As a student at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Adrian Russell was made a life-changing promise from his drafting and civil engineering teacher, Jeff Powell.
“He promised to make me a professional,” Russell recalls, a commitment that sparked the transformation that would define Russell’s professional path.
Russell’s journey from humble beginnings in Indianapolis to becoming a leader in the construction industry is a story of perseverance and purpose. As the Director of Diversity and Procurement at Shiel Sexton, a major construction firm, and the founder of Russell's Building Camp, a non-profit aimed at introducing youth to the construction industry, Russell is a man on a mission to change lives—one project at a time.
“Who I am; my commitment to service, my commitment to community, is born from and influenced by so many men and women who sowed into my life and the lives of my family,” Russell said.
Through his leadership and passion for mentorship, Russell is now giving others the opportunities that were once so critical to his own development.
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Russell’s life began in a working-class neighborhood in Indianapolis. He was raised in a large family with seven siblings, living in what he describes as “relentless poverty.” Growing up in a home that was constantly in need of repair, Russell was introduced to construction early on—not as a formal career, but as a necessity.
"We didn’t have much money to fix anything, so it was always finding a way to use your hands and figure things out," Russell said.
His early exposure to construction came through the challenges of his environment. Half the electrical plugs in the house didn’t work, and many basic repairs were out of financial reach, forcing him to learn by doing.
"Funny enough, I never knew as a kid that what I was doing was actually construction,” Russell said. “I just thought that I was doing what was necessary”.
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It wasn’t until much later in life that Russell would realize these experiences were laying the foundation for his future in construction.
Russell’s formal education in construction began at Arsenal Technical High School, where he met a key mentor, Mr. Jeff Powell. Powell, the architectural drafting and civil engineering instructor, took Russell under his wing and helped him see the potential of a career in the construction industry.
“He made me a promise that he would make me a professional,” Russell recalls. “He methodically went about presenting a dream or a vision, and then building me up in a way to actually know about how to go about it.”
By the time Russell graduated from high school, he was not just a different student, but a different person, equipped with the skills and confidence to pursue a career. He continued his education at Ball State University, initially enrolling in the highly regarded architecture program. But while he excelled at drawing and design, Russell quickly found that the program was not as welcoming to students of color as he had hoped.
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“When I started in 2007, they had a very troubling record when it came to diversity,” Russell said.
Eventually, he switched to the construction management program, where he found a better fit. After graduating, Russell entered the construction workforce, but his early career was marred by difficulties. His first job with a local construction company on a high-profile hospital project was anything but smooth.
"My very first day was a rude awakening," Russell said.
He found himself without basic resources like a phone or computer, struggling to keep up with his peers.
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"For almost two years, it was the worst experience of my life," he admits.
Despite the setbacks, Russell was determined to succeed. However, the next few years saw him bouncing between jobs, struggling to find stability and mentorship.
“There’s not many of us in the industry,” he says, referring to the lack of Black professionals in construction leadership roles. "For the first five years of my career, it was absolute hell."
Russell’s turning point came when he joined Mattcon General Contractors, a family-owned business where he found both mentorship and a renewed sense of purpose. Under the guidance of Pete Mattingly, the company’s president, Russell rediscovered his passion for construction and realized that his experiences, both good and bad, could be used to help others.
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“Those five years were the turning point in my career,” Russell reflects. “That’s where I really found myself in the industry.”
His time at Mattcon not only restored his confidence but also inspired him to give back to his community in a more tangible way. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Russell founded Russell's Building Camp, a not-for-profit organization that introduces young people from diverse backgrounds to the world of construction. The camp provides hands-on learning opportunities and mentorship to children and young adults, helping them develop skills that can lead to careers in the industry.
“It’s a program that introduces children from every background, children of every age, to the world of building and construction,” Russell said. "The goal is to inspire them to use their hands and minds to create and build.”
Since its inception, Russell’s Building Camp has worked with nearly 250 young people, and the results speak for themselves. Thirteen participants have been placed in industry jobs, and several others are pursuing apprenticeships or collegiate studies in construction.
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“We’ve placed 13 young people into industry positions and have four studying construction collegiately,” Russell said with pride. He sees the camp not just as a way to give back but as a means of creating a pipeline of diverse talent for the future of the construction industry.
Russell’s work with his building camp mirrors his professional role at Shiel Sexton, where he leads the company’s diversity initiatives as the Director of Diversity and Procurement. His goal is to create pathways for underrepresented professionals and businesses to thrive in the construction industry to provide genuine opportunities for growth rather than just meet diversity quotas.
"For Shiel Sexton, I’m working to lead all of our diversity initiatives... presenting Shiel Sexton as a mentor and developmental partner to aspiring companies,” Russell said.
One of his most significant projects is a $142 million collaboration with Indianapolis Public Schools, where he brought three minority-owned firms onto the leadership team.
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"We’ve taken those three firms and brought them onto our project team, allowing them to work alongside us, build a book of business, and receive mentorship,” Russell said.
Russell is passionate about changing the way diversity is approached in the construction industry.
"We want to be very intentional with our commitments to the community,” Russell said. "We’re not just filling spaces to meet requirements. We want to help firms build their profile and skills."
Looking ahead, Russell is clear about the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
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“I want to know that I left my industry and my community a better place than how I found it,” Russell said.
His commitment to mentorship, shaped by his experiences with Mr. Powell and Pete Mattingly, continues to inspire him.
“One thing that I take from [Mr. Powell] is keeping my word,” Russell said. “I try to hold to my commitments, whether it be to my job, my community, or the young people I work with.”
Russell also emphasizes the importance of patience and persistence for young people entering the industry.
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"You have to be patient. Success in this industry doesn’t happen overnight. But if you commit to working hard, it’s going to work out for you," Russell said.
For Russell, his work is about more than buildings — it’s about building futures. Through his mentorship, diversity initiatives, and non-profit work, he is ensuring that the next generation of construction leaders is more diverse, more inclusive, and more empowered than ever before.
“I want to see more people like me in the industry,” Russell said.
