High-Profile: Women in Construction 2023

WOMEN in CONSTRUCTION

Spring

Mariah Chase, fifth year plumbing apprentice at MJ Daly LLC, on site at the Stratford High School project in Stratford, Conn.

P.O. Box 7, Pembroke, MA 02359

Phone: 781-294-4530

Happy 25th Anniversary to Women in Construction Week! The National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) held the first WIC Week in 1998 and it has grown and expanded each year since.

what your local chapter is doing. I’m pleased that we were able to publish Patra Wroten’s interview with the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) CEO, president and president-elect in this issue. This is the first time in the history of AIA that the organization has had an all-female leadership team. They discuss their roles and how they plan to be a catalyst for equity within AIA and the industry. I encourage you to read the full article on page 5.

This supplement includes a very insightful article by Olimpia Piccoli, the marketing manager at New England Crane School in West Lebanon, N.H., on page 7. She talks about the actionable steps women can take to develop the skills and self-confidence to enter the trades and what employers can do to create a more inclusive and sustainable work environment.

Chapters all over the country, including the seven New England chapters, are celebrating WIC Week in a variety of ways. This year, many organizations in the Boston area have teamed up to celebrate. Visit NAWIC.org to find out

I want to dedicate this WIC edition to my mom, Kathy Barnes. She is the true force behind my starting this supplement five years ago. I remember as a young child, my mother looked me in the eye and said, “You can do anything.” She

also made sure she taught me how to give a proper handshake. I don’t think I understood what she was trying to tell me all those years ago, but that advice seeped into my bones as I grew. High-Profile is proudly a women-owned publication with many talented women on staff, and I am honored to be a part of the community of all of the women serving in leadership roles in the AEC industry. Thank you, Mom!

Enjoy the read and be kind to your mother.

Barnes

Anastasia and Kathy Barnes in 1996

See her, be her

When it comes to redefining the skyline, our women are leading the charge. But they’re doing much more than raising iconic structures: they’re showing future generations of girls that their ideas can change the world.

Here’s to the women at Suffolk and across our industry, and the builders of tomorrow that they inspire.

Many Paths, One Mission: Women Leading in Construction

This article originally appeared on NAWIC.org

On September 11, 1953, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) was founded by 16 women in construction in Fort Worth, Texas seeking support in the male-dominated field. Much has changed since then. NAWIC now has 5,500 members across the nation, with affiliated organizations in other countries. Recent figures from the Department of Labor indicate there are more than 1 million women working in the construction industry—in the trades, project management, marketing, administration, executive leadership, and in construction-related industries, such as finance and legal. The gender pay gap in construction is also among the lowest by occupation. As NAWIC nears a half

a century of service, President Lauline Mitchell has laid out her vision, Many Paths, One Mission, for the future of the organization and women leading in construction.

“I am determined to enlarge and elevate the female footprint within our industry using NAWIC as a basis for their support. We should relentlessly strive to represent the best of women in construction,” she said. At the Annual Conference in August, Mitchell shared her goals for NAWIC for the upcoming year: improve organization infrastructure to provide better assistance to members, grow and retain membership with a goal of 10,000 members, and raise awareness of NAWIC as a well-known name within the industry.

Women Leading in Construction

“Currently, our biggest challenge is a lack of women at the top,” Mitchell said. “We can continue to do what we do to build leaders and encourage them to take up the mantle and advocate for NAWIC membership to become commonplace within their organizations.”

Networking, mentorship, and education – hallmarks of NAWIC membership – are key for women leading in construction. Some other ways Mitchell sees NAWIC accomplishing this mission

include outreach and partnership with other industry organizations, improved communications with an updated national website and support for chapters, and a national awareness campaign to reach women new to the field as well as experienced women in construction.

To inspire the next generation of women leading in construction, she sees the work of the NAWIC Education Foundation and the NAWIC Founders Scholarship Foundation as vital and would like to see chapters expand initiatives such as outreach to local vocational schools and colleges with construction courses.

