It started with a vision

Years before the first seat was filled, the vision took root in Don Scheffler's heart. He felt a clear, spiritual nudge to gather his peers for something more than networking.

In 2009, Don confided that vision to his friend Leonard Liston: a traditional Christmas dinner for the construction industry that would both share the Gospel and strengthen the faith of believers. Leonard urged him to act.

Years later, Don sat down with David Houck and shared the same dream. Through these pivotal conversations, a conviction emerged that the people who built Southern California deserved a community rooted in faith.

Their collective push was the spark Don needed to stop dreaming and start hosting. Year one, roughly two dozen people gathered at a friend's house. A Christmas celebration centered on the soul of the person, not the scale of the project.

The table kept growing, from 24 to 200, to 400, to nearly 600 owners, workers, families, and students. All reminded that they are seen, valued, and not alone.

In October 2025, BuildLA officially became a nonprofit, built to serve the backbone of our industry. The Christmas Dinner revealed how deep the needs really are, so we built a year-round community around it.

This December 3rd at the Skirball Cultural Center, we're aiming for 1,000 guests. Our biggest table yet. The dinner is only the beginning.

We're building more touchpoints through the year, clearer pathways for students into the trades, and a circle of companies and professionals who want to stand with this industry and its people. BuildLA uniquely combines fellowship, accountability, and workforce development to protect both projects and people.