Exploring Life & Business with Cesar Losada of CL AS BUILT

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cesar Losada.

Hi Cesar, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Cesar Losada, and my wife is Karol Mendoza. We are both from Colombia. I graduated in 2010 as an Architectural and Engineering Drafter from the Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca in Bogotá, and Karol graduated in 2015 with a degree in Business Administration from Uniminuto University, also in Bogotá.

1. A Leap of Faith
We arrived in the United States in January 2020. Just a few days later, the WHO announced a global pandemic. When we first got here, we were—and still are—amazed by the beauty and infrastructure of this country. We were wide-eyed seeing the highways, bridges, avenues, and buildings; the sense of order, the abundance in stores, the clean streets, the respect for rules, and the safety. I have two cousins who are police officers, and seeing their pride and patriotism is truly admirable. We saw the greatness of a different kind of society and a high quality of life. However, shortly after, we felt a lot of fear as the world faced the pandemic. It was shocking to see that abundance fade, seeing empty shelves in stores. It created a lot of uncertainty, but fortunately, things began to improve day by day.

At that time, I was working as a janitor at a food processing plant. Because of that, I was considered an “essential worker” and had a special permit to be out on the streets. Karol was working remotely for a company back in Colombia. That job was a beautiful experience for me; I met people who taught me lessons that I still remember fondly. I remember the owner of the company found out there was an architectural drafter working in the maintenance department. He came down from his office, greeted me by name, and expressed his gratitude for my hard work, saying he hoped I would soon find a position that matched my professional background. That filled me with such emotion and gratitude. In every job we’ve had, we have always given our absolute best.

I used to start work at 5:00 AM and finish around 2:00 PM. I actually enjoyed that schedule because having so much free time in the afternoon was a joy. It was also a novelty for us to see the sun set so late; in Colombia, we don’t have seasons like here—the sun rises at 6:00 AM and sets at 6:00 PM year-round. Seeing the sun still up at 8:00 PM was amazing to us (and it still is!). I used that extra time to look for work with architects and engineers. After several interviews, I met an architect and started working for a “fix and flip” company in April 2020. I worked there for four years, and eventually, Karol joined as well. I was in the architecture department, handling the entire design and permitting process, while Karol was in the purchasing department, managing construction materials for the projects.

We learned so much there, and it gave us the foundation to create CL AS-BUILT in 2022 (CL stands for Cesar Losada). I started by creating “as-built” floor plans for existing properties so that architects and engineers could develop their proposals. It was a process of conscious growth; while we were still employees, we were parallelly building what would become our main source of income. We worked on marketing, finding clients, and analyzing the market. After two years, in 2024, we resigned from our jobs to take the leap into full independence. We started with just me; today, we are a team of five. Karol handles all administrative and commercial operations, while I oversee the field work. Together with three other architects, we produce the final products: DWG files featuring existing conditions—crucial data for any architectural project in our cities.

2. Colombian Synergy
Our professions, though different, complement each other perfectly. Karol’s background in Business Administration—managing accounts, financial statements, expenses, client relations, social media, and databases—combined with my experience in architectural and engineering drafting, allowed us to identify a specific market need. Architects and engineers needed a reliable team to visit properties and produce as-built plans with high precision, professionalism, and quick turnaround times. We gather the most relevant data and pride ourselves on including details that others often miss. Most importantly, we love what we do.

3. Overcoming Barriers
We have faced many challenges, the most significant being the language. Although we are learning and see our progress every day, we know it is vital to speak our clients’ language fluently, so mastering English is our top priority. On a personal level, the most painful challenge was the passing of my father in July 2023. It was sudden and a heavy blow, but I am grateful for his life; he taught us the values and principles that are now the core of our lives and of CL AS-BUILT.

Our growth in this great country makes us feel grateful every single day. Seeing what we have achieved fills us with satisfaction and drives us to work harder. We are currently working on a new app that we’ve been developing on the side. It’s still a prototype, but once it’s ready for launch, we hope it will improve processes within the construction industry on a global scale.

4. The Pride of Achievement
Looking back at that January in 2020, I would tell Cesar and Karol: “Keep doing things the right way, keep putting everything you’ve learned into practice, because something big is coming.”

5. Legacy and Community
To everyone reading this: visualize what you want to do and work hard for it. Luck doesn’t exist; what people call “luck” is the result of preparation meeting opportunity. I’m not saying don’t be afraid—I have felt fear many times. What I’m saying is: don’t let your fear be bigger than your desire to improve. Do things right, be honest, be respectful, be punctual, and honor your word. Be a good person, help when you can, and appreciate this country. Value it, respect it, and remember where we come from. While I love my home country, I recognize its shortcomings, and that’s why I recognize the greatness of the United States. This is a country that allows you to reach your goals—you just have to be organized, have a plan, and execute it.