On Her Role as President of NAWIC

As director of preconstruction for BBI Construction in Oakland, Calif. and a NAWIC member for 13 years, Mitchell knows about women leading in construction. Her strength is that “persistence and pragmatism allow me to see multiple sides of issues and find creative commonalities to build consensus and unify discussions. I’d like to believe that I continue to bring alternate perspectives and the promotion of positive thoughts to those discussions.”

She added, “In ancient mythology, women grow into themselves in three phases: from maiden to mother to sage, each striving to develop to our fullest possible potential. NAWIC is hitting its own stride, too, at 50 years of nurturing women in construction, and I hope to see us become sages.”

NAWIC builds women leaders in construction and provides professional development, education, networking, and leadership training for women in construction of all experience levels. NAWIC has 118 chapters throughout the United States, and international affiliates, too. Membership is open to any woman in construction, and several membership options are available for flexible pricing and membership terms. Visit NAWIC.org to learn more.

Lauline Mitchell

“ I am determined to enlarge and elevate the female footprint within our industry using NAWIC as a basis for their support .

– Lauline Mitchell, 2022-2023 NAWIC president

Q&A with the American Institute of Architects’ Leadership Team

This interview was originally published on AIA’s website.

2023 marks the start of a historic first for the American Institute of Architects (AIA): an all-female leadership team. AIA CEO/EVP Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE; AIA President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA; and 2024 President-elect Kimberly Nicole Dowdell, AIA, look to the future of the organization and the profession as they lead AIA’s commitment to building a more equitable and diverse profession and a more sustainable built environment.

How do you want to use your role to transform the profession:

Lakisha Ann Woods: I was drawn to AIA because of its strategic plan. I am inspired by the leadership team and their dedication to AIA’s goal. I want to use my role to develop clear and measurable steps firms can take to increase the diversity of their leadership teams. I want our team to share stories of success from other firms who have seen growth and innovation because of their focus on diversifying their

leadership teams. We know that data shows that when companies focus on diversifying their leadership teams, they become more profitable and innovative.

Emily Grandstaff-Rice: My service in this role expands the conversation about how leadership comes through different voices and at different stages in one’s career. I am not what you expect an AIA president to look or sound like, due to my gender and age. I have been a strong advocate for equity and climate action in the profession. I will use my role to continue those efforts, as well as elevate the Framework for Design Excellence. I also want to focus on how the economic issues we face in the profession will position us well for the future.

Kimberly Nicole Dowdell: I am excited about working with AIA’s leadership to raise the public profile of the architect and help AIA members prosper. Our role as leaders is to secure the future, and I am interested in leveraging my position with AIA to bolster the recruitment and retention of the very best design talent. Architects have a bright future ahead if we become more intentional now about advocating for our value in the marketplace, creating more pathways for diverse talent to thrive in our profession, and ensuring that

all architects are prepared to design for a more healthy and sustainable tomorrow.

What inspires you to lead?

ER: The members and the impact they have on the built environment. Earlier in my career, I didn’t always see myself reflected in the leadership, so in some way I am creating the change that I wanted to see.

KD: I am inspired by the tremendous potential within the profession of architecture, both for people who focus on the design of buildings and those of us who design solutions beyond buildings. I look forward to helping AIA empower all architects to thrive and improve the health of their communities.

continued to page 18

by Patra Wroten

(l-r): Lakisha Ann Woods, Emily Grandstaff-Rice, and Kimberly Nicole Dowdell

PROFILE: Debora Juliao

PROFILE: Megan Helmer

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

Erland Construction

Debora Juliao started her career with Erland Construction in March of 2022 as an assistant project manager (APM). Born and raised in Brazil, she came to the U.S. as an international student studying to get her associate’s degree. During this time, she was employed as an administrative assistant for a contractor outside of Boston. From that moment on, she became passionate about construction and asked to take on more work dealing directly with projects. Debora returned to school to get her associate’s in construction management and was later promoted to APM of that firm. She’s currently studying for her bachelor’s in project management from CSU and excelling at Erland.

Debora isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone, continuously seeking opportunities to grow and support her colleagues. She recently stepped up and took on the role of helping to fulfill the LEED requirements for a lab-ready facility. By shouldering this responsibility, her team could focus their time on coordinating final materials and closeout milestones for project completion.

