High-Profile: Women in Construction 2020 Supplement by High-Profile

Women in Construction

March 2020

WOMEN in CONSTRUCTION

March 2020 Annual Supplement Grace Steward (left) and Michaela Catallozzi of C.E. Floyd on site at the Big Y Distribution Center in Springfield, Mass. page 7

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Women in Construction

Publisher’s Message

Anastasia Barnes

Lift as you climb.

That was one of the many inspiring takeaways in Jane Edmonds’ keynote speech at the Construction Institute’s sixth annual Women Who Build Summit.

Lift as you climb. That was one of the many inspiring takeaways in Jane Edmonds’ keynote speech at the Construction Institute’s sixth annual Women Who Build Summit, held last month at UMass Amherst. Lift as you climb: what powerful imagery. The message was impactful. I’m a visual person, so I imagined myself climbing a mountain. Picture this: I’m physically exhausted and emotionally drained from scaling this beast of a mountain. Then, I look back. I see a line of women behind me, scaling the same rock. They are my sisters, my tribe. I reach my arm out behind me and grab a woman’s forearm, and lift her with all of my strength until she is almost beside me. She smiles and does the same for the woman behind her. That’s what is happening in the A/E/C industry, across all disciplines. Many women in executive level positions want to make change. Real change comes when it starts at the top: a commitment to diversity and inclusion. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that much of this change is happening with our allies, the men that support and promote us.

March 2020

According to Lior Aitzman’s article, Women In Construction: The State of our Industry in 2020 (https://www.bigrentz. com/blog/women-construction), 13% of construction firms are owned by women, and within the past five years, there has been a 64% growth in female owners! See, there is progress. It may be slower than we want, but it’s happening. The same article states that there is a growing number of female managers in the field. This is likely attributable to the many programs that are geared to attract, and eventually retain, young women in the industry: the Girls in Trades Conference, STEMfems, and many others. Climbing the ranks of any industry is challenging for most women, but even more so in A/E/C. What I find most fascinating is how many industries, across all disciplines, have a network that is there to support women; even the most niche of organizations. From women in engineering to women in HVACR, there’s a “club” for you! On a personal note, I want to give special thanks to the women on my staff: Betsy, for her persistence in sales; Emily, for her creativity with stories; Sara, for her attention to detail; Yvonne, for her awardwinning talent; Marion, my grandmother and the editor of High-Profile, for her

undying commitment to grammar; and lastly, my mom and the co-founder of High-Profile, for having created a solid foundation on which to build. We’re excited to share our second annual Women In Construction supplement, which highlights women from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds, from all across New England. Be sure to check out our calendar at high-profile.com/events for events happening during WIC Week (March 1-7). Happy Women’s History Month!

Anastasia Barnes

The articles and profiles in the following pages are just a portion of submissions that were sent in from companies in the architecture, engineering and construction industry in New England. To read all WIC submissions, visit www.high-profile.com/ category/people/wic

Women In Construction A supplement to High-Profile Monthly PUBLISHER Anastasia Barnes P.O. Box 7, Pembroke, MA 02359 Phone: 781-294-4530 Send comments to anastasia@high-profile.com Online at: www.high-profile.com

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March 2020

Women in Construction

Celebrating Women in Construction IBEW Local 103 and NECA Greater Boston contractors celebrate Women in Construction! Together, our organizations are leading the way to a more inclusive, equitable, and family-sustaining electrical construction industry. We promise equal wages, benefits, and dignity on the job for all as a pillar of our mission. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why more than 93 percent of women starting their electrical careers in Massachusetts choose to join our apprenticeship program. IBEW Local 103 and NECA Greater Boston contractors actively recruit and welcome women into our core teams each day, where opportunity for growth and advancement is endless. Women play a critical role in construction, and we thank our sisters, and all tradeswomen, for their many contributions.

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Women in Construction

March 2020

BRAND New: The Overhaul of the Construction Industry’s Image

by Jacqueline A. Falla If I were a brilliant brand rehabilitation expert, I’d take the construction industry by the crane and string the difficult, dangerous, and unpleasant aspects of its brand image up by its dirt covered boots and get to the serious business of dusting them off. Time, I believe, is no longer on its side, for we have arrived at a perfect moment. This confluence of events – me too, plus diversity and inclusion, plus massive labor shortages in the industry – all adds up to a rare, but not unheard of, willingness to allow the tides of change to clean up those old boots. Like any corporation that has suffered a crisis which has damaged, or threatens to damage, its image, the construction industry needs a little public relations renovation. Having made my career in this industry, albeit not in the field, I can attest to the fact that construction is one of the most rewarding places you can

The fact that only 9% of the construction workforce is female – some estimate that it’s a single percent on-site, need not be a deterrent. I consider it a point of pride, like the pioneering women that came before me, flying F14 Tomcats, running countries, and seeking medical degrees before women were allowed to receive them.

choose to be. The fact that only 9% of the construction workforce is female – some estimate that it’s a single percent on-site, need not be a deterrent. I consider it a point of pride, like the pioneering women that came before me, flying F14 Tomcats, running countries, and seeking medical

degrees before women were allowed to receive them. Women and young girls that choose construction will be considered pathfinders for generations to come. In a time when the wage gap, with all its equal rights shortcomings, is under a microscope and the pay by gender curtain is being raised on corporations, the construction industry has one of the slimmest margins of disparity among professions, and offers some of the most stable work a woman, or a man, can get. If you choose this field, the news gets even better. Unions will pay for your training, and the outrageous cost of a college education need not be your concern. Women that work in a trade can begin early, accumulate wealth faster, and retire sooner than the majority of women in traditional “female role” jobs like nursing, teaching or childcare. A sense of purpose and meaning in one’s chosen career is not a given. Recent studies indicate that more than half of the American workforce feel no real connection to their jobs. Feeling connected is important as it results in increased productivity, pride, and a sense of accomplishment. Building offers these opportunities for connection through creation. The impact we all have, whether

we are putting pen to paper to describe the renovation and restoration process, or wiring the space to support the latest technology, is that we are making a difference in people’s lives, and the evidence is all around us. At the end of the day, to be able to say, “I built that,” gives meaning to our existence. Be a role model, support a life worth living, and love what you are doing. Women in Construction should be more than a week – it should be an undisputed reality. Jacqueline A. Falla is the director of client services at Elaine Construction Company.

Be a role model, support a life worth living, and love what you are doing. Women in Construction should be more than a week – it should be an undisputed reality.

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Women in Construction

March 2020

City Point Partners Launches ‘The Women’s Forum’ City Point Partners recently announced that they have launched The Women’s Forum. Consisting of staff representing a variety of disciplines including public outreach, project controls and program management, the City Point Partners Women’s Forum was created to facilitate networking, mentoring, and discussion of workplace issues among colleagues. Led by Women’s Forum co-chairs, Kim Treacy, assistant project manager, and Apoorva Paruchuri, lead project controls specialist, the inaugural meeting was held in December to coincide with the Massachusetts Conference for Women. During the meeting, a livestream of the conference was shown followed by a conversation about the unique issues faced by women in the AEC industry. “It is extremely important to me that we have The Women’s Forum to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between the women who contribute so much to the success of our firm,” remarked Colleen Moore, the firm’s president. “Since starting the firm in 2009, I have emphasized the mentoring of young women.” “As co-chair of The Women’s Forum, I’m excited to have this unique opportunity to help my colleagues grow and learn from each other,” said Treacy. “I’m impressed with the accomplish-

(l-r) Sherri Croal, Renee Wassersug, Amanda Smith, Sheryl Kretzer, Candice Taylor, Apoorva Paruchuri, Kim Treacy, Lindsey Heffernan, Kari Richards, Trisha Barajas, Julie Callahan and Colleen Moore

ments and experience of the members of the City Point Partners Women’s Forum and look forward to working with this group for the rest of my term as co-chair,“ said Paruchuri. Future activities for the Women’s Forum include enrolling in classes and workshops together, volunteering in their respective communities, and book reviews on relevant topics. City Point Partners is a woman-owned program management firm serving the engineering and construction industries. The firm’s skilled team has experience

“ It is extremely important to me that we have The Women’s Forum to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between the women who contribute so much to the success of our firm.” – Colleen Moore in a broad range of projects – public and private, horizontal and vertical – including staff who are registered architects, licensed construction supervisors, certified cost professionals, and schedulers. City Point Partners is federally certified as a Women

Owned Small Business (WOSB) and a Small Business. The firm is a WBE/DBE certified firm in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and DBE-certified in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania.

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Women in Construction

PROFILE:

Alexandrea Banks

Jaclyn Hazlett

Alexandrea Banks, LEED AP is a bright, talented and ambitious project manager at Timberline Construction. As a project manager, she has transitioned into new project accounts within the corporate and academic market sector with clients such as Bentley University and Morrison Mahoney. A LEED Green associate, Alexandrea provides our team with insight into processes, procedures and costs associated with the WELL Building Standard, fitwel, and LEED. She has built PROJECT a reputation for creative MANAGER problem solving, team building, minimizing Timberline costs and maximizing Construction productivity. Alexandrea ensures projects are delivered to the highest quality and within budget by effectively organizing, managing and utilizing all resources. She is an outstanding communicator and is one of our most promising and up-andcoming talents. In addition to her exceptional project work, Alexandrea is also spearheading and developing a robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program with the senior leadership team to implement into the company culture. The CSR program at Timberline encompasses the internal

Jackie initially joined Erland in 2013 as a front desk coordinator. It wasn’t long after that her ability to get her work done in a timely and efficient manner was recognized and she was asked to take on more responsibility. She became a project administrator in 2015 and took over tracking subcontracts and filing insurance certificates, among other tasks, for various Erland projects. Jackie didn’t stop there though… she was just getting her feet wet! After three years, Jackie asked PROJECT to spend more time ENGINEER II on our jobsites so she could better understand Erland how each project was Construction managed. She quickly learned the ins and outs of Procore, how weekly meetings are run, and the daily operational tasks associated with a project. It was then that her drive kicked into high gear and she joined project management full time as a project engineer I; now project engineer II. Her colleagues refer to her as a machine, a self-motivator, and someone they can count on to get the job done. Every day, she exceeds expectations, taking on more responsibility and handling it all with the utmost confidence. Jackie is currently assisting with several projects including a

Alexandrea is spearheading and developing a robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program with the senior leadership team to implement into the company culture. policies and strategies around four main initiatives: community, workplace, environmental and market place. With the Timberline leaders, Alexandrea has outlined a guide for continuous improvement to the program to ultimately make Timberline a better place to work for years to come.

