Dr. Laura Luster,
Vice President, Special Projects

About

Dr. Laura Luster was the founder and president of L. Luster & Associates and is currently the Vice President of Capital Projects at Luster. She possesses more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry that has included work in transportation, public works and education. Dr. Luster has designed, administered and evaluated policies and programs aimed at augmenting business, educational and employment opportunities for people of color, women and economically disadvantaged citizens. She has developed and managed successful business outreach and technical assistance programs to enhance the utilization of Minority and Women-owned, Disadvantaged, Disabled Veteran, Local and Small Businesses.  She has led community engagement efforts to provide avenues for input for communities impacted by large infrastructure projects.  Her clients have included AC Transit, AECOM, Alameda County Transportation Commission, Alameda County Department of Public Works, BART, Jacobs, HNTB, Kitchell, Oakland Unified School District, SF Department of Public Works, SF Public Utilities Commission, SF Office of Economic & Workforce Development, the former SF Redevelopment Agency, San Francisco Transportation Authority, Solano Community College District and the University of California, San Francisco.

To all these efforts Dr. Luster has brought a strong academic and research background, having earned a Ph.D. in Education from Stanford University.  Often, she has been asked to complete policy or program assessments resulting in public reports, white papers or other analyses. Dr. Luster authored the concept paper for CityBuild, San Francisco’s construction workforce program, recognized in 2007 as one of the Top 50 Government Innovations by Harvard University. She was the lead consultant for three Labor Market Analyses of the San Francisco Construction Industry that provided crucial data to officials, staff and community stakeholders in the development and assessment of the City’s landmark local hire legislation. 

Prior to starting her firm in 2005, Dr. Luster worked for a construction and project management firm for more than a decade, heading their training and community development unit.  Also, she served as the director of a community-based school for women transitioning from public assistance into work opportunities. Dr. Luster combines her commitment to social justice, economic development and progressive social policy with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Throughout her career she has enjoyed the challenge of generating solutions to demanding issues.