Launching His Own Business, Wentworth Grad Builds Success

They are the builders, the thinkers, and the problem-solvers. In the "Defined by Doing" series, we highlight exceptional alumni who are translating their education into action and redefining what is possible in their fields. From recent graduates to seasoned industry leaders, these stories prove that the Wentworth community is making a meaningful impact at every stage of the journey.

Whether at the top of a 250-unit skyscraper or a two-unit condominium in the community, Josué Velney is not afraid of heights.

The Wentworth Institute of Technology graduate has built his development business from the ground up, and he doesn't plan on looking down any time soon.

"In the way that I approach real estate development and construction, I don't see a ceiling," Velney said. "There's always somebody that you can learn from, or another project that you can look at in a different way."

Velney, who is the president and CEO of Velney Development, graduated from Wentworth in 2021 with a degree in construction management, after previously completing the university's construction management certification program.

When he began pursuing his degree, Velney-a U.S. Marine Corps veteran-was working as a real-estate investor and a fire lieutenant in Somerville.

"I purchased property as a first-time homebuyer, and then I became a real estate agent, so I was very involved on the real estate side of the business. But then I decided to get more into rehabbing houses. And the rehab went terrible," he laughed. "So, I said, 'Man, I've got do better. I've got to understand this and really learn this,' so I could end up getting my construction license and have more control of my projects."

Drawn to Wentworth for its notable Construction Management program, Velney also appreciated the university's proximity to his own community, which allowed him to work and build up his real-estate portfolio while taking classes.

"I was going to night school at the time, and I already had an associate degree in fire science, but I knew that construction was where my energy and passion was, and I really wanted to get a higher education," he said.

"Wentworth really provided the foundation of where I am today, because my professors really showed me the basics-the estimating, how to create a budget, how to negotiate, and those types of things," Velney continued. "I think that a lot of people do not go on the same path as me, meaning that they go to work for a bigger firm, but I already had work experience when I started my degree. So, I was really learning how to build a business, and the basics of the construction side."

Upon graduation, Velney left the Somerville Fire Department after 12 years, and his business-which is minority-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned-began to evolve.

"I went in headfirst as a real-estate investor, developer, and contractor. And my first build out, technically ground up, was two units in Dorchester. From there, I was going through zoning for a seven-unit property with a partner in Roxbury," Velney reflected. "And I just started getting more traction and other developers started saying, 'Hey, would you be interested in partnering up?' So, at that time, I ended up going through zoning on a 28-unit project, a 31-unit project, and a 61-unit project in Roxbury."

Velney, who served three combat tours during his time in the Marine Corps, credits Wentworth for helping him cultivate a lifelong interest in learning, establish networking connections, and gain confidence as a business owner.

"I started at the university to become a better house-flipper and was really focused on renovations. But by the time I got to my second year, I go, 'I don't think they're teaching me how to renovate. I think they're teaching me how to build a skyscraper,'" Velney said. "Because it's really the same concept-being able to do it as a two-unit building, or a 250-unit project, or a 100-unit rental complex. Once you get to a certain height, the requirements change, but the basics are the basics. And I learned that from Wentworth."

From smaller projects to larger-scale buildings, Velney Development has seen great success in the Boston area and beyond. But Velney, whose favorite project so far has been an emergency shelter in his hometown of Somerville, said he is humbled by doing important work that has positive, lasting significance.

"While I continue to build my company, I always ask myself, 'What impact are we making in the community?'" he said. "If you can benefit your own community and still do good work and build a company around that, I think that's amazing."

From his top-tier view as CEO of his business, Velney looks back on his time at Wentworth with pride and gratitude.

"I always kept a relationship with Wentworth, and I've met a couple of professors who have asked me to be a guest speaker and to sit on panels, which has always been important to me," Velney said.

Now, with joint-venture partnerships with Boylston Properties and Callahan Construction, Velney Development continues to expand even further, featuring a full staff of employees and contractors, and wide-ranging projects continuously underway.

"When I'm in those bigger rooms, working on those bigger projects, I sometimes think, 'Why am I here? This project is 250 units, and I was just building two units in 2021,'" Velney said. "But having that strong foundation early on from Wentworth helped me not become overwhelmed as these opportunities came up and I was growing into it all."

For Velney, no height is too high, and no goal is too lofty.

As the recipient of the U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Haitian American Young Entrepreneur of the Year award-as well as the Boston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 recognition in 2022-he believes that with Velney Development, there is still room to grow, and even bigger buildings to build.

"I don't think we have a ceiling," he said. "And that's really the beauty of it."