PROFILE:

Haley Sabino

Miris Fernandes

Haley Sabino joined Erland as a field supervisor in 2018 but her passion for construction began long before that. She fell in love with building in middle school when she started assisting her family’s construction business. Haley would help on miscellaneous residential and commercial projects with her dad and grandfather, whether brickwork, tiling, framing, or demolition. Her roots inspired her to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology where she received a bachelor’s FIELD degree in construction SUPERVISOR management. Growing up in the Erland industry has taught Haley Construction many invaluable lessons; the most important being that starting from the bottom makes you a better leader. And a leader she is! Haley is currently working on an out-of-the-ground, 371Ksf multifamily project in Malden. On any given day, she oversees aapproximately 230 construction workers. With the help of her team, Haley is becoming an assertive communicator, learning how to use her voice, and reinforcing accountability with subcontractors. She is also overseeing the project’s safety program, documenting and reporting all incidents to the OCIP administrator. As

Metro Walls recently welcomed Miris Fernandes to its safety team. In just a few months, Miris has fit right in as one of the company’s safety and subcontractor compliance officers. You can find Miris traveling to job sites throughout New England performing onsite safety and compliance inspections. With more than 17 years of industry experience, she is a perfect fit for this role. Aside from English, Miris speaks Spanish and Portuguese. Her multilingual skill set makes it easy for SAFETY AND her to communicate in SUBCONTRACTOR today’s job sites. COMPLIANCE Miris’s favorite part OFFICER of her job is educating workers. Staying ahead Metro Walls of industry trends, she is able to pass on safety tips that can be retained and put into regular practice. Metro Walls has always been a supporter of women in the construction industry. As women continue to face

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part of this role, Haley has become the main point of contact for Liberty Mutual who performs Erland’s safety consult, walking the jobsite with the inspector bi-weekly and taking care of any related items that arise.

...starting from the bottom makes you a better leader. By participating in every element of building, Haley has learned to appreciate and understand the work being done. Every day on-site, she continues to learn and grow as a member of the construction industry and the Erland team.

March 2020

series of renovations for Boston Scientific and Sage Therapeutics. Her positive attitude and exceptional client service make her an asset to each project team.

It takes great courage to embrace the possibilities of one’s potential and take the initiative to grow one’s career. It takes great courage to embrace the possibilities of one’s potential and take the initiative to grow one’s career. Jackie is the epitome of brave as evidenced by her leap from administration to project management.

barriers in this industry, it is one of Metro Wall’s top priorities to break some old ways of thinking in 2020. Metro believes that empowering women with opportunity now, creates positive role models and could ignite passion in young women for trades in the future.

... empowering women with opportunity now, creates positive role models and could ignite passion in young women for trades in the future.

Women in Construction

March 2020

Women Overcome Obstacles, Find Success in A/E/C Industry Middletown, CT – According to the most recent statistic from the National Association of Women in Construction, women make up 9.9% of the construction industry. C.E. Floyd is proving to be an exception. Women make up 20% of the company and staff multiple all-female project teams from the office management side. One woman at the helm of two of these projects is Project manager Michaela Catallozzi. She is successfully managing the Big Y Distribution Center project in Springfield, Mass. and a new Big Y store in Simsbury, Conn. On these projects she is assisted by project engineers Grace Steward and Briana Hardware.

... from the National Association of Women in Construction, women make up 9.9% of the construction industry. Although successful, the project team has encountered obstacles. As Steward described, “As a full-female team I felt as though we had more to prove when first starting out. Once we established that we were more than capable of getting the job done, things have gone very smoothly.”

Grace Steward (left) and Michaela Catallozzi on site at the Big Y Distribution Center in Springfield, Mass.

This wearisome imposition to prove their competence before they even set foot on a job site is unfortunately all too common for women in the industry even as their numbers continue to grow. However, these two all-female project teams have proven to be up to the task. “Michaela and Grace have really set the stage for success with the Big Y Team on the Distribution Center project through careful planning, consistency, attention to detail and a tenacity for keeping the subcontractors in line,” C.E. Floyd’s director of Connecticut operations, Jeff Palmer, commented. “Michaela has carried that same approach over to the Simsbury project where she has the added task of training

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her young, female project engineer, Briana, while clearing the same high bar that she set at the distribution center,” continued Palmer on the success of these project teams. “The Simsbury project also boasts a female project manager on the owner’s side which leaves the superintendent and architect as the lone males on the project team. It’s amazing to think how rare a situation like that would have been 10-15 years ago. Now, thanks to the successes that Michaela, Grace, and Briana have achieved, it’s becoming commonplace within C.E. Floyd.” This normalization of female project teams requires an overhaul in the thinking of the entire A/E/C industry. As women continue to be successful, the default

Our end goal should be to get to a place where “women in construction” no longer need their own week to bring awareness and recognition to those in the industry. view of these project teams should be the same as male-led teams: competent and capable of doing the job. Women who hold leadership positions should be given the same respect their male counterparts receive. Not because they are a “woman doing a man’s job,” but because of their work performance and dedication to their craft. It’s time our industry acknowledges the work we have to do to provide opportunities for women to shine. Our end goal should be to get to a place where “women in construction” no longer need their own week to bring awareness and recognition to those in the industry. Submitted by C.E. Floyd, Inc.

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Women in Construction

PROFILE:

Omarys C. Vasquez

Kyma Ganzer

Omarys C. Vasquez, AIA, LEED-AP, associate at Svigals + Partners, is a licensed architect in Connecticut. Born of migrant parents looking for the American dream, she was raised for most of her life in a public housing development in New York City. Attributable to her humble beginnings, she brings motivation, passion, and empathy in everything that she touches and with all whom she collaborates with. Omarys assures that her client’s design intent is carried throughout the project and her passionate nature ASSOCIATE allows for fluid collaboration between client, Svigals + consultants and conPartners struction management, with the ultimate goal to inspire, enliven and enrich the human experience. With over 14 years of experience, Omarys has been associated with a wide range of projects from schematic design through construction administration including those in the healthcare, academic, hospitality, commercial, institutional, multi-family, and transportation sector. The first ever built project that she partook on – the African Burial Ground Memorial National Monument, under architect Rodney Leon, AIA – activated her desire to impact the community through design

Kyma Ganzer, LEED AP, is project manager at LaRosa Building Group. Her career in the AEC industry began after transitioning from the residential real estate investment businesses in 2007. Although she held a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University, she went back to school and earned a Master of Science in construction management from Central Connecticut State University and LEED AP BD+C accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council while working full time for a general PROJECT contractor. During this MANAGER time, she also worked her way up from assistant in La Rosa the accounting office to Building Group project manager. Since joining LaRosa Building Group in 2012, Kyma has managed a variety of projects ranging in size and complexity, to include her current endeavor, a $25 million new construction project in Connecticut. Owners, architects, subcontractors and coworkers alike value the professionalism, dedication, integrity and quality of work she brings to each project, and she continues to challenge herself to gain experience. Already a leader in the office, Kyma also takes the time to help newcomers with LaRosa

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that encapsulates the history of a people. Her passion further extends beyond the built environment, helping to set the stage for equity, inclusion and diversity in the architectural profession. As a member of the AIA-Connecticut Women in Architecture Committee and as cofounder of the soon-to-be-formed first Connecticut state chapter for the National Organization of Minority Architects, she aims to advocate, provide mentorship, and engage in early educational outreach so that the architectural profession can embody more of the communities that we serve.

A History of Embracing Change

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March 2020

Building Group’s policies, procedures and project software as well as to mentor interns and junior project managers. She is inspired by the evolving landscape and culture of the AEC industry and strives to always leave a positive impression with those she encounters. Kyma is the proud recipient of the 2019 Professional Women in Construction CT Chapter’s Rising Star Award, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. When she is not in the office, the field, or her home office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and fur babies.

PROFILE:

Latoya Baskin A graduate from Wentworth Institute of Technology’s 2011 civil engineering technology program, Latoya Baskin is a scheduler in AECOM’s Boston office with over nine years of relevant experience. Latoya was featured in New England Real Estate Journal’s “Women in Construction Spotlight” in March 2018, a 2017 honoree for Women@Wentworth: Celebrating 45, highlighted in the Bay State Banner for her notable project with the Guscott Towers in Roxbury, and recognized at the SCHEDULER ONEin3 Council’s 2015 Impact Awards ceremony AECOM as one of “the young adult leaders who are doing outstanding work to improve the city of Boston for all residents.” Latoya’s advice/key to success is a quote by Maya Angelou: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” Latoya’s advice is, “Once

you find your passion, take a proactive interest in your own progress and own it. You might have to work harder but remember you are an essential part to the team: A diverse team is a successful team.” She hopes to continue to inspire others and encourage them not to put themselves in a box created by society.