We want to thank this prestigious magazine for this interview. It is truly an honor for us.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been rewarding, but it has required a massive amount of mental and financial discipline. One of the most significant struggles was navigating the ‘bridge phase’—that period where we were still employees by day while building CL AS-BUILT by night. For two years, we didn’t have weekends or free time; every spare second was invested in market analysis, client relations, and perfecting our technical delivery.

The hardest part, however, was the psychological leap of letting go of a steady paycheck. Deciding to resign from our stable jobs to go fully independent was a moment of intense pressure. As immigrants, you often feel you don’t have the luxury of failing. Moving from the ‘safety’ of being an employee to the ‘responsibility’ of leading a team of five was a total shift in identity. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about my technical drawings or Karol’s administration; it was about ensuring that our vision could sustain the livelihoods of the people who now rely on us.

Additionally, we had to overcome the challenge of building trust in a highly competitive industry. We weren’t just asking for work; we were proving that our specific ‘As-Built’ methodology was more precise and reliable than what was already out there. We had to turn our ‘outsider’ perspective into a competitive advantage, showing that our synergy as a team could solve problems that larger firms often overlook.

It hasn’t been smooth because growth always requires friction. We’ve had to learn how to scale a business in real-time, moving from a two-person operation to a structured company, all while developing new technology on the side. But looking back, those sleepless nights and the risk of leaving our comfort zone were exactly what we needed to build the solid foundation we stand on today.

As you know, we’re big fans of CL AS BUILT. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At CL As-Built, we are specialists in the critical first phase of any architectural or renovation project: the precise documentation of existing conditions. We specialize in providing high-precision Floor Plans, Elevations, Site Plans, and Roof Plans.

Our core service is transforming an on-site physical reality into clear, technical documentation. We serve as the eyes and the foundation for architects, engineers, contractors, and construction professionals across Southern California, ensuring they have the exact data needed to start their design and permitting processes without errors.

What are you known for and what sets you apart from others?
We are known for our “Express Service” and our uncompromising precision. We deliver professional As Built in just 2 to 3 days.

What truly sets us apart is our deep understanding of the professional’s needs. We don’t just “measure”; we provide DWG files and detailed photo documentation that support precise design and construction decisions. Our synergy—combining architectural drafting expertise with rigorous business administration—allows us to offer a level of professionalism, punctuality, and detail that is rare in the field services industry.

What are you most proud of brand-wise?
Brand-wise, we are incredibly proud of our milestone of +1M Sq Ft Measured. This number represents more than just space; it represents the trust of hundreds of professionals who have relied on our “Precision That Performs.”

We are also proud of our growth and our footprint in the most competitive markets of California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Riverside. Seeing the CL As-Built logo associated with reliability and technical excellence is our greatest achievement.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, and services?
We want your readers to know that CL As-Built is more than an AS Built company; we are strategic partners in their construction journey. Whether it’s a complex remodel requiring detailed roof layouts or a simple residential floor plan, we provide the technical peace of mind that a project is built on a solid, accurately measured foundation.

Our services are tailored specifically to eliminate the “guesswork” for professionals. When you hire us, you are not just getting a drawing; you are getting a professional standard of documentation that accelerates your timeline and protects your design integrity.

What does success mean to you?
For us, success is a three-dimensional concept: Precision, Independence, and Legacy.

First, on a professional level, success is defined by reliability. In the construction world, a mistake of a few inches can cost thousands of dollars. Therefore, we define success every time an architect or engineer opens one of our DWG files and finds the perfect foundation for their creativity. Knowing that we’ve measured over 1 million square feet with uncompromising precision is, to us, the ultimate professional victory.

Second, success is the freedom to innovate. It was the moment we transitioned from being employees to becoming founders, taking the risk to build something of our own. Today, seeing our team of five experts working toward a common goal, and having the creative space to develop our own app to solve industry gaps, is what true success feels like. It’s moving from executing a task to leading a vision.

Finally, we define success as legacy. As immigrants, success is proving that values like honesty, punctuality, and hard work are universal currencies. It’s about building a brand in the United States that stands for excellence and inspires others to believe that, with organization and a clear plan, any goal is reachable. For us, success isn’t just arriving at a destination; it’s the pride of looking back at where we started in 2020 and knowing we stayed true to our principles every step of the way

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clasbuilt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cl_as_built/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588231166191