Grace Lui, CPSM
Since 2012
Active
SMPS San Francisco Bay Area member
AEC marketing professional
Grace leads national business development strategy for Schnabel Engineering’s tunneling and underground practice, one of the nation’s premier geotechnical and specialty construction engineering firms with more than 600 professionals across North America. As Senior Vice President and National Business Development Lead for Tunnels & Underground, she spearheads strategic growth initiatives, drives innovation, and fosters key partnerships to enhance market presence in the specialized field of underground infrastructure.
Her extensive expertise spans strategic planning, new business development, proposal management, and client relationship building with specialized knowledge in tunnel engineering and underground construction. Grace brings exceptional capability to support major water, wastewater, transit, and transportation infrastructure projects with deep understanding of program management, design, and construction management pursuits. She excels at connecting with clients and consultants, identifying strategic opportunities, and forming winning teams for complex underground projects.
With more than 25 years of AEC industry experience spanning local and international markets in both public and private sectors, Grace has contributed to marketing and business development excellence throughout her career progression from Marketing Coordinator to Senior Vice President. Her comprehensive understanding of underground construction, tunnel engineering, and infrastructure development enables effective business development support for transformative projects including California High-Speed Rail, Delta Conveyance, Sites Reservoir, major transit systems, and critical water infrastructure serving communities throughout the Western United States, Central United States, and Australasia.
Grace demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification, MBA in Finance and Marketing from University of San Francisco, and sustained commitment to professional development in the specialized field of tunnel and underground infrastructure marketing. Her high-energy, dynamic approach to business development has contributed to some of the most significant infrastructure wins in the Western United States and international markets.
Throughout her distinguished 25+ year career, Grace has earned progressive promotions from Marketing Manager to Director of Corporate Communications to Vice President roles at nationally recognized firms including Delve Underground, EPC Consultants, Fugro, AECOM, and Gannett Fleming. Her leadership supported major infrastructure initiatives including DC Water Clean Rivers Program (Program Management), Watercare New Zealand Central Interceptor (Design), SFMTA Central Subway (Construction Management), SFO Terminal 1 (Program Management), Transbay Transit Center Program (Program Management), Delta Conveyance geotechnical services, Sites Reservoir program management, and California High-Speed Rail geotechnical investigations.
Grace’s business development expertise extends to complex water resources, wastewater treatment, transit systems, and transportation infrastructure projects serving public sector agencies throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, Central United States, and international markets in Australasia. Her strategic approach to forming winning teams and building long-term client relationships has contributed to hundreds of millions of dollars in successful pursuits for tunnel, pipeline, and underground construction projects.
Grace brings significant professional certifications including MBA from University of San Francisco, Bachelor of Commerce in Organizational Behavior Studies from University of Windsor, OSHA 10-Hour certification, Certified Fitness Consultant credential, and FAA regulations training. Her multilingual capabilities (English, Cantonese, Mandarin) enhance her effectiveness in diverse markets and international pursuits.
Beyond her professional achievements, Grace is a champion athlete who earned Ms. Natural Universe and Ms. Asian Women Bodybuilding Champion titles (1993, 1994, 1995), demonstrating the discipline, dedication, and competitive excellence that characterizes her approach to business development. Her athletic achievements reflect the high-energy, results-driven leadership style she brings to infrastructure marketing.
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