“ Once you find your passion, take a proactive interest in your own progress and own it. You might have to work harder but remember you are an essential part to the team: A diverse team is a successful team.”

Women in Construction

March 2020

PROFILE:

Callahan Construction Managers At Callahan Construction Managers, we strive to create equal opportunities for women and men in our industry, building a supportive network where every employee can succeed and grow. In honor of Women in Construction Week, we recognize seven of Callahan’s women leaders; each one is paving new roads within the construction industry.

Annemarie DeBrito | Assistant Project Manager

Shalyn Callahan | Assistant Project Manager

Hannah Pirez | Assistant Project Manager

Annemarie holds a degree in architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology and has over 15 years of diverse experience in the industry. Annemarie relishes in learning about the many different aspects of each project that she is involved with and seeing it through from start to finish.

Although Shalyn Callahan grew up in a family who made a living working in construction, she didn’t always know that she would work for the family business. It wasn’t until after four years of college and a degree in elementary education that she realized she wasn’t pursuing the career she wanted. After spending some time working as a project administrator for Callahan, she realized she enjoyed construction management, began taking courses at Wentworth Institute of Technology, and then transitioned into her current role as assistant project manager. She is excited to continue her professional growth at Callahan and continue the family tradition.

After graduating from Roger William’s University with a degree in management, Hannah Pirez joined Callahan as an assistant project manager. Hannah grew up around construction, gaining firsthand experience in the industry while watching her father manage his own construction company. Today, she is excited to continue to use her innate construction knowledge and leadership skills to move up in the industry. “Construction is a place where you get as much as you give. I am grateful for the opportunities and resources I have been provided and I love working through the day to day challenges and learning from them.

Jessica Anthony | Project Executive

Kelly Doherty | Assistant Project Manager Jessica Anthony grew up around construction and attended Wentworth Institute of Technology, where she’d hoped to be able to build one day. Majoring in civil engineering technology, she gained significant hands on experience in the field and started her career as an assistant project manager at a Boston area construction management firm. After being promoted to project manager at her former firm, she sought a position at Callahan given the company’s culture. Now a Callahan project executive, she leads the company’s success and expansion into new opportunities.

Michelle Latino | Assistant Project Manager

Kelly Doherty holds a degree in construction management with a minor in business management from Roger Williams University. She started working full time in construction right after graduation for a local, Boston-based GC in 2012 before coming to Callahan. She loves that construction requires every single person to “do your job” from the design phase through construction and beyond.

Rachel Aprea | Assistant Project Manager

Michelle was presented an opportunity to work for a developer as an assistant project manager, and what she thought was just a job to help her get through grad school has turned into a career. She has learned from women in upper management positions at Callahan, who have given her the reassurance of the long-term growth available to women in construction. Though she never considered working in construction growing up, she is grateful to have stumbled upon such a challenging yet rewarding career.

Rachel Aprea began her career with a local architectural firm before coming to Callahan 15 years ago. She understands the everyday challenges construction can bring and is constantly learning something new every day.

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Women in Construction

What Women in HVACR Membership Has Meant to Me

by Karen Lamy DeSousa The WHVACR organization has helped me both personally and professionally in so many ways. Membership, for me, has meant deeper access to industry events as well as new HVACR technology and innovations. Through WHVACR, I have also developed mentorship and networking relationships that have challenged me to improve my knowledge and skills as a business owner, and invaluable friendships with women across the country that I likely would never have met otherwise. One such friendship developed from the Women in HVACR Annual Conference in Denver two years ago. I met a woman in the industry with a passion for writing, but who was shy about sharing her work. After the conference, she shared some of her ideas with me and it turns out she not only had

passion, but a great talent. With some encouragement, she submitted her first article to an HVACR magazine and was thrilled to find it immediately published. Five more published articles later, she is now working on publishing her first book! Without WHVACR, we likely would have never met. Though I believe she would have found her way into print eventually, I hope that my cheerleading helped move along her success and brought her ideas and talents to the HVACR world sooner. I have the great honor of being president of the Women in HVACR organization for 2020. It is my mission in this role to provide greater opportunity for members and sponsors of the organization to utilize their considerable talents to take leadership roles in their organizations as well as to enhance the WHVACR mission of empowering women to succeed in the HVACR industry. Karen Lamy DeSousa is the Women in HVACR president and owner and president of Advance Air & Heat Co., Inc.

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March 2020

We Are Not Alone

by Yanel de Angel “I am not alone.” That is what went through my mind the first time I attended a 500-person real estate networking event where 90% of the room, if not more, were male faces. I had already been involved in various women’s support networks and I knew I would find one of them in the crowd. Sure enough, a few minutes into the sea of men, I saw a familiar face: a woman from my CREW network. We immediately joined forces to work the room, and soon after, we found other women. Throughout the night we made introductions for each other. We made room in dialogue so our voices could be heard. Women’s network groups have been extremely important in my career – not only when networking in rooms where being a minority is intimidating – but for finding mentors, coaches, and role models to emulate. As an architect, the Women in Design (WiD) group within the Boston Society of Architects (BSA/ AIA) has created that essential space of non-competitive camaraderie. It’s a safe place to let your guard down, talk about vulnerabilities, and find the encouragement to advocate for myself and others. Within Women in Design, I am part of the Principals Group and a cochair of the WiD Award of Excellence Committee, which annually recognizes three exemplary women who use their position to give back and inspire others. This year, we’re celebrating the award’s

20th anniversary with an exhibition titled “IMPACT, Inspired and Inspiring.” The award reflects the values of the women in the field and recognizes design excellence, journey, and character. Being a part of the awards process has offered me a window into how these amazing women have enriched other people’s lives. It inspires me to think about how my contributions could impact others. I believe in paying it forward. In my WiD involvement, I have straddled between the Principals Group and emerging women leaders, which has given me a balanced look at the career struggles of women at all stages in their careers. I discovered that there was a damaging disconnect in the pipeline for women seeking practice leadership, so we assembled a small group of principals and emerging women leaders to form the WiD Mid-Career Women in Design Mentorship Program. We have been able to mentor 30 women each year, with a focus on connecting women to a larger network, providing individualized attention from a mentor, and giving access to new career perspectives and role models. Now in its third cycle, the program has taken on a life of its own, inspiring two additional AIA chapters to begin similar efforts. Support groups matter when you are trying to grow your professional network as a female in a male-dominated industry. My CREW network has been instrumental in expanding business partnerships and creating non-traditional minority teams to pursue new projects. You need fellow women and wingmen to move the needle toward a more equitable playing field, where diversity becomes the new normal, and where action happens through inclusion. Yanel de Angel, FAIA is a principal at Perkins and Will.

Every year at its BWiC Inspire Awards, AGC Massachusetts recognizes exemplary women in construction who demonstrate leadership, generosity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to their career, colleagues and industry. Congratulations to this year’s winners! Janet Chrisos, deputy director, MSCBA, Mentor of the Year; Valerie Stone, safety director, T.G. Gallagher, Emerging Leader; Sabina Kintzer Shorey, cost engineer,Turner Construction, Rising Star; and Savy Francis, apprentice pipe fitter, E.M. Duggan, Tradeswoman of the Year.

Women in Construction

March 2020

Women in Green: Empowering Women in Design by Casey Williams As Kira Gould and Lance Hosey emphasized in their 2007 book, “Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design,” women are leading the sustainable design movement, but are underrepresented in leadership. Gould and Hosey’s research shows that women on average are “more knowledgeable about climate change and energy-efficient design” than men, but hold under a third of leadership positions at architectural firms. Within the U.S. Green Building Council Massachusetts Chapter (USGBC MA), we consistently see a higher percentage of women attending USGBC MA programs than represented in the built environment industry in general. Within our Green Building Leadership Institute, which aims to help students and emerging professionals advance their careers in the sustainable design industry, we have found that 86% of our participants are female. Our board of directors has grown from having only a third of female representation to two thirds representation. Clearly, women are actively seeking opportunities for professional growth and leadership in sustainable design, which is why we felt the need to develop our own Women in Green programming.

The inaugural Women in Green breakfast panel, held in 2018

The idea for the initiative began at the annual Women in Green Power Breakfast, which was hosted at the national U.S. Green Building Council’s annual conference, Greenbuild. When femaleidentifying architects, designers, and researchers from Massachusetts would come together at this event, everyone would always ask, “Why don’t we have

something like this back home?” There was such a great demand for this type of programming that members of USGBC MA formed a steering committee to plan out our own version of Women in Green. Inspired by Greenbuild and the research provided by Gould and Hosey, we developed our program with a focus on giving women the resources they need

to pursue leadership opportunities in the architectural and design industries. We believe it’s important that female professionals not only have spaces to network with other female professionals, but opportunities to build a strong support system that lifts one another up. This will be the third year we have hosted Women in Green events. Our flagship event, the Women in Green breakfast panel, follows in Greenbuild’s footsteps and features a panel of female professionals who are driven by an urge to diversify the voices that move the sustainability movement. The breakfast panels are so successful that we have created additional networking events throughout the year to continue conversations happening amongst female professionals. Our next event, Women in Green: Culture of Courage, is slated for March 30 and will feature the perspectives of leaders within the sustainability movement, including Carol Gladstone, Laura Keenan, Kimberly Lewis, and Penni McLean-Connor. We hope that opportunities like this will help raise the voices of women within the design industry. Casey Williams is the marketing and graphics associate at USGBC MA, soon to be called Built Environment Plus.

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Lawrence, MA

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LAWRENCE BOSTON MIAMI

Boston, MA

Miami, FL

CUBE 3 is proud to celebrate all Women in Construction by shining the spotlight on our talented teams in Lawrence, Boston, and Miami. The women at CUBE 3 lead numerous roles within the organization from financial and administrative roles to the hands-on design of the architectural and interior design they lead with our clients. They are all valuable contributors and undeniably improve our business and culture with intelligence, ingenuity, and creativity.

