One team. Multiple disciplines.
Built for modern projects.
JLE Ventures was built on a simple idea: today’s projects need more than technical delivery—they need clarity, transparency, and trust. That’s why we partnered with M3 Services, Inc., a construction and construction management firm with 20+ years of experience delivering municipal, state, and federal work.
OUR STORY
JLE Ventures was never meant to be just another construction company.
It started with three people—Esteven, Jerry, and Lance—asking a simple question: what’s missing in the industry? Not the ability to build, but the ability to connect. They saw an opportunity to create something different—an approach where construction isn’t just about delivering projects, but about building brands, telling stories, and creating a more engaging, human experience around the work.
The name JLE reflects how it began: it’s built from the founders’ initials—Jerry, Lance, and Esteven—a symbol of a partnership formed from day one. Each brought a distinct strength. Esteven, with his background in branding, advertising, and marketing, brought a vision for how construction could show up differently in the world. Jerry complemented that vision with his own creative perspective, while also bringing hands-on contract experience that added a practical layer to the brand they were building together. Lance anchors the operational side—execution, logistics, structure, and scalability—ensuring that every project is delivered with discipline and consistency.
After an intentional search for the right partner to bring deep, hands-on construction expertise into the vision, they found Lauryn—an experienced builder with a strong foundation in the industry. Her addition not only strengthened the team, but expanded JLE Ventures’ capabilities, grounding its forward-thinking approach in real-world execution.
Today, JLE Ventures sits at the intersection of construction, culture, and communication. We’re here to build projects with precision—and to elevate the stories behind them. Because we believe the world should know not only what gets built… but the brands, teams, and people who build it.
OUR VALUES
Integrity
✸
Excellence
✸
Communication
✸
Accountability
✸
Safety
✸
Diversity & Inclusion
✸
Integrity ✸ Excellence ✸ Communication ✸ Accountability ✸ Safety ✸ Diversity & Inclusion ✸
Meet The Team
ESTEVEN GAMEZ | CEO & Cofounder
Esteven Gamez is a general market and multicultural marketing executive, creative strategist, storyteller and entrepreneur based in Long Beach, California. As Co-Founder and CEO of Keen Social, he has spent over 20 years helping brands connect with diverse audiences through data-driven storytelling, social media, and integrated communications—earning national recognition across tourism, hospitality, and public sectors.
An active member of the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, Esteven is deeply involved in driving inclusive, community-focused growth. Through this work, he co-founded JLE Ventures, bringing fresh energy, visibility, and storytelling into industries like construction. By blending content, culture, and community, Esteven and his partners are redefining how these industries show up in the modern world.
LANCE WHITMIER | Vice President & Cofounder
With over two decades of leadership experience, including an illustrious career in the United States Marine Corps spanning 20 years, Lance Whitmier brings a unique blend of discipline, strategic vision, and operational prowess to our company. Lance later served as CEO of his own successful venture and spent an additional 20 years first as CFO then eventually CEO of a leading-edge technology-based company, which catered to clients such as the state and local municipal Governments in California, several entertainment industry leaders, as well as Top 100 Fortune multinational companies. Lance’s entrepreneurial spirit is matched only by his dedication to excellence. His time in the Marine Corps instilled in him the values of integrity.
LAURYN BURNETT | Lead Builder & Partner
Lauryn Burnett owns M3 Services, a full-service construction service and construction management firm based in Los Angeles, CA. Ms. Burnett has 20+ years’ experience as a licensed real estate broker, her contractor’s license, certificates in both Construction Management and Construction Quality Management along with her B.S. in Business Finance and her MBA in International Business. Lauryn’s comprehensive expertise has won her firm various municipal, state and federal projects such as: GSA, FAA, FBI, Army Reserve, Southern CA Edison, County of LA, City of Hermosa Beach, CSU Los Angeles and Dominquez Hills, Fannie Mae and others. Obstacles are no match for Lauryn; she simply puts on her MBA hat and uses her advanced strategic problem-solving skills to formulate an innovative solution. Lauryn shows that success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pockets.
JERRY CHAMPBELL | Founding Advisor & Cultural Architect
With a B.S. in Communication Studies and 15 years of expertise in government contracts, Jerry is a dynamic addition to the JLE team. Beyond his background in contract management and workplace analytics, Jerry is renowned for his exceptional networking skills, having a track record of fostering connections within various industries such as aerospace and defense, robotics, nuclear power, and software solutions for first responders. Jerry's unwavering ethical standards serve as a guiding light for our company, ensuring integrity in all our endeavors. Moreover, his adept ability to negotiate with industry leaders enables us to cut through bureaucratic red tape, facilitating swift and efficient progress towards our goal to grow in the most helpful way possible for our local community.
