About Us

Jabari Herbert

Chairman, President

Jabari Herbert became a part of Focon, Inc. as its Business Development Manager/Director in 2010, interfacing with various developers, owners, public agencies and contractors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in assisting Focon in obtaining contracts and expanding the company business model to include joint ventures with larger prime contractors. Because of his diligent work with the company when the previous owner Michael Seals retired from the business, Jabari was offered the opportunity to become the President and Chairman of Focon, Inc. and he accepted the offer with pleasure. Jabari J. Herbert is also a 25-year veteran of the real estate development Industry. His work became prominent in 1999 with the community partnership of Bank of America and the Alliance for West Oakland Development, Inc. (AWOD).

Mr. Herbert was a founding member and CEO of the Alliance for West Oakland Development Inc., a 501c(3) community development corporation, and champion of the Mandela Village Master plan at the West Oakland BART station. Focon was a founding member of AWOD through the Federation of African American Contractors, Inc. (FAAC). Mr. Herbert has worked on the development of over 1200 units of new/preserved affordable housing in San Francisco, with Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA). He has worked in association with Pacific Charter SD. This has led to $175m in Prop 51 state bond funding for OUSD’s properties. Although Jabari’s professional plate is very full, he finds time to give back as a civic member of a number of organizations, including: Kappa Alpha Psi; Bay Area 100 Black Men; Friendship Christian Center International; Mission Economic Development Agency.He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Friends International University.

Alana D. Herbert

Chief Executive Officer

Alana Herbert has a passion for education and community development. She provides expertise in charter school development and design of land use. She has over 10 years of service working with external partners like KIPP SoCal Public Schools, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, Green Dots Public Schools, Ednovate Public Schools, and the KIPP Foundation. Alana is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) to advocate and promote equity in health, education, and economic empowerment. Alana received her Bachelor’s in Urban Studies from the University of California, Irvine. She is currently enrolled in the Ascend LA’s Management Program, receiving her Construction Management certification from Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship in the College of Business at Loyola Marymount University.

Ben W. Tipton, lll, Esq.

Director

With over three decades of experience in real estate development, construction management and construction disbursement control for major lenders for projects in the greater Bay Area and Northern California, Ben Tipton has also provided consultation and legal representation to the non-profit, small business, veteran’s business and minority-owned businesses involved in the affordable housing development and construction communities since 1992. Having graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with service in the Naval Intelligence community during Vietnam, Ben remains active in support of the military community and governmental contracting opportunities for minority and veteran owned entities.

Mr. Tipton is honored and proud to serve as a Director of FOCON, Inc. with the goal of providing the requisite guidance and direction to ensure the continued success of FOCON.

Yvette Gordon

Operations Manager

Yvette Gordon has 25 of years of experience in the construction industry here in the Bay Area. She has worked with various contractors from Dinwiddie, Gallagher and Burk, Nibbi Brothers and has worked for Focon, Inc. for the past 15 years. Yvette is the operations manager for Focon and handles the day-to-day operations of the business. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Clark Atlanta University.

Ms. Gordon is the primary contact from the field to the office in making sure that we complete all projects successfully and on schedule. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overseeing the administrative duties, hiring, labor compliance, dispatching employees and equipment and assist in improving the efficiency and productivity of the business.

Christian Benz Belnavis

Southern California Regional Manager

Also known by his stage name, EASTWOOD, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He is the CEO of Belnavis Design and Construction and the Southern California Regional Director and Project Manager for FOCON INC., both construction and design development companies geared towards helping both underprivileged inner cities companies and people develop housing and commercial buildings and projects.

With his Non-Profit Organization H.O.P.E. (Having the Opportunity to Possess Everything) Ministries and partnerships with Organizations like the Los Angeles Urban League, he has created Career Development, Life Application, and Mentoring Programs that have help cultivate and inspire the talents, potential, and purpose of individuals seeking to become a productive part of society. To date, he has invested in building a WATER WELL in Tanzania, Africa to help the village in Mombasa have and enjoy a clean water source.

Yvette Gordon

Operations Manager

John Lewis has worked in the construction management field for the last 15 years and has been with Focon for 8 years. His expertise is in commercial construction: office buildings and schools, in particular. John not only loves to build, but he has an interest in estimating and designing. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from UC Berkeley and an Associate’s degree in Construction Management from Laney College.

Wylie Knuckles

Site Supervisor

Wylie has been in Labor unions for 32 years and worked for Focon for 20 years. Out of those 20 years he has served as our foremen laborer for the past 15 years and has received awards from various projects for his outstanding work and support.

Ian Booker

Chief Financial Officer

Ian Booker brings 40 years of civil engineering and general construction experience to the Focon team. He has been a licensed general contractor since 2002 and his diverse experience in construction includes various residential, commercial, and public works projects. Ian is a graduate of Castlemont High School, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University and an Associate’s degree in Mathematics from Laney College.

About Us

Jabari Herbert

Alana D. Herbert

Ben W. Tipton, lll, Esq.

Yvette Gordon

Christian Benz Belnavis

Yvette Gordon

Wylie Knuckles

Ian Booker

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