Raquel Hernandez Boujourne is a nationally recognized builder and general contractor, founder of Boujourne Builds, LLC, Indi Construction Partners, LLC, and The Boujourne Foundation. Since beginning her construction career in 2009 alongside her husband, she has built a dedicated team that specializes in projects ranging from commercial and residential in both private and public sectors. With experience managing over $1 billion in projects, she leads a national team focused on growth while inspiring others to pursue careers in construction and development.

 

My family’s roots trace back to Karnes City, Texas, where generations worked as cotton pickers—until my grandfather broke that tradition by moving to Houston’s East End. A U.S. Army Veteran, Airborne Ranger, and two-time Purple Heart recipient, he laid the foundation for a legacy built on courage, perseverance, and answering the call to public service. Raised by a hardworking single mother who held three jobs, strength, faith, and resilience became guiding forces early on. After losing my father to addiction and mental illness at age 11, the focus shifted to creating opportunity and breaking generational cycles of poverty. That drive led to starting my first business at age 12—writing music and performing across Houston. The journey continued with becoming the first in my family to earn a college degree from the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business, all while helping grow a construction company my husband and I bootstrapped and launched during the 2009 recession. That company went on to be named the #1 fastest-growing firm to watch by the University of Houston Cougar 100. Our company has helped create opportunities for hardworking men and women in the industry and has built some of the most notable projects throughout the Greater Houston area, including where I became the first Latina to build a Harris County Bridge in Precinct 2.

 

As a female owner representing general contractors, Raquel is devoted to breaking barriers and promoting the idea that it’s not where you start, but where you’re going that matters. Notably, she was recognized as the #1 company on the Cougar 100 by the University of Houston in 2024 and was featured on Good Morning America as a Woman Hero for Small Businesses. A passionate advocate for education, she believes that significant change can begin with just one person. As the first in her family to graduate from college and the first self-made individual in her family’s history, she exemplifies how anyone can create a positive impact and feels a strong responsibility to secure a brighter future for the next generation—one that is attainable through faith and hard work.

 

In 2022, she and her husband founded The Boujourne Foundation, which emphasizes positive leadership and empowers individuals to break generational cycles by teaching faith-based values and educating them about the construction industry and the opportunities it can offer. As a community leader, she has spearheaded several projects focused on education, economic empowerment, and community health. She founded Mindset Matters with Mentors, a mentorship program that pairs young people with professionals to develop skills, teaches basic financial literacy, and helps them explore career paths in the trades. Additionally, in 2024, the foundation has helped facilitate over one hundred thousand meals at various food pantry campuses throughout the greater Houston area. These initiatives have given countless young people and aspiring small business owners the confidence and direction they need to pursue higher education, workforce development, and business opportunities.

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Even with those efforts, many communities remain burdened by unfinished flood mitigation projects, rising crime and taxes, and disaster response systems that fail when needed most. With real-world experience in construction, infrastructure, and crisis management, I know what effective leadership looks like. I’ve signed the front of the check—not just the back—and that experience matters. Because of this, Raquel has to decided to throw her name in the hat and run for office to make an impact that will be lasting for her community. 

 

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