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Women in Construction

March 2020

Empowering Women in Construction Building Excellence Together

Let’s Face It: Old perceptions die hard and the thought of going into a construction career – as a woman – might sound crazy if you consider the industry’s reputation as a rough-and-tumble man’s world. But happily, that world is changing and changing fast. While women still make up just 9% of the construction workforce across the country, the numbers are growing every day at all levels of the industry, whether plying a trade, supervising construction, or leading a construction firm. “Frankly, the field is wide-open for women to come in and make their mark,” says Mike Kolakowski, CEO of KBE Building Corporation, a major East Coast construction services firm. “More and more companies are recognizing the invaluable contribution women can make to this industry. Their attention to detail, focus on relationshipbuilding, and ability to multi-task clearly makes them a vital part of the industry.” Mike continues, “We know that the more diverse our staff is at all levels, the better job we can do for our clients. There truly has never been a better time to be a woman in construction. For me, talent, passion, and commitment will get you everywhere in this business – male or female.”

The Construction World, According to Women So what’s been the experience for today’s female construction professionals? Here are a few takeaways from candid interviews from nearly a dozen women in various construction industry positions.

Opportunity for Work/Life Balance

In her third year as an apprentice in the Wayne J. Griffin Electric Apprenticeship Training Program, Amber Woodstock is one of several women currently working on the Barnard Hall Addition and Renovation project at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. KBE is the Construction Manager at Risk for the 4-story, 80,000 sf renovation and 8,000 sf, 3-story steel-framed addition for new offices, student advising, and teaching.

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“There was a point in my career where I had to make certain life decisions…will I get married… do I want children…and how will this affect my career?” says Erica Millard, LEED AP, CPE, a preconstruction manager at KBE who has worked in both the field and in preconstruction for the last 14 years. “I needed to know my choices for maintaining work/life balance. Fortunately for me, KBE granted me the flexibility I needed. I think most women struggle with these types of conversations; however, you won’t know for sure unless you ask. Because our industry has been so traditionally male, there’s no precedent yet for our unique circumstances. Give your firm a chance to help you, don’t be afraid to discuss your needs so you can be the best ‘you’ at work and home. I now realize this challenge was easier to overcome than I had ever anticipated.” Leslie Cook, a senior project engineer at KBE-NY, a NYC-based construction firm, concurs:

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March 2020 “Work/life balance in this industry is easier than one might think,” she explains “Technology is always at my fingertips, which allows me to get paperwork done at home, sometimes at 10 pm or later. This is very supportive of women and today’s family dynamic. It’s evolving from an outdated mindset. It’s important for us to work smarter and not harder.” Relationships are really the key, says Barrie Deschaine, business development manager at KBE. “One of my biggest challenges has been breaking out of my comfort zone,” she explains. Deschaine started her career in the field as a clerk of the works 33 years ago before becoming the executive assistant to KBE’s CEO and moving into her current business development role. “I find that by just being myself, being sincere and genuine, has really enabled me to build the personal and professional relationships that are so important to our business. But back in the day, it could be pretty rough out there. It’s great to see the acceptance and encouragement given to women today.

Women in Construction to realizing where I belong, and really showed me the complete picture of the industry…I couldn’t be more thankful and appreciative.” Jenn also credits her education for her career success. “All my professors work in this industry,” explains Jenn. “They share their stories and lessons learned…when you hear someone else’s story, you take notes and remember them so moving forward, you don’t make the same mistakes.”

Some Sage Advice Christine Pandolfi, principal of CMP Exterior, a woman-owned exterior siding trade contracting firm, encourages women to ask questions. “Gravitate to people who know more than you and don’t be afraid to say, ’I don’t know – teach me.’ And don’t think it’s just the older, seasoned construction folks who have all the answers. I get a lot of input from people of all ages. Everybody knows something that you can learn from.”

My advice? Reach for those leadership positions, and take advantage of education along the way.”

Did You Know? Just 9% of the construction workforce is made up of women – and a little more than 2% of those are in the field. But the numbers are growing! (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

On a High Note: the gender pay gap found in most industries (women on average earn 81.1% of what men make) is significantly smaller in construction, with women’s average earnings at 99.1% of their male counterparts. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

The Best Resources to Help Women Get Ahead? Each woman that was interviewed confirmed that hands-on experience and having a strong mentor or champion were vital to their advancement and success. “I have been very lucky to have some great bosses who did believe in me and who were confident that I would excel in this field,” says Brit Funk, development manager at Columbia Pacific Advisors (CPA), a national development firm. Brit started her career in 2003 as a receptionist with a major construction company, and, a few job changes later, got her construction management degree and moved into her development manager role for CPA. “It was one of those bosses who really encouraged me to go into the degree program. I really owe him a lot. You just have to surround yourself with people who empower you.”

13% of construction firms are owned by women.

Gravitate to people who know more than you, and don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know – teach me.” - Christine Pandolfi, Owner, CMP Exterior

Rosalia Marques, LEED Green Associate, is a project manager with KBE who joined the firm as a field engineer seven years ago and advanced quickly to her leadership position. Her advice? “You need to work for good companies that give you the opportunity to grow, where you can reach out and ask for support and guidance, and get it.” While each of the women interviewed recommend a career in construction, some cautioned that the industry is not for the faint of heart. “Construction is a very stressful career, so I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone that is sensitive in character,” explains Urszula Jarzabek, project engineer at KBE. “Oftentimes you must go toe-to-toe with big personalities and you need to be strong.”

Surround yourself with people who empower you.” - Brit Funk, Development Manager, CPA

“At my last company, I worked with a woman who was a mentor to me,” says Jenn Luckert, a project engineer in KBE’s Mid-Atlantic office who started in construction when she was just 17. “She taught me everything from how to work with other people

At the end of the day, the women encouraged anyone interested in the construction industry to get out there and explore your options. “Just do it,” says Kaitlyn Turner, KBE senior project engineer. ‘Whether it’s construction, the trades…just go for it. Your hard work will pay off.”

(www.bigrentz.com/blog/womenconstruction)

44% of the country’s top 100 construction firms have women in executive roles, with 16% of firms having women in C-level positions. (www.bigrentz.com/blog/womenconstruction)

Jobs Aplenty: The Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that 2 million new jobs could be created by 2021 … and there are already more than a half-million open construction positions at all levels across the country that need to be filled now. (National Association of Builders and Contractors)

To read the full interviews from each of our featured women, or to learn more about careers in construction, resources for women, and even open positions, visit: www.kbebuilding.com/women-in-construction/ www.high-profile.com

Women in Construction

PROFILE:

Emily Thomas

Ezgi Kosereisoglu

Emily Thomas has recently taken on an expanded role as project controls manager at DPS Group. She is responsible for procurement, estimating, scheduling, and controls as well as managing 13 people in the Construction Management (CM) group. Over the course of her career, Emily has managed all financial aspects from billing to forecasting of construction projects ranging from $10,000 to $120 million in value. She is an expert in projecting financials through the PROJECT full life cycle of projects, CONTROLS including estimating the MANAGER amount of labor, materials, and subcontractor DPS Group effort necessary to complete projects on time and on budget. After joining DPS in 2017, Emily played an integral role in the roll-out of Deltek Vision at the company. Previously, Emily served as a project accountant and business analyst at

Ezgi Kosereisoglu is a preconstruction manager for Gilbane Building Company in Boston, Mass., who connects the dots between clients, design/development teams, and internal operations. She understands what drives the success of a project and optimizes available resources, identifying risks early on and problem solving with teams through Lean methods. After wearing many hats within the company as a management trainee, she is committed to building buildings, but is inspired by Gilbane’s PRECONSTRUCTION Building More Than MANAGER Buildings culture and the development Gilbane Building of its people. Ezgi Company knows that fostering relationships is key when working in any industry and has expanded her network through joining the boards of the Northeastern Civil Engineering Alumni Organization and the Northeastern Young Alumni Advisory Board. She also sits on the board as an active mentor for the ACE Mentoring Program of Greater Boston, where she connects with members of the Boston Public Schools and helps raise funds for scholarships for high school students interested in the architecture,

Emily has managed all financial aspects from billing to forecasting of construction projects ranging from $10,000 to $120 million in value.

Shawmut Design and Construction. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in finance and economics from Simmons College, and is a member of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) and Women in Pharma (WIP). DPS Group is a global engineering, consulting and project management company, serving high-tech industries around the world. The Boston office delivers full-service engineering across a range of disciplines, including project management; procurement; design; construction management; health and safety management; commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV); and facility start-up.

March 2020

construction and engineering fields. Ezgi holds a BS in civil engineering from Northeastern University and is currently in school part time for her MBA at her alma mater. When asked what advice she would give young women leaders in the construction industry, Ezgi said, “Know your worth and speak up. Don’t assume that your superiors can read your mind in regards to career goals and ambitions. You have to make your goals known to your managers and work with them to carve out your career path.”

PROFILE:

Adrienne Franklin As interdisciplinary document coordination (IDC) manager at Gilbane Building Company, Adrienne Franklin oversees the firm’s IDC review process, a preconstruction service designed to identify, track and communicate construction document coordination issues to the design and project teams prior to procurement and before construction. In honor of WIC Week, Adrienne shared some details about her career pathway, as well as advice for women just entering the industry: IDC MANAGER “I have my bachelor’s in architecture Gilbane Building from Drexel University. Company Drexel’s program allowed students to work during the day in architectural firms and attend school at night. While working at an architectural firm, I was presented the opportunity to attend weekly job site meetings with the architect, construction manager, and trade contractors. As I watched the building come out of the ground over the next 14 months, I knew I needed to transition from architecture to construction. My role as IDC manager allows me to build upon my education and previous job experience while developing my construction knowledge. This role also allows me to stay connected with the design community as we grow IDC to work directly with more architects and engineers.

