Gillian Levi’s heart has always been rooted in education and construction—whether she knew it or not.
Initially inspired by her science classes and fascination with bridges at Crosby High School, Levi dreamed of being a civil engineer. But, in her senior year, when she noticed she was the only girl in calculus and drafting, the isolation was too much. This caused her to give up on her dream and major in Nutritional Science, but that experience unexpectedly led her to something else: education.
While substitute teaching for extra income in college at Texas A&M University in College Station, she discovered the joy of helping others learn. That foundation in education has influenced every aspect of her career and has shaped her as an entrepreneur, project manager, and curriculum developer.
After graduation, Levi decided to forgo her dietetic internship and pursue a career in education. When she earned her Master’s in Adult Education, the world of vocational and technical education opened up. She would spend the next nearly 20 years growing in the field and educating at all levels across the world.
Levi spent six years teaching 5th and 7th-grade science, followed by three years in computer networking. She eventually advanced into workforce education, becoming Senior Director of Curriculum and Development for Zenith Education Group in Southern California. In that role, she oversaw curriculum development for over 100 schools across the U.S. and Canada, collaborating with brands like Massage Envy, publishers such as Elsevier, and companies in IT and construction. She later used her teaching credentials to work in the United Arab Emirates and contribute to national curriculum reform.
“Those conversations with employers and a window into the economic goals of another country helped me understand the critical connection between education and industry—revealing how skill gaps directly impact workforce and economic success,” Levi said.
In 2019, she decided to go into business for herself as a consultant, helping other small businesses with back-office support, developing systems, preparing bidding documents, and completing compliance paperwork. After only a year, Levi took the leap and used the strategies she learned to win bids for herself. Odigo Services LLC became a small construction maintenance contractor and certified MWBE, WBE, DBE, SBE, and HUB business. She began winning bids and managing projects of her own.
Even as Odigo Services found success as a construction maintenance business, Gillian’s passion for teaching remained at the forefront. She noticed that, even with all the hard work and time contractors were putting in attending events and educating themselves, they were still struggling to win bids and grow their businesses.
“Once you go home, you’re often left to figure everything out on your own—especially when it comes to public procurement and bidding,” Levi said. “You may be searching for opportunities, trying to navigate paperwork, or deciding whether to pursue a contract, but there’s no one there to help you apply what you’ve learned in real time or help with paperwork.”
Odigo Services then launched its sister company, Odigo Learning, in 2024. This education and management training division was created to address those pain points directly, equipping contractors with the tools, strategies, and confidence needed to compete and grow in today’s market.
“Our goal is to close the gap between potential and performance—transforming how contractors approach business, bidding, and leadership,” Levi said. “Ultimately, our vision is to be a driving force in community development by increasing small and MWBE business participation, expanding the pool of qualified contractors, and fostering a more competitive, diverse, and resilient business ecosystem.”
Odigo Learning specializes in improving bidding and pre-construction practices through its educational programs.
Through its programs, it can help you:
- Increase your bid submission rate by 50% or more
- Improve your readiness to bid and proposal packaging
- Build systems that keep your pipeline full and your team focused
- Strengthen your leadership and company culture for sustainable growth
Its Services Include:
- Bid Assist™ – Support to help you plan, prepare, and submit competitive bids
- Live & Virtual Bidding Readiness Workshops
- Self-Paced Online Courses
- Leadership Development for Construction Business Owners
- Customized Training Programs for You and Your Team
- Contractor-to-Contractor Peer Learning Cohorts
Who It Partners With:
- Small & minority-owned construction businesses – To help build capacity, win more bids, and lead with confidence
- Construction business owners – Who are ready to move from surviving to scaling
- Technical assistance providers & industry associations – To extend training and coaching support to the contractors they serve
- Educational institutions & workforce programs – To bridge the gap between training and real-world business success
- Government & corporate supplier diversity leaders – To help prepare and grow a qualified, diverse vendor pool
Where Odigo Learning makes its biggest impact is helping businesses build systems and structure. Construction businesses are great at their trade but often lack the back-office processes that support scaling—like managing bids, tracking documents, coordinating subcontractors, or planning strategically.
“That’s where I knew I could step in and make a difference,” Levi said. “I wanted to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually getting it done by offering not just information, but hands-on support, accountability, and coaching to help contractors move from potential to performance.”
Odigo Learning also addresses mindset, leadership, wellness, and team dynamics. Or, as Levi likes to say: EMPOWER. EDUCATE. INSPIRE. IMPACT.
“We make business owners more decisive, more organized, and better equipped to lead their teams,” Levi said. “We inspire them to think bigger, act bolder, and lead with vision. We create lasting impact by helping them uncover what makes their business unique and transforming it into a sustainable, life-giving enterprise.”
One of Odigo Learning’s greatest success stories is the work it did with a small DBE construction company that had been in business for years. The owner clearly had the skills and experience, but he struggled to increase his bids. After Odigo Learning built out his bid calendar, clarified business goals, and started holding weekly meetings focused on his bidding strategy, he went from 1-2 bids a month to 2-3 quality bids a week.
That is the real, measurable transformation that Odigo Learning promises.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed by paperwork, or unsure how to navigate going from a skilled tradesman to a small general contractor or competitive subcontractor—whether you’re new to this or have done it for years—then Odigo Learning was built with you in mind. After all, Levi has been exactly where you are today.
“I’ve been the business owner up late at night figuring out bid forms, second-guessing pricing, and wondering if I’m on the right path,” Levi said. “I’ve faced challenges, including a cancer diagnosis while managing my business, that forced me to reevaluate everything. This work is personal to me. Odigo Learning is about legacy, community, and empowerment—and it’s a space where contractors don’t have to walk the path alone.”
To work with Odigo Learning, the best first step is to schedule a Discovery Call or attend one of its live sessions.
- Schedule a Discovery Call with Odigo Learning here.
- Its upcoming events can be found at https://www.odigolearning.com/Events
- Or phone: 281.502.1534