Native to South America, Debora is fluent in Portuguese with a working knowledge of Spanish, an incredible asset when working with bilingual tradespeople in the industry. She provides additional translation and vital communication between subcontractors when needed.

Debora encourages women to get into the trades: “Believe in yourself, be persistent, and don’t feel discouraged. Use every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. You don’t have to do it alone; surround yourself with people who’ll support you and whom you want to be.”

Megan Helmer is the purchasing administrator and training coordinator for Erland Construction. Megan joined Erland in June 2015 as front desk coordinator with limited experience in general contracting. She quickly grasped the company’s processes and culture. With a keen sense of Erland’s collaboration with the trades, Megan was fittingly promoted to purchasing administrator in 2016 where she supports the director of purchasing, maintains the subcontractor database, and processes Erland’s SDI requirements.

PURCHASING ADMINISTRATOR AND TRAINING COORDINATOR

TO SUPPORT OUR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Erland Construction

Since joining the company, Megan has become a part of several internal committees, including the Employee Relations and Safety Committees. She also serves as director of Erland’s employee-founded charitable foundation, whose mission is to provide funding that makes a positive difference in the lives of selected groups in Burlington and neighboring communities. Megan is heavily involved with planning and executing the foundation’s annual fundraisers, including the organization’s Strike Out Autism Bowling Night event, which was held on Feb. 9.

Megan recently adopted the title of training coordinator for Erland’s dedicated safety program. In this role, she assists all employees with receiving the required safety training and additional industry courses that support their career advancement.

Megan says, “I enjoy working in construction because of the constant change and fast-paced environment. Being in purchasing and training allows me to build relationships and grow my network which in turn keeps me up to date on any challenges our subcontractors may be facing, as well as the latest safety trends. Any women looking into the construction industry, try it!”

PROFILE: Elisabeth Neville Ambler

Elisabeth “Lisa” Neville Ambler is a marketing coordinator with AKF Group in its Boston office. She holds a bachelor’s degree as well as master’s degrees in graphic & interactive design and photography from Northeastern University, where she was inducted into the Sigma Epsilon Rho Honor Society.

Elisabeth’s years of experience in the design, photography and AEC community has led to her work with the creative and seasoned team at AKF Group, preparing proposals, presentations and occasional event and site photography.

AKF Group

In addition to her position at AKF Group, she’s an adjunct professor at Northeastern University teaching digital photography and graphic design, and at Boston University teaching digital content creation for the master’s program at the School of Hospitality and Administration. Elisabeth recently published her book, Digital Photography: Shooting in Manual.

Elisabeth is an active member of the Boston chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) on the Outreach Committee,

which allows her to participate in the local community. As a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), she keeps abreast of new trends and technology.

Inspired by the elements and stylistic science of color theory and photography, Elisabeth founded Neville Associates, a design and photography business for clients who seek customized product art that matches their business personality. In her personal life, you will often find Elisabeth, her husband and their two chihuahuas looking for the oddest objects and places to photograph.

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Shaping the Future of the Trades

This article originally appeared in New England Crane School’s 2023 Winter Newsletter.

by Olimpia Piccoli

It is no secret the face of our workforce in America is changing. With supply chain demands and gaps in employment wreaking havoc for some this winter, it’s becoming increasingly important to diversify the workplace, especially in the field of construction. The percentage of women working in construction has been a slow rise, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, totaling 11% in 2021, with only 4% actually out of the office and in the trades.

While women may be just as competent a crane operator or carpenter as a man, it is often the invisible social and psychological barriers that keep a woman from even pursuing a career in the industry. In many cases, girls are not taught to use the tools and equipment that their male counterparts are encouraged to master growing up. If they can get the training and find themselves in the field, they often feel the need to be overqualified to counter this bias.

As a woman-owned business, we wanted to take a look at actionable steps women can take to develop the skills and self-confidence to enter the trades and what employers can do to create a more inclusive and sustainable work environment.