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“As I watched the building come out of the ground over the next 14 months, I knew I needed to transition from architecture to construction.” My advice for young women entering this field is to create and grow your network of both women and men. This network should be made up of both more and less experienced colleagues who can provide invaluable perspectives and points of views you may not have been able to see without them. You will create a support system by doing this and become a support for others as well.”

March 2020

Women in Construction

PROFILE:

Dominique Moore

Vera Zorkina

Dominique Moore is an architecture and interior design professional with a demonstrated history of domestic and international design collaborations for residential, education, commercial, and hospitality projects. She serves as an associate AIA board member for AIA CT, a co-founder of Design Coalition of Minority Students (D.C.M.S.) at Philadelphia University, and a co-manager of Perkins Eastman Women’s Leadership Committee. Dominique graduated from Philadelphia University with a Bachelor of ArARCHITECT chitecture and attended Temple University in Perkins Rome, Italy. Eastman “I wanted to be an architect ever since I was six years old, and as a young child my dream seemed clearly obtainable. The reality, however, was vastly different; I found unexpected obstacles on the path to becoming a licensed architect. I learned that inequity, inequality, and lack of diversity all contributed to delays and difficulty in achieving my dream. I began to get

Born in Moscow, Vera Zorkina, project estimator for Lee Kennedy Company, grew up in the Boston area and received a degree in urban and regional studies from Cornell University. She fortuitously took a construction management course to fulfill a requirement for her minor and was inspired to pursue a career in construction. Vera began her career as a construction estimator in Texas before moving to New York to work as an assistant project manager for a local general contractor. PROJECT Vera joined Lee ESTIMATOR Kennedy Company as a project estimator in 2017 Lee Kennedy and has since worked on Company projects ranging from the historical renovation of a 260-year-old building, to a new ground-up, 220,000sf corporate campus expansion project.

involved with organizations and creating opportunities to help make the path less difficult and more inclusive for those who dream to travel after and alongside me. I believe NOMA CT is a great opportunity to be part of the larger conversation and increase communication and outreach to remove boundaries and affect change within the profession.”

“ I believe NOMA CT is a great opportunity to be part of the larger conversation and increase communication and outreach to remove boundaries and affect change within the profession.”

“One of the many reasons I enjoy working at Lee Kennedy is the wide variety of projects I’ve had the opportunity to estimate.” “One of the many reasons I enjoy working at Lee Kennedy is the wide variety of projects I’ve had the opportunity to estimate. The diversity in different market

sectors that LKCO focuses on has given me a unique level of expertise that has helped advance my career in estimating.” Vera supports and leads the cost function of projects in preconstruction. She works with the team to align cost with the project scope, design intent and schedule. She is responsible for cost control, including VM studies and estimate reconciliations. Vera develops specific scopes of work and solicits competitive bids on all trades to formulate the bid/ GMP and to purchase the project. As the project transitions into construction, she supports project management as necessary in any cost-related activities.

PROFILE:

Miranda Piphus Miranda Piphus, assistant project manager at Walsh Brothers, Inc., fell in love with construction at a very early age. At just 12 years old, she began working on small projects with her uncle, such as installing drywall, siding on homes, and ceramic tiles. These small side jobs set the stage for what would become her most dedicated passion. She went to high school for carpentry and received her first paid internship with a general contractor at age 16. Miranda states that “receiving that internship experience ASSISTANT at an early age allowed PROJECT [her] to expand on [her] MANAGER idea of what role [she] wanted to play in the Walsh industry.” She went on Brothers, Inc. to receive her Bachelor of Science in construction management engineering technology at Alfred State, SUNY College of Technology and worked her way through several roles to ultimately become an assistant project manager with Walsh Brothers, Inc. With a life-long passion for construction management, Miranda has spent the last five years delivering multiple successful projects in New England. She has spent the last three years working on many complex projects for

Walsh Brothers including such clients as Boston Medical Center, Harvard Business School, and UMass Memorial Medical Center. Whether she is renovating space within the critical care environment or constructing large scale state of the art convening centers for Ivy League institutions, she continues to fulfill her lifelong passion for construction. Outside of Walsh Brothers, Miranda volunteers with Boston Cares and enjoys practicing yoga and meditation as a certified teacher.

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Women in Construction

March 2020

PROFILE:

Susan Shelby

Alicia Mojica Washington

Susan Shelby, FSMPS, CPSM is the president and CEO of Rhino PR. Early in her career, Susan pounded the pavement in San Diego and Los Angeles selling life insurance. She thrived on the challenge and read stacks of business and sales strategy books to gain an edge in her field. One of these books portrayed the rhinoceros as the ultimate salesperson: two-inch-thick skin and the motivation to charge. The image resonated with Susan, and when the time came to launch her own business she knew those PRESIDENT were two characteristics AND CEO that would serve her, and her clients, well. Rhino PR Since founding Rhino PR in 2004, Susan has worked with numerous architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) and commercial real estate (CRE) companies in the Greater Boston area. Her early career in sales formed Susan’s commitment to integrating public relations and marketing with her clients’ business strategies, generating measurable results that contribute to business development and increased revenue. Susan has been recognized with numerous awards including Fellow (SMPS), Entrepreneur of the Year (CREW Boston, formerly NEWiRE), Women

Alicia Mojica Washington manages the strategic initiatives and business development efforts for HRP Associates, along with a team of four, and oversees corporate and client sector branding; development of industrial, state and federal proposals and qualifications packages; supervision of marketing communications; and initiation of research and development opportunities. She has over 16 years of marketing experience in the A/E/C industry, including marketing and business STRATEGIC development support in INITIATIVES the areas of architecture, AND BUSINESS civil and environmental DEVELOPMENT engineering, site development, investigation and HRP Associates remediation, environmental health and safety compliance, bridge inspection and construction inspection and administration. As a Latina growing up in an extremely diverse urban city in Connecticut, Alicia realized an noticeable shift with diversity when she started her career in 2004. After many years of being underrepresented from firm to firm, she decided to take action within her firm and other organizations in which she participated in. Today, Alicia is leading the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative for SMPS CT and will be the first Latina president for the organization in 2021. She is also a member of the founding committee for the soonto-be Connecticut chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Alicia continues to use her voice and

on the RISE (Professional Women in Construction) and Marketing Executive of the Year (SMPS Boston).

Susan has been recognized with numerous awards including Fellow (SMPS), Entrepreneur of the Year (CREW Boston, formerly NEWiRE), Women on the RISE (Professional Women in Construction) and Marketing Executive of the Year (SMPS Boston).

AEC & CRE SPECIALISTS Ideas. Content. Marketing. Results. Build your brand. Grow a new area of expertise. Expand Markets. Ensure your name and reputation are known by the businesses that matter most to you. Start by contacting us.

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Alicia is leading the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative for SMPS CT and will be the first Latina president for the organization in 2021. She is also a member of the founding committee for the soon-to-be Connecticut chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. experiences to promote diversity and inclusion within the marketing profession of the A/E/C industry, and the A/E/C industry globally. She is also a board member and the membership chair of the Construction Institute and volunteers at her local Boys & Girls Club of America, speaking to youth ages 6 to 18 about career opportunities.

PROFILE:

Monica Angulo Diaz Monica Angulo Diaz is a civil engineer from Venezuela who came to the United States four years ago to pursue a Master of Science in construction management from Central Connecticut State University. She has a diverse understanding of construction principals and has developed her career through education. Monica began her construction career with LaRosa Building Group in 2017. In her current position as project controls manager, she oversees the Controls department PROJECT ensuring the highest CONTROLS quality standards MANAGER and compliance with contractual obligations La Rosa on projects with Building Group budgets up to $25 million, and works with clients, architects, subcontractors, and the project team to coordinate submittals, schedules, and project documents. Monica has ﬁrsthand experience on civil, residential, commercial, industrial,

and military projects. Her strong work ethic and time management allowed her to become the project manager of a residential design-build unit renovation. She continues to grow and takes advantage of opportunities to further her training and experience in management. Her positive attitude and ﬂexibility help her to easily adapt and evolve in the industry.

March 2020

Women in Construction

PROFILE:

Jean McQuestion

Stasha Greenalch

Jean McQuestion has been with BW Kennedy & Co. for six years and brings over 30 years of experience to her role. As a senior project manager, she works closely with the clients, BW Kennedy’s design/ build MEPFP team, project architects and consultants throughout a project. Her main priorities include subcontractor buy out, managing the budget, ensuring that the superintendent has what he needs manpower and material-wise to maintain the schedule, and ensuring clear and timely communication SR. PROJECT between all parties. She MANAGER is currently serving as senior project manager BW Kennedy & Co. for the new construction of a 200,000sf life sciences building at 75 Hayden Ave., a retrofit of a 101,631sf building at 20 Maguire for life sciences, and a clinical manufacturing facility for Codiak BioSciences, all in Lexington. Jean worked hard over the years to earn her way up from an administrative position to assistant project manager, to project manager to her present position of senior project manager. Accomplishments she’s most proud of include earning LEED AP accreditation in 2010, award of a prior employer’s Strive for Excellence Award based on being nominated by several of her colleagues, and two ABC Excellence in Construction awards for projects she and her teams completed in 2018 and 2019.

