma for special occasions.
April 24, 2026
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