We spoke with Missy Mackin at Vermont Works for Women (VWW), a nonprofit organization based in Winooski, Vt. aimed at supporting women and girls with hands-on career education as well as prospective employers with the skills necessary to create the kind of workplace that attracts and nurtures this vast pool of future tradespeople. Mackin has seen a rise in mid-career women wanting out from characteristic roles in administration and into the trades. There is a growing need for immersion in the field in order to develop competency.

VWW’s Trailblazers Pre-apprenticeship Program gives women the opportunity to learn the basics in a supportive environment, while giving them an opportunity to work hands-on with employers in their community on real-world projects. They focus on NCCER curriculum and OSHA 10 safety certification while exploring a number of trade skills. “Self-discovery develops self-advocacy,” says Mackin. “They can’t build skills they don’t even know they have.”

“Get them into some heavy piece of equipment, feel that sense of empowerment and they’ll be ready for something else,” says Tammy Ellis, a lead trainer with VWW, about her experience working with the groups of women that have come through their Women Can Do

career exploration events. The shift in confidence only takes one empowering experience: “The woman that gets into the cab is not the woman that comes out.”

While Ellis may have had the family exposure to power tools and excavators growing up, she believes women are more than capable of learning with the right mindset. She says, our biggest block is often how we regard our own abilities. “If you think you can, you’re right. If you think you can’t, you’re also right.”

In fact, women seem to make excellent tradespeople, especially crane operators. Linda T., a female operator who has run crane for over 40 years and has owned her own construction business, says, “Women are more naturally smooth and watch out for everyone around,” often valuing safety, communication and a team approach.

But women and other minorities may struggle with social isolation if they find themselves in a workplace where peer resistance and doubt of their talent or experience is a daily struggle. After years of apprenticeship and making it to the journeyman level, many women are given less qualified jobs, as was Linda’s experience. “They wouldn’t let me operate a crane after graduating, even though 90% of my apprenticeship was running crane at a power plant…they had me on automatic things, pushing buttons.” She may have solved this by buying her own crane and running her own business, but she was still sometimes met with skepticism or surprise by clients and colleagues alike.

“When hiring, consider the need for community,” highlights Mackin. Mentors can be an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enter the trades. She suggests hiring more than one woman at a time to ensure longevity of employee retention.

“As employers, it’s your job to create the kind of work environment that they’re going to want to come back to,” says Ellis.

There are a growing number of resources employers can access towards building a more professional and inclusive workplace. Projects like the Build Your

Future (BYF) initiative through NCCER and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) provide networking, employment resources and education for companies, journeymen, and job seekers.

Without casting a broader net, employers may not be finding the best talent. A more diverse pool of prospective employees means an employer is more likely to find the right fit. Diverse backgrounds and life experience may also lead to new strategies and innovation that give companies a competitive advantage in the industry.

As the trades and labor workforce dwindles, it will be increasingly important for companies to partner with organizations that nurture the pool of future employees. Initiatives that work with youth, like Skills USA, are an invaluable resource for building a competent and committed community of future tradespeople.

As we have been saying for years at New England Crane School, we need to stop trying to find new operators and start making them.

Olimpia Piccoli is marketing manager at New England Crane School.

We Salute WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

ASM is the state’s leading association for specialty contractors. Since 1950 we have represented companies of all trades, large and small, union and open shop, who work on major building projects across the commonwealth, in both the public and private sector.

CMP Exterior Celebrates Five Years in Business, Continued Success and Growth

Submitted by CMP Exterior

hold, and in 2017, Christine and a longtime client and business mentor opened CMP Exterior, a Connecticut-based trade contracting firm. The company’s goal would be to bring quality and expertise at a fair price to an underserved market. While Christine is president and majority shareholder, she also credits her partner for guidance, as the luxury residential construction market and commercial construction market are different.

Today, CMP Exterior is an up-andcoming business that has doubled its revenues each year for the last three years, and 2023 promises the same. That alone is a great business success story by any standard. It’s an even more impressive story, considering the last three years also included a worldwide pandemic, labor shortages, and ongoing supply chain issues.

Five years ago, Christine Pandolfi, a highly experienced interior designer/builder for high-end residences and restaurants, decided it was time to shake up her career and find a new challenge. She had long been fascinated by the idea of bringing residential quality craftsmanship to commercial construction and the idea of operating a “well run” commercial construction company.