Stasha Greenalch, assistant project manager at BW Kennedy & Co., joined the firm in 2018 after graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) with a bachelor’s degree in management engineering, with a focus in operations and entrepreneurship. At WPI, she participated in four years of competitive athletics as a member of the women’s varsity basketball team. Upon joining the company, Stasha was assigned to our project team responsible for building a new 200,000sf life sciences ASSISTANT building and nine-story, PROJECT 1,000-car parking gaMANAGER rage at the busy Hayden Research Campus in BW Kennedy & Co. Lexington. She quickly became an integral member of the project team as they began construction of the parking garage first, and then the building, currently in construction. “I’ve appreciated having the opportunity to be a member of the company’s largest new construction project to date

With many years working in the industry, Jean has practical advice for women considering a career in construction. “Be prepared to work hard. The day starts early. Establish good working relationships with your project team so you can learn from them and carry that knowledge to your next project. Research and join an organization where you can meet other women in the industry. Look the part: Wear appropriate footwear and your hard hat; walk the site regularly despite the weather; meet the workers. Treat the workers in the field fairly and with respect because, after all, they are the ones constructing your project. They in turn will do the same for you and even give of their time to explain the details of their trade to you – very helpful.”

PROFILE:

“ Being able to work with people who have allowed me to take on responsibilities, have a voice in decisions, and continue to help me grow as a project manager as well as a person makes my job very gratifying.”

Celebrating the Dedicated Women in Construction

Jordan Smith With over a decade of experience in the construction industry, Jordan Smith, master scheduler at Walsh Brothers, Inc., has an extensive background in project management, engineering, planning, and scheduling, with a focus on the construction and renovation of health care and high-tech research facilities. Jordan received a civil engineering degree from Drexel University, and went on to complete numerous projects for global clients in multiple states. Before coming to Walsh Brothers, she MASTER worked for Kellogg SCHEDULER Brown & Root as a lead specialist and Walsh Brothers, Inc scheduler, where she created and maintained resource loaded schedules for the global IT company conversion from SAP to Oracle. Jordan has been involved in projects for high-profile clients such as DuPont, Axon Energy, and the United States Department of Interior. Over the past year at Walsh Brothers, Jordan has continued to lend her experience in working closely with estimating, preconstruction, and project management teams to develop and

and have learned much during the past two years on the project. I particularly have enjoyed working on-site with the highly knowledgeable BW Kennedy team. Being able to work with people who have allowed me to take on responsibilities, have a voice in decisions, and continue to help me grow as a project manager as well as a person makes my job very gratifying.”

maintain detailed CPM project schedules for extremely time sensitive projects and to assist in their implementation in the field. She has been involved in projects for clients including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston University and Boston College. Outside of construction, Jordan is involved in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE), and volunteers with Boston Cares.

Life Sciences | Commercial | Educational BWKENNEDYCO.COM

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Women in Construction

March 2020

STEMFems 2020: Women Transforming Our World While women make up nearly half of the labor force, they continue to be underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics professions, constituting just 28% of these STEM fields. The Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry has an even broader gap, where women fill just 10-25% of roles, with slightly higher representation in architecture and lower participation in construction. The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame is looking to help close this gap through educational programs and resources designed to encourage participation, foster a positive dialogue and inspire girls’ achievements in STEM. On a broad level, the Hall’s mission

A paper architectural model completed by a student.

is to publicly honor the achievements of Connecticut women, preserve their stories, educate the public and promote

Volunteers from Tecton Architects, Gilbane Building Company and Fuss & O’Neill lead a workshop on Women in Architecture, Engineering and Construction.

the continued achievements of women and girls. Founded in 1994 in Hartford, Conn., the Hall celebrates Connecticut’s pioneering women from careers ranging from arts and humanities, business and labor, education and preservation, politics, government and law, reformers, science and health, sports, writers and journalists. The Hall’s Inductee Gallery features 125 Connecticut Pioneers, from Hannah Bunce Watson, a newspaper publisher whose work supported the American Revolutionary War, to Marian Chertow, an industrial ecology pioneer who is currently teaching at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. In particular, the Hall offers educational programs designed to

creatively bring women’s history to life for current and future generations. Its STEMfems: Women Transforming Our World events provide an all-day experience to inspire middle and high school girls to consider careers in STEM. Throughout the day, students explore the historical impact of women in these fields through hands-on workshops with professional women, providing an opportunity to both hear and see what a STEM career looks like. The event provides mentors an opportunity to speak with the girls about their own school and career struggles and triumphs and presents girls with examples

Celebrating Women in Construction by Alison DiVenere

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

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Discovering Architecture

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of empowered women. “On a daily basis, I have the opportunity to create and coordinate STEM programs for young girls and share how our inductees have overcome gender and race discrimination in their STEM field of choice. These women paved the way and opened up opportunities for future generations despite the obstacles and challenges they had while pursuing their careers,” said Liz Krebs, education manager for the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. On Feb. 7, the STEMfems program hosted 75 girls from Manchester Public Schools in a series of architectural, scientific and engineering discussions and experiential workshops. Volunteers from Tecton Architects, Gilbane Building Company, Fuss & O’Neill, AECOM, EBAD, Loureiro, Pelli Clarke Pelli and Pratt & Whitney each brought their own spin to the event. Groups created wastewater treatment systems, mitigated oil spills, built rockets and put their own creative stamp on architecture, all while learning about pioneering women in the related field. Kathryn Mease, NCIDQ, LEED AP

My journey in the AEC field started early. In fact, ever since the sixth grade, I knew I wanted to work in the industry in some capacity. In middle school, I took a tech-ed elective that exposed me to software that was an early precursor to SketchUp – software I loved so much my parents bought it for me to use at home. In high school, I took architectural design and engineering classes, and it was these experiences that brought together the beautiful combination of logic and creativity that defines the AEC field in my mind. Having my parents, who are both passionate about their careers, alongside a supportive teacher, who pushed me to be more than my best, set me on a path of empowerment. When it came to deciding on a college path, I was torn between culinary school and studying architecture. Ultimately, architecture won. When I got to school, I remember quite a few of my professors relating architecture to cooking and I thought, “regardless, I’m in the right place.” When I was attending Roger Williams,

two of my friends helped start a Women’s Leadership Network. Hearing women from all types of fields – not just AEC – discuss how they have overcome adversity was extremely motivating. I take those stories with me every day to not only my job, but into how I present myself. I want the next generation to see people my age and older and say “I want to do that; I want to pave the way for people to have equal opportunity and equal respect.” I think these memories are part of why I’ve gotten so involved in the Hartford Chapter of the ACE Mentor Program, something I am very passionate about. Being a part of a firm like JCJ that is so invested in shaping the future of the ACE profession is a direct reflection of not only my own values but the values of the firm. These efforts shape and change lives and it’s life change when you have an opportunity to contribute to someone’s success and selfesteem. Even though I am a young professional, I’ve been fortunate to continue to feel incredibly empowered as a woman in this industry. My experience has taught me that you have to be your own advocate. You have to believe in your worth, understanding that no matter what people say, or what challenges are placed in front of you, you have the tools and the resources at your disposal to overcome it. Alison DiVenere is a design technician at JCJ Architecture.

Women in Construction

March 2020

Women Are Taking The Lead At Lockheed At Lockheed, we firmly believe in building and fostering opportunities for all members of our team, especially the amazing women we have working with us. From the very beginning, women have been at the core of Lockheed’s growth and culture. We are proud to have 11 phenomenal women as a part of our team and continue to recognize how fortunate we are to have such an amazing group of talented women working with us. It’s amazing to see how far some of these women have come and we look forward to watching them continue to grow in all aspects of life. In 1955, Lockheed started out as a small company specializing in small windows, awnings, railings, shutters, and the like. Today, our company has grown to great heights and we’re proud to highlight the women in our sales, human resources, finance, operations, engineering, and production teams. Some of them have spent over a decade of their lives focused on developing their skills and perfecting their craft in the construction industry. Below are nine of our celebrated women leaders at Lockheed. •K athy Zariczny – 25 Years With Lockheed, Human Resource Manager •D eborah Comtois – 16 Years With Lockheed, Accounts Payable Clerk •D eborah Rich – 11 Years With Lockheed, Administrative Assistant

Top row (l-r) - Stacey McDonald, Deborah Comtois, Michele Marchand, Gail Noblin, Marilyn Rojas Bottom row (l-r) - Megan Bourque, Sarah Schirduan, Kathy Zariczny, Deborah Rich

•M ichele Marchand – 10 Years With Lockheed, Project Manager •G ail Noblin – Five Years With Lockheed, Administrative Assistant •M egan Bourque – Five Years With Lockheed, Assistant Project Manager • Sarah Schirduan – Five Years With Lockheed, CAD Technician • Stacey McDonald – One Year With Lockheed, CNC Operator

Celebrating Women in Construction! At Lockheed, we are proud to have 11 phenomenal women as a part of our team. We recognize how fortunate we are to have such a talented group working with us each and every day. Thank you to all of the incredibly hard-working women that contribute to Lockheed's continued success! lockheedwindow.com

• Marilyn Rojas – One Year With Lockheed, Assistant Sales Estimator There has never been a better time to be a woman in construction and at Lockheed, we are constantly embracing diversity and working to close the gender gap. Vibrant, dedicated, highly determined and driven by success, these women serve as great role models for our entire team. Each of them offers a different

Beverly Middle School (2018) Beverly, MA

perspective with a personal touch, and shares a common goal to achieve phenomenal results for every project. These impressive women are highly valued and appreciated here at Lockheed. Thank you to all of the incredibly hard-working women that contribute to Lockheed’s continued success each and every day! Submitted by Lockheed.

