How Rachele Turnbull Leads with Vision, Heart, and Impact
By QUINN PROPST
Ward Media Staff Reporter
Rachele Turnbull is quietly reshaping what it means to lead in construction. As CEO of Clark Construction, she combines technical expertise, vision, and a collaborative leadership style to build not only structures, but also opportunities—for her employees, her clients, and the next generation of women in the trades.
Her journey into construction began at Oregon State University, where she graduated in 1996 with a degree in construction engineering. She worked in the commercial sector for Skanska before moving to Bainbridge Island to be closer to family.
It was a personal event that set her on the path to entrepreneurship.
“My father had recently been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s,” Turnbull said. “They basically said that he shouldn’t be working alone anymore. So that’s the reason why I really started Clark—it was just going to be me and him, building a house and selling it or something.”
What began as a way to spend time with her father quickly grew into a thriving business.
“I had a lot of people that I worked with who called me up and said, ‘Hey, can you do this project for me?’ So we added a project, and then I had people that I’d worked with who said, ‘Can I come partner up with you?’”
Building a Company—and a Community
Founded in 2006, Clark Construction has evolved from a family endeavor into a collaborative, value-driven company.
“It became a group of builders that all partnered up together,” Turnbull said. “There’s a lot of people here that are entrepreneurs on their own, and they’d be running their own business, but they have the same values and ideals. Putting all those resources together created a place where people can really do the type of work that they enjoy.”
Her leadership emphasizes collaboration and empowerment.
“A lot of people ask me, ‘What kind of projects are you going after?’ My response has always been, whatever kind of projects the people here want to do,” she said. “They’re free to chase their own visions of what a good project is, and then the team gets together and decides what it is they want to take on. It’s not one person—it’s basically the whole company as a living organism, kind of directing itself.”
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Field
Construction remains male-dominated, but Turnbull refuses to let that define her.
“It’s always been a male-dominated field, but I wouldn’t say that I’ve faced a lot of challenges,” she said. “There is still some bias, but it’s very, very small, and it’s not something that really affects my growth in the industry.”
Her perspective is pragmatic—and memorable.
“The good thing about being a woman in construction is everybody will remember you. The bad thing about being a woman in construction is that everyone will remember you,” she said.
Over the past two decades, she’s seen change.
“There’s definitely been a shift over the last 20 years,” she said. “There’s a lot more women involved now. The commercial industry has always been open, but the residential side hasn’t been as open. I think it’s just people’s ideal of the home builder as the one-man show. But that’s changing.”
Mentoring Women and Fostering Diversity
Turnbull is passionate about bringing women and minorities into the trades.
“I just think there’s not enough women in the trades,” she said. “When you can get women in the teams, out in the field, it really brings a level of professionalism to every part of the project. Not just women, but minorities—the diversity brings respect and a commitment to working together.”
Clark Construction has hosted its own Women in Construction Group and participates in initiatives like Rosie’s Round Table in Seattle, helping build both technical skills and emotional intelligence.
“Construction is not just about building,” she said. “Construction is about communication and being able to put in place the art that’s in somebody else’s mind. When you’re an artist, you get to build what’s in your own mind. When you’re a builder, you have to build what’s in somebody else’s mind.”
A Legacy of Quality, Innovation, and Community Impact
Clark Construction’s reputation rests on transparency, partnership, and integrity.
“We really like to partner up with our clients and work with them to get the best possible outcome,” Turnbull said. “When people meet us and work with us, that’s one of the things I hear a lot: this isn’t old school construction. This is honesty, partnership, and transparency.”
Projects like the Enetai project for the Suquamish Tribe, affordable housing initiatives, and sustainable builds highlight her commitment to innovation and community.
“It was such a successful project, and they have people in there now who wouldn’t have homes otherwise,” she said. “We did the same thing with the Port Gamble Tribe—sat down with them and value engineered a design that fit their budget. Even though it was a hard bid project, we treated it as a partnership.”
Sustainability is core to her approach, extending beyond certifications.
“Sustainability is not just about getting a certain type of certified lumber,” she said. “It’s about actual application of sustainable goals—sourcing locally, recycling, reusing materials. We did a project for farm workers where we used materials from another project that would have gone into a landfill. Everybody in the company wanted to be a part of that.”
Leading with Heart
For Turnbull, the greatest reward is seeing others grow.
“It’s that click—when you see someone trying to learn a process, and all of a sudden, the light comes on,” she said. “They take off with it. That’s really exciting to see.”
She hopes her legacy reflects honesty, transparency, and a sense of community.
“There’s no reason to do this job other than to care for others,” she said. “It’s a tough job, a lot of hours, a lot of commitment. I hope people remember honesty, transparency, and a real sense of family and community.”
Looking Ahead
As Clark Construction nears its 20th anniversary, Turnbull remains focused on mentoring, fostering diversity, and building meaningful projects.
“I love telling women who want to go into construction: it’s a phenomenal career path,” she said. “It’s about multitasking, emotional intelligence, and communication. You can look at something and say, ‘I helped put that there.’”
In an industry that’s always evolving, Turnbull stands as a testament to what’s possible when you build not just with bricks and mortar, but with vision, heart, and a commitment to lifting others as you climb.
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