As Vice President of Business Development supporting the central region, Jake Popkin is responsible for overseeing business development efforts across the region while supporting Southland's national strategy in healthcare and other markets that shape local communities, including airports, sports and entertainment, higher education, and federal markets. He leads business development efforts focused on bringing in the right work to create opportunities for Southland's people while delivering world-class experiences and outcomes for customers and partners. Jake also focuses on industry and market trends, identifying where Southland needs to be and building relationships that position the company for long-term success.

With 11 years of experience in engineering, preconstruction, and business development, Jake first joined Southland as an intern and has held roles including lead mechanical engineer and director of preconstruction before transitioning into business development. His experience across engineering and preconstruction has given him a unique perspective on how decisions made early in a project ultimately impact Southland's people, customers, and operations teams. His project experience includes the University Health System (UHS) Women and Children's Tower in San Antonio, where the team collaborated early in design to implement multi-trade corridor and patient room racks.

Jake holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Energy Engineering from the University of North Texas and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Metro San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and is active in industry organizations including the Lean Construction Institute, ASHE, ASHRAE, and MCA.