Mohegan Sun Expo Center (2018) Uncasville, CT

Shafer Hall at ESCU (2019) Willimantic, CT

Avenu at Natick (2019) Natick, MA

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Women in Construction

March 2020

Charting a Path for the Future Finegold Alexander Architects, founded in 1962, is a highly respected Bostonbased design firm. In 2017, four long-time Principals Ellen Anselone, Rebecca Berry, Jeffrey Garriga and Regan Shields Ives became majority shareholders, and assumed leadership of the firm. In 2018, Finegold Alexander was certified as a Women Business Enterprise. “Together, we are forging a new vision for the future – one that not only is focused on excellent design, but also on promoting the individual voices and abilities of our staff with a commitment to diversity within the firm,” said Ellen Anselone, principal and vice president of the firm. “To achieve this, we have a broad approach to recruiting, engagement and mentorship, allowing individuals to be their whole selves within the organization,” said Rebecca Berry, principal and president. “Our ongoing efforts include seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds and from a breadth of schools, leading to multiple approaches to design.” Regan Shields Ives notes that the firm is “following the research of Equity by Design (EQxD) and we have developed policies and practices that promote individual engagement and enable all staff to raise families, pursue individual and community interests, and to thrive economically.”

Finegold Alexander’s leadership group (clockwise from the left): Ellen Anselone, Jeffrey Garriga, Regan Shields Ives, and Rebecca Berry

In-house practices to promote equity and diversity at Finegold Alexander include: • I n-house mentoring program • Paid parental leave policy for all employees • Schedule flexibility • Firm teams led by associates and staff to evolve the practice in sustainability, design process, production process, and BIM/IT • All-office Friday presentations where we gather as a community and conduct design review of projects in progress, to transmit knowledge in critical areas, giving all the ability to be heard • Volunteering and community giving – Annually, all staff members receive

four hours per year of paid time for volunteering, the firm hosts a major volunteering effort, and we make annual charitable contributions to organizations that align with our values. • Rebecca Berry and Regan Shields Ives serve as mentors in the Women Principals Group mid-career mentorship program, providing support, advice and sponsorship to women in the design profession outside the firm. Rebecca Berry notes: “The composition of the architectural profession is still overwhelmingly white and male. While the demographics of architecture programs and younger members of the profession are shifting, we feel those already practicing can do more to influence the pipeline into the profession, and early engagement is essential.” To this end Finegold Alexander participates in Design Thinking Day

and a paid summer internship program. The programs – sponsored by the BSA Foundation and the Boston Private Industry Council – bring Boston’s public high school students to participating firms for a day of exploration with the option of doing an internship. Our staff lead activities for Design Thinking Day and as a continuation of the program, the firm has hosted two summer interns, both dynamic, young women of color. “We still have work to do to improve the participation and leadership of women and other people who are under-represented in the architectural profession,” notes Ellen Anselone, “and our firm is actively making progress through our internal and external programs and the individual commitments of our leadership.” Submitted by Finegold Alexander Architects.

Some of Finegold Alexander’s fantastic women!

Construction Institute’s Women Who Build Summit Largest to Date by Sara Mannes Amherst, MA -The Construction Institute (CI) held its sixth annual Women Who Build Summit on Feb. 19 and 20 at the University of Amherst. It was attended by over 300 industry leaders. The two-day event began with a tour of the campus and a reception with opening statements by Nancy Greenwald, CI executive director, and Carolina Cudemus-Jones, UMass Amherst director of design and management. The following day began with welcoming remarks from Greenwald, Cudemus-Jones, and UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy. Jane Edmonds, vice president of programming and community outreach at Babson College, delivered the opening keynote titled, “Shifting to Face the Winds: Challenges and Opportunities of Leadership in the New ’20s.” Edmonds addressed the ways industry women can advance and support one another in a time of social and political unrest. The morning “Powerhouse Owners” panel, moderated by Sean Sweeney of Arcadis US, Inc., featured Denise Berger, AECOM; Luciana Burdi, Mass. Port Authority; Barbara Kroncke, University of Mass. Building Authority; and Catherine

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The Renegades and Trailblazers panel at Women Who Build Summit / Jake Snyder of Red Skies Photography

Walsh, Northeastern University. The panelists shared insights on how they are leading their organizations and industry into the future. Attendees were then invited to participate in breakout sessions titled Would You Hire You?, Reputation Capital, Don’t Call Them Difficult, and Forging Your Own Path – 4 Perspectives on Creating Your Roadmap to Success. Following lunch and networking, Aisha Nadar, senior consultant at Advokatfirman Runeland AB, gave the afternoon keynote titled “Building Your Career: Challenging the Conventional

Wisdom.” Nadar spoke on how widelyheld, yet unfounded beliefs like “a girl will not do as well as a boy in math” must be challenged, and how challenging conventional wisdom has advanced her career. The afternoon “Renegades and Trailblazers” panel, moderated by Dr. Anamaria Popescu of Berkeley Research Group, featured Jean Caroon, Goody Clancy; Katie Faulkner, Katerra; Jane Henry, SeeHerWork; and Siggy Pfendler, Columbia. The panelists explored how discovering a unique niche of the construction industry has propelled

them to success. Finally, Denise Berger of AECOM gave the summit’s closing keynote titled “Lessons Learned,” reflecting on her most important life lessons and the day’s stories and takeaways. The summit ended with closing remarks and the Champions of Change Award presentation. Mark Adams of Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Carolyn Stanworth of BL Companies received the award for their outstanding contributions to empowering women in the AEC industry. Sara Mannes is the digital media manager at High-Profile Monthly.

Women in Construction

March 2020

Kaplan Celebrates Five Women in Project Management Roles construction? “There is power in asking for what you want, and being afraid of hearing ‘no’ shouldn’t stop you.”

When Kaplan’s first female project manager was hired in 2013, the company was on the precipice of a generational shift. In the years since this transition, some significant female-centric changes have taken place. First, the company became majority-owned by a woman, COO Jane Kaplan Peck, who ushered her family business into its second generation. Second, Kaplan Construction became certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE). Third, Kaplan expanded its project management team to 60% female. Today, Kaplan’s staff includes five female project and assistant project managers.

Rachael Montosi, Project Manager

A 16-year industry veteran, Rachael is used to being one of the few women in a room. After earning her degree at Wentworth Institute of Technology, Rachael began her career as a field engineer and held various positions on and off site before settling into her current role as project manager. Today, Rachael not only serves as a mentor to Kaplan’s PM staff, but outside the office as well, recently speaking at a local school’s GAINS (Girls Advancing in STEM) Club. Mental toughness and an ability to

Becky Yang, Assistant Project Manager

(l-r) Rochelle Dost, Becky Yang, Jacqueline Maloney, Rachael Montosi, and Heidi Aliski

“let things roll off my back” have been her secrets to success.

Heidi Aliski, Project Manager

With nearly 20 years in the industry, Heidi started her career in design before transitioning into project management. Heidi’s background, along with a degree in architectural engineering technology, gives her a unique, binary perspective in design and construction – one that serves her well with owners, architects, and engineers alike. Heidi is currently

PWC CT Awards Four

Laura Cruickshank

Kyma Ganzer

Hartford, CT – On Jan. 28, the Professional Women in Construction Connecticut Chapter (PWC CT) awarded four women with professional achievement awards for their outstanding contributions to the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (A/E/C) Industry. Over 200 people attended the “AEC Industry Women – A Twenty-Twenty Vision for the Future” program to show their support for the award winners and to hear from the presentation panel. Laura Cruickshank, FAIA, university master planner and chief architect from the University of Connecticut, was honored with the prestigious Women of Achievement Award. Recipients of this award have at least 15 years of experience in the industry, have demonstrably achieved excellence in their field, are dedicated to the advancement of women in the A/E/C field, and serve as good role models. Kyma Ganzer, project manager for LaRosa Building Group, LLC, accepted the Rising Star Award that honors

Tracy Caisse

managing the ground-up construction of a five-story, 20,000sf education center in Brookline, Mass. for the Center for Partnership in Early Education (CPEE).

Jacqueline Maloney, Project Manager

Jacqueline’s interest in architecture and construction was sparked at an early age when her father designed and built her childhood home. This eventually led her to pursue her master’s in engineering management at Cornell University, where she was mentored by “amazing” professors with backgrounds in building materials and construction management. Jacqueline’s advice for future women in

Becky has always been sure of her path in the AEC industry. Her journey began in academia, where she earned her degree in civil engineering with minors in engineering management and environmental engineering from Cornell University. Becky went on to receive her master’s degree in construction engineering management. She brings a scholarly mindset to her role as assistant PM at Kaplan, where she provides management support for multiple residential and healthcare projects.

Rochelle Dost, Assistant Project Manager

Rochelle is Kaplan’s newest assistant project manager, serving as a crucial liaison for the project team, as well as ensuring a consistent line of communication to achieve design and construction goals. Rochelle recently helped bring to completion a new 42,000sf mixed-use apartment building in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner. “I really appreciate the gender-balance that Kaplan offers,” Rochelle expresses. “Kaplan is a female-forward company from the top down.” Submitted by Kaplan Construction.

Susan Labas

exceptional women who are recognized by their colleagues, mentors and peers as future leaders in the A/E/C industry. The Excellence in Mentoring Award was given to Tracy Caisse, senior associate, architect/designer of the S/L/A/M Collaborative for her work and dedication to promoting mentorship within the A/E/C industry. New to the awards program this year was the Outstanding Volunteer Award that went to co-founding chapter members, Susan Labas, CPSM, senior associate and director of marketing for van Zelm Engineers, and Carolyn Kurth, CPA, CFE, director of CohnReznick LLP, for their volunteerism and support of the chapter for the past 15 years. Following the awards ceremony, a multi-generational, all-women panel enlightened the audience about how women are reshaping the landscape and culture of the A/E/C industry. Discussion topics included education, inspiration, mentoring, lessons learned and future goals.