Of all the ideas she explored, the commercial siding business concept took

And perhaps most impressive: CMP Exterior is woman-owned and led –something you don’t see every day in the commercial construction industry. According to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), women today make up about 10% of the construction industry overall, and only 13% of U.S. construction businesses are women-owned.

Today, CMP Exterior includes staff to perform cost estimating and

take-offs; coordinate material ordering and delivery schedules; and manage the on-site installation teams. Further evidence of Christine’s success is her expansion into new markets and landing new clients. During the initial years of operation, CMP Exterior worked with one or two regional general contractors. Today, CMP’s client base includes nearly a half-dozen regional general contractors, and her geographic reach has expanded into Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

For Christine, her interest in art, design, and construction has been a lifelong passion. Initially, college included a business degree because she feared that interior design may not be a sustainable career. Not feeling satisfied, she returned to college to study art, architecture, design, and construction – and never looked back. Building would be her forever path and love.

“Christine started from nothing and

created a business that’s not only a top performer but also profitable. She is a shining example of a person who goes after what she believes in, brings her passion and commitment to every undertaking, and is someone you can count on, without fail,” says Mike Kolakowksi, president and CEO of KBE Building Corporation in Farmington, Conn. “As a contractor and a business owner, having the kind of trusting relationship Christine has built with our firm and other contractors is priceless. Male or female, anyone would do well for themselves to follow her example.”

Other clients concur:

“Working with Christine was refreshing,” says Brian Parmenter, project executive with Callahan Construction Managers of Bridgewater, Mass. “We had a great experience with CMP all the way from contract negotiation through to punch list. She and her team are very easy to deal with and very detailed-oriented.”

Christine Pandolfi

“As a contractor and a business owner, having the kind of trusting relationship Christine has built with our firm and other contractors is priceless. Male or female, anyone would do well for themselves to follow her example.”

– Mike Mike Kolakowksi president and CEO of KBE Building Corporation

Christine Pandolfi on a job site

Women

In Construction

Questions & Answers

Nicole Benton — Assistant Project Manager

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: I love being part of a team that works together to build something from nothing or sometimes changes something from one thing to another. It allows me to problem solve and utilize the creative side of my brain. It’s rewarding to say, “I am part of a team that built that!”

Q: What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction?

A: Come join the fun! As a knowledgeable, educated woman, I feel like a valued member of the team — respected, supported, and included in all aspects of the project. You’ll succeed if you come to the table ready to work hard and as a collaborator.

Q: What significant changes are happening in this field?

A: It is evolving with new technology and means of completing a project. Things are shifting toward more sustainable and eco-friendly building practices, and it takes all kinds of people and skill sets to make those dreams and visions come to life!

As we pave the way for the future of industry professionals, we want everyone interested in working in construction to feel welcomed and supported. It’s our collective responsibility to break down barriers and stereotypes and educate the next generation of the workforce about endless possibilities and opportunities. In support of such, we asked women at ReArch (field & office) to reflect on their experiences working in the industry.

Majken Poley — Project Manager

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: The continuous opportunity to build life-long relationships with people with similar interests.

Q: What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction?

A: There are plenty of career paths in construction. Research what options are available to maximize your strengths, and build a path to take you to the top.

Q: What significant changes are happening in this field?

A: Technology is changing how we construct our buildings, allowing us to be more efficient from preconstruction to the management of the facility after the fact.

Stacey Bevins — Dir. of Marketing & Communications

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: I enjoy the fast pace nature of the industry. There are many moving parts in the field and behind the scenes. There is rarely a dull moment. It’s exciting, challenging, and rewarding.

Q: What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction?

A: The industry offers something for everyone and every skill set, from skilled trades to business development, estimating, marketing, etc. If you enjoy being part of a collaborative team that steers projects toward a gratifying conclusion, more than ever it’s an ideal time to get into construction and engineering.

Q: What significant changes are happening in this field?

A: Gender bias in the industry is gradually diminishing, and a growing number of women are choosing a career in construction.

