Vincent Serna’s path to construction took him from California to the Marine Corps before landing in Kansas. Starting with a seasonal job at a power plant, he quickly became invaluable as a bilingual bridge between the office and the field. Today, as a project manager with Central Consolidated in Wichita, he thrives on solving problems, mentoring others, and showing that opportunities in construction are endless for those willing to put in the work.
For Vincent Serna, construction wasn’t the obvious path. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps and later tried college, but the cost made it difficult to continue. Looking for something different, he moved to Kansas—never expecting it to become home. What kept him there? Opportunity.
Vincent’s first role was a seasonal position at a power plant. Being bilingual, he quickly found himself translating between Spanish-speaking field crews and English-speaking office staff. “I always kind of thought everybody spoke English and Spanish,” he says. “But I found out quick that it’s something lacking in construction sometimes.” His ability to connect people and keep projects moving turned his temporary role into a full-time career.
Now a project manager with Central Consolidated in Wichita, Vincent combines problem-solving with relationship building. “I like to be in the field with the guys, building that relationship, having a good time, and reminding them that this is just work—let’s make the best of it and keep moving.”
Vincent believes success in construction comes down to attitude and effort. “You got to show up, you got to put the work in. You got to be dependable and always transparent—have a high level of integrity, and anywhere you go, you’re going to be successful.”
For those starting out, he encourages keeping an open mind about the many pathways the industry offers. “Whether you decide to go to college or a trade, in the long run it’s going to work out. There’s a lot of opportunities. You can move up, get on-the-job training, and sometimes that even pays for your college if that’s something you want to pursue down the road.”
From Marine to manager, Vincent has learned that success in construction is about more than building projects—it’s about building people, opportunities, and a future.