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Women in Construction

March 2020

Elaine Promotes Five, Seeks New Avenues to Discovery and Learning As a certified woman-owned business, led by Lisa Wexler, president of Elaine Construction, we are committed to bringing visibility to the amazing opportunities that exist in this industry – for women, and all those that are interested in building a career in construction. We take pride in the diversity of backgrounds the women at Elaine bring to our clients, which include architects, mechanical engineers, accountants, business management professionals, marketers, schedulers, developers and construction management professionals. The breadth of exposure, skill and experience make for a rich and dynamic vantage point from which to solve problems, make recommendations, and ultimately contribute to the best possible project outcomes. Our culture of inclusion, coupled with our commitment to education, makes for an exciting and inviting workplace. Our expanding business has seen the promotion of five female operations team members in as many months. Carolyn Petrovick was recently promoted to project executive. Her time working for architects and owners has given her an expansive view of the needs associated with the distinct disciplines involved in delivery. Natalie Dove, MEP project manager, was recently promoted bringing her

(l-r) Caroline Petrovick, Natalie Dove, Jackie Falla, Jenny Murphy, and Maria Ramirez

skills as a mechanical engineer to bear on infrastructure projects and those with complex systems. Erin Wasserman and Kim Newell were promoted to project manager bringing with them their respective backgrounds in the fields of architecture and building construction technology. Rupi Kaur, estimating/diversity and outreach manager, brought her interest in D&I to a special subcontracting program, designed to not only increase our diverse supplier list, but to ensure success on urban projects, making her a natural fit for this advanced recognition. Our team continues to seek new avenues for discovery and learning: Jenny

LEADING SUPPORTERS OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING

Murphy, marketing director and Elaine Women’s Group co-chair, researches the marketplace, analyzes best in class programs, and seeks out partnership opportunities to advance the pace of

learning and address issues of gender and inclusion. “Our group has two primary goals: to reinforce a culture of belonging, and to empower women to become ambassadors for our industry. Whether you choose to work in an office or the field, the construction industry is dynamic and rewarding. Together we can support the growth and advancement of women in construction,” said Jenny Murphy. Our talented team is currently working on projects for MIT, Northeastern University, Wellesley College, Dean College, The Possible Project, GrubStreet, and Intersystems. As a client-centric company, we are dedicated to building long-term relationships and serving our clients, our employees, and the building community. Submitted by Elaine Construction.

STEMFems 2020: Women Transforming Our World continued from page 18

BD+C, EDAC, associate and senior interior designer with Tecton Architects, appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the broader influence of women who build. “The products of these fields affect women worldwide. The incorporation of women’s voices, perspectives and involvement have the power to make positive impacts on the daily lives of so many.” For many of the volunteers, the process of preparing for the event provided an opportunity to reflect on their own reasons for entering STEM fields and rekindled a passion for their work. “Even with a diverse range of personalities and interest, each girl showed an equal amount of passion for what it was they believed in,” said Kaitlyn Dobberfuhl, project engineer with Gilbane Building Company. “This event was as much, if not more, energizing for ourselves as it was for the young girls we were talking to! Sometimes it takes having the opportunity to talk about the work you do to recall the pure reasons that you do it and why it excites you.”

SUPPORTING

Students participate in a hands-on workshop, learning about pioneering women in the A/E/C industry and their signature architectural styles.

The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame hosts STEMfems events four times a year and welcomes the perspectives and participation of A/E/C industry women. Tecton Architects, Gilbane Building Company, Fuss & O’Neill and Pratt & Whitney are all proud members of the Construction Institute. Submitted by Tecton Architects

WOMEN and

BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS DURING WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK AND

ALWAYS

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2/24/2020 9:53:19 AM

March 2020

Women in Construction

Women On The Move Dorogusker Named Hereva COO

DiPrete Promotes Two

Boston – Hereva Consultants, creativity is evident in her Inc. announced that Robin approach to problem solving. Dorogusker has been promoted This made her a natural fit to chief operating officer for COO, where her leadership effective immediately. will mark an era of increased Dorogusker has been with collaboration sure to galvanize Hereva since its inception stakeholders in support of in 2014 and has fostered a Hereva’s work which is showculture of excellence and casing the impact and value of continual improvement project management in support within the company. She of the life sciences community. Robin Dorogusker has been a key player in “Hereva has seen business development, client remarkable growth and is now management, team leadership, talent recognized as one of the lead players in acquisition and development, marketing, project management focused on helping and branding for Hereva while providing life science companies achieve their project management and client services. goals,” said Dorogusker. “This growth has She has been instrumental in bringing everything to do with our people. We have in new business, while stressing the need a mix of young energetic professionals to give back to the community which working alongside seasoned professionals. Hereva serves. Dorogusker has guided the This fosters a broad diversity of ideas organization toward a future designed to which leads to greater innovation and not only give the best to its clients but also more creative customer solutions. It’s an help its project professionals, mentoring honor to be part of that.” them to help accelerate their careers and Dorogusker looks forward to working make their goals a reality. with the team on new initiatives designed In providing subject matter expertise to sharpen the firm’s strategic direction, on large projects, Dorogusker is a true by enhancing capabilities to embrace visionary and an advocate for resiliency new technologies and shifting workplace in planning. She often sees beyond where trends to deliver unparalleled value to others see boundaries, and her innate Hereva’s clients.

Dedham, MA – DiPrete Engineering, a civil engineering firm located in Dedham, has announced the promotion of Sheryl Guglielmo, LEED AP, to senior project manager and Pamela Aybar, EIT to project engineer. Guglielmo, who joined DiPrete in 2006 and also serves on the Attleboro Planning Board, recently managed the site/civil engineering for a new building at Millstone Medical Outsourcing, LLC’s headquarters in Fall River. As a senior project manager, she will continue to run and develop her own portfolio, represent and build upon the firm’s brand in the Southern New England region, and represent and navigate clients and their projects through the real estate development process ultimately to construction completion. Aybar joined DiPrete in 2018 after working as a civil designer in Pawtucket,

Choity Khan Elected SABAC Secretary lawyers and law students for Hartford, CT – Robinson+growth, professional developCole’s construction associate, ment, networking, and commuChoity R. Khan, has been nity outreach. elected secretary of the South Khan represents Asian Bar Association of construction industry clients Connecticut (SABAC). She is including owners, contractors, among the all-female slate of subcontractors and design officers elected to serve during professionals by providing the 2020 term. litigation and transactional A member organization services. In addition to her role of the South Asian Bar AsChoity Khan with SABAC, she serves as sociation of North America, co-chair of the Women in the SABAC was formed in 2004 Law Committee for the Connecticut Bar to function as a resource to South Asian Association’s Young Lawyers Section.

Wisler Named President of AEI Boston – Architectural engineer in five states and Engineers, Inc. (AEI), a WBE/ a member of the board of DBE mechanical, electrical, directors for PWC Boston, has plumbing, fire protection, and been a principal and the chief lighting design services firm mechanical engineer at AEI based in Boston, announced for 15 years. She serves as that Susan Wisler, PE, LEED principal-in-charge for many AP has been named president complex new construction of the 30-person firm. In this and renovation projects with a role, she will be responsible for focus on the sustainable design oversight of operations, staffing of rehabilitation and new Susan Wisler and technical excellence across mechanical HVAC, plumbing, the company. and fire protection systems for Wisler, a registered professional projects in all of AEI’s target markets.

Sheryl Guglielmo

Pamela Aybar

R.I. for three years and as an on-site field engineer in the Dominican Republic prior to that. She is currently working as the lead engineer for a high-profile commercial solar project. As project engineer, she will handle project designs that meet regulatory requirements and client needs, as well as coordinate and schedule regulatory submittals.

Sullivan Named President of OTO a generational organization. Springfield, MA – O’Reilly The spirit of the transition Talbot & Okun Associates, Inc. includes a transfer of knowledge (OTO) announced that Ashley and experience from the L. Sullivan, PE has been elected founding principals, as well as as president, effective January mentoring and support of the 2020. OTO is a 25-year-old next generation. In addition, specialty geoenvironmental the new management group is engineering consulting firm putting a new spin to company headquartered in Springfield. values – transparency, respect, Sullivan started with OTO Ashley L. Sullivan and teamwork – and creating a in 2000 and has 20 years culture of trust, flexibility and of experience designing geotechnical growth. systems. Since the beginning of her career, “OTO is a wonderful organization and she has been instrumental in growing and I get to work with amazing people every developing business in the geotechnical day,” said Sullivan. “Many clients are and construction services of the company. considered friends, and I love being part of Her focus has always been on providing a team both inside and outside the company. value to projects and clients, giving OTO provides great service to projects consideration to disciplines other than her that positively impact our community or specialty. communities just like ours, and that is very Prior to this position, Sullivan was a key important to me.” mentor to junior staff and advisor to upper management. She’s been an influencer “OTO is a wonderful on OTO’s marketing, work culture and organization and I get to work business development, which led to the with amazing people nomination of the leadership role. She every day,” said Sullivan. promotes the development of staff and encourages lifelong learning, as well as bringing in professional guidance in areas Sullivan also instructs the civil such as finance, law, and leadership. “It’s engineering capstone design course at key to have yourself surrounded with an Western New England University. In amazing network of smart people, and that this role, she guides graduating students is what OTO does best,” said Sullivan. through a mock building project where Through 2019, Sullivan helped guide many of her peers join her in presenting practical technical knowledge, writing the business through an internal transition skills, and soft skills training. that set the framework for OTO to become

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Women in Construction

is proud to support women who build

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March 2020

High-Profile: Women in Construction 2020 Supplement

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