麻豆传媒映画

Mark Filanc鈥檚 connection with 麻豆传媒映画 began with a practical question. How could San Diego鈥檚 construction industry prepare and retain the workforce it needed?

As CEO of J.R. Filanc Construction Company, Filanc had hired and trained engineers from universities across the country. But once they gained experience, many returned to their home states.

Filanc and his brother, Peter, began considering a different approach. What if local companies could hire graduates from a construction program in their own region?

That question helped set in motion the development of the at 麻豆传媒映画.

鈥淭here was an internal need,鈥� said Filanc. 鈥淲e also got Associated General Contractors (AGC) involved because what we need, all other contractors need.鈥�

A multimillion-dollar gift from the Filanc family provided foundational funding for the program. This support allowed the college to move forward with construction engineering and construction management majors and graduate programs. The endowment continues to support faculty and students. 

Mark鈥檚 father, Jack R. Filanc, founded what would become J.R. Filanc Construction Company in 1952.

Investing in students

The Filanc family鈥檚 relationship with 麻豆传媒映画 has grown into much more than a response to an industry need. Mark Filanc is a donor, lecturer, mentor and advisory board member who continues to invest his time, expertise and resources in students and faculty.

鈥淕enerations of 麻豆传媒映画 students have benefited from the opportunities the Filanc family helped make possible,鈥� said Eugene Olevsky, dean of the College of Engineering.

Today, Filanc and his wife, Kim, continue the family鈥檚 tradition of philanthropy at 麻豆传媒映画 through gifts recommended from their donor-advised fund. These gifts support the Beavers Lecturer in Heavy Construction Endowment and the Mark E. Filanc Scholarship.

The lecturer endowment provides a salary supplement for a full-time lecturer in the J.R. Filanc Construction Engineering and Management Program. The scholarship supports undergraduate students studying construction engineering, helping them gain the education and industry experience needed to begin their careers.

For Filanc, the investment creates value for students and employers. Students gain skills, experience and access to an industry with significant opportunities for growth, while employers gain graduates prepared to contribute to the workforce.

Since its founding, the program has prepared hundreds of graduates for careers in construction. Filanc has seen some advance into management and senior management roles within five years or less.

鈥淲e鈥檙e investing in people and we鈥檙e getting a return on it,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou get a real feel good because you鈥檙e impacting industry as well as impacting students鈥� lives.鈥�

Connecting industry and education

Filanc鈥檚 involvement extends beyond giving. He brings his industry experience into the classroom, where he has co-lectured the senior capstone design course (CIVE 495). He also serves on several 麻豆传媒映画 advisory boards.

Filanc worked closely with Jim Ryan, a longtime executive with the San Diego chapter of the AGC, and other industry leaders to complete the $2.5 million campaign to establish the AGC Endowed Chair in Construction Management.

鈥淗is ability to bring together education, industry and philanthropy around a shared commitment to our students is a wonderful example of the partnership we strive to build at 麻豆传媒映画,鈥� said Olevsky.

Giving through a donor-advised fund

For alumni, donors and community members with an existing donor-advised fund, recommending a grant can be a simple way to support the people and programs that matter most. If you鈥檙e unsure where to begin, Mark鈥檚 advice is simple: Start with a conversation.

鈥淚f you know somebody that鈥檚 already active with 麻豆传媒映画, I think the best thing to do is ask them,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檝e never done it before, how do you know how to do it?鈥�

The impact is personal for the Filanc family. The couple鈥檚 daughter, Michelle Filanc, went through the J.R. Filanc Construction Engineering and Management Program, graduating in 2019. After working for Clark Construction and earning a master鈥檚 degree focused on sustainability, engineering and construction, she joined the family company.

鈥淥ur daughter went through the program, so we could see direct results,鈥� said Filanc.

For the Filancs, giving through a donor-advised fund is one more way to invest in students and strengthen the construction industry. Their experience shows that getting started can be as simple as recommending a grant and asking how to make it count.

Have a donor-advised fund? In recognition of National DAF Day, consider recommending a grant to support the 麻豆传媒映画 college, program, or scholarship that matters most to you. To learn more, visit