Sarah

LeClair — Project Engineer

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: I love that I am always learning.

Q: What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction?

A: Resilience is an essential attribute to master.

Q: What significant changes are happening in this field?

A: The integration of green building and design. The diversification of professionals in the field.

Christa Vandevord, Chief Financial Officer

Heather Fontaine, Assistant Project Manager

Nicole Benton, Project Manager

Majken Poley, Project Manager

Kimberly Brown, Property Accountant & Accounts Receivable Manager

Sally Litchfield, Administrative and Accounting Assistant

Lillie Bleau, Human Resources Manager

Stacey Bevins, Director of Marketing & Communications

Jessica Harvey, Accounts Payable Specialist

Sarah

Mary

Photo Left to Right

Holly LeClair, Director of Health, Safety & Risk Management

LeClair, Project Engineer (not pictured)

Ann Wood, Controller (not pictured)

PROFILE: Grace Steward

PROFILE: Cheri Ruane

PROJECT MANAGER

C.E. Floyd Company

Grace Steward was recently promoted to project manager and successfully completed her first project in this role. When she joined C.E. Floyd Company after graduating from Connecticut College eight years ago, she didn’t think she even wanted to be a project manager. She describes herself as having been a very green project engineer, but as she gained experience, her belief and vision grew. Now she sees her promotion as her biggest professional accomplishment so far.

Grace credits Project Executive Craig Johnson for helping her get to where she is today. He continues to push her outside of her comfort zone and support her whenever she has a question or a challenge she wants to talk through.

Grace says that if it weren’t for Lucy Frye, senior project manager at C.E. Floyd, she may have never chosen this career path. Initially, Grace wanted to be an architect. But during her senior year, Lucy, a former rowing teammate, reached out to her asking her to consider working on the construction side. The two had the same major at school, and Lucy was having success, so Grace decided to join C.E. Floyd. She hasn’t looked back.

Grace says she is excited to keep learning, stretching outside her comfort zone, and growing in her career. “Seeing something be constructed because of the work you’re doing is pretty cool,” she says.

VICE PRESIDENT

Weston & Sampson

Cheri Ruane, FASLA is a vice president with Weston & Sampson and leads the company’s Design Studio in Boston. She grew up in New Jersey and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in landscape architecture from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and the Harvard Graduate School of Design, respectively.

Cheri has always been committed to a collaborative relationship between designer and contractor during the construction of the projects she leads. She recognizes that many important design decisions must be made in the field in real time, and that a productive relationship between designer/engineer and contractor is the best way to ensure the integrity of the design and the built product.

Her career began by focusing on residential projects where she was responsible for the initial design concepts, working with the clients, and supporting the construction crew with layout and material sourcing. She quickly learned the need for flexibility when encountering unforeseen subsurface conditions. As her work has gotten more complicated, additional experts are needed to support a high level of responsiveness. She

PROFILE: Amanda Jett LeBlanc

collaborates with structural, geotechnical, stormwater, and utility engineers in all of her projects. At Weston & Sampson, she has the benefit of working alongside contractors in their Construction, Maintenance, & Repair (CMR) company.

Cheri’s work focuses mostly on the public sector and involves the bidding and oversight of horizontal construction. From parks and playgrounds to bike trails and athletic facilities, she enjoys working in places that improve the quality of life for communities large and small.

Born and raised in Delaware, Amanda Jett LeBlanc, PE received her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Delaware with a minor in civil engineering. She began the first couple years of her career in the solid waste industry working on environmental compliance projects for a landfill in Ohio. She moved to the Boston area and joined Weston & Sampson in 2013, becoming a licensed professional civil engineer in 2017.

Weston & Sampson

Amanda started out assisting with public works facility designs, fuel stations, and solid waste projects before transitioning to the firm’s wastewater group in 2015, where she really found her sweet spot. Since then, she’s enjoyed assisting many municipal clients with sewer system evaluation survey projects from the investigation phase through rehabilitation design to construction oversight. Many of her projects focus on trenchless rehabilitation of gravity sewers. Amanda has performed investigations (sewer manhole inspections, smoke testing, building inspections), moved on to construction oversight, and now manages

these projects from start to finish. She really enjoys getting out in the field to offset her time in the office.

Amanda’s favorite project was the oversight of the cured-in-place installation of about 3,000 linear feet of 24-inch sewers that ran under wetlands. It was a unique and challenging project that involved finding a creative way to get equipment access to repair the large hole in one of the sewer segments while still protecting the surrounding wetlands.

“

Seeing something be constructed because of the work you’re doing is pretty cool.”

– Grace Steward

PROJECT MANAGER

PROFILE:

Carrera Dean

PROFILE: Kara Keleher

Carrera Dean is an engineer III in the wastewater discipline at Weston & Sampson. She was introduced to the environmental sector at an early age by her mother, who would take her with her to take samples of digesters and lagoons. Her passion for math and problem-solving led Carrera to pursue and earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental and ecological engineering from Purdue University. After participating in internships and completing her studies, Carrera joined Weston & Sampson in 2021. She participates in a variety of projects assisting municipalities in repair and rehabilitation of sewer, drainage, and water systems. She and her team perform a range of services including infrastructure investigation, inspection, evaluation to propose repair and rehabilitation recommendations, excavation design and construction oversight. Two of the main focuses of her work are the reduction and prevention of inflow and infiltration into sanitary sewer systems and providing structural support to pipes and structures. Her favorite part of the utility rehabilitation process is going into the field and working with contractors

ENGINEER III

to create lasting improvements in cities throughout the Greater Boston area.

“My best days are out in the field watching a design come into fruition. I have truly found my place in construction oversight,” she says. “Every day I learn something new, especially when speaking with contractors. Their years of technical expertise has opened my eyes to the ins and outs of the construction world and how planning and design can be improved.”

SENIOR TEAM LEADER

Kara Keleher, PE, ENV SP is a senior team leader in Weston & Sampson’s wastewater division. She grew up in the Merrimack Valley and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Merrimack College. She started working at Weston & Sampson as a co-op student in 1991 and as an engineer upon graduation.

Kara now has more than 30 years of wastewater engineering and project management experience specializing in the planning, study, design, and construction of drainage and sanitary sewer projects, as well as infiltration/inflow (I/I) analysis and reduction programs and comprehensive sewer rehabilitation. Kara is an active member of the Collection System Committees of the New England Water Environment Association and Water Environment Federation. She is a Registered Professional Engineer in seven states and is also an Envision Sustainability Professional.

Kara recently celebrated her 30th work anniversary. She says that the two reasons she appreciates working at Weston & Sampson are the people and the work-life balance. “After my second child was born, I was able to work part-

time at Weston & Sampson in order to help raise my growing family. Once my children were older, I was able to re-join Weston & Sampson full-time, resume my career, and advance within the company.”

Kara enjoys solving problems and working collaboratively with her clients. She is active in Weston & Sampson’s IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and access) committee and their culture club. In her free time, Kara likes to play mixed doubles tennis and spend time outside.

Weston & Sampson

Weston & Sampson

PROFILE: Lateffa Curry

Lateffa Curry is a marketing associate with The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM). “Being in the AEC industry for over 16 years has been a learning experience,” she says. “Although architecture wasn’t my first passion, I can honestly say it is my true passion.”

PROFILE: Merari Pellot

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

The S/L/A/M Collaborative

Lateffa worked as a paralegal before discovering her love of architecture, marketing, and communications. She supports business development efforts for SLAM’s Boston office. Lateffa’s focus is to grow SLAM’s Education, Corporate, Science and Technology and Healthcare practices in Massachusetts.

In addition to her day-to-day commitments and responsibilities, Lateffa is also involved in several organizations throughout the industry. She leads the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) Product Show Attendees Committee. She is on the board of directors for the Professional Women in Construction (PWC), as well as the Marketing and Communications and Awards Gala Committees. For years, she has been a member of the Programs Committee for SMPS and NAIOP. Lateffa was recently named director of DEI for the Association of Medical Facility Professionals’ (AMFP)

One of Lateffa’s goals is to create a pipeline to introduce the construction industry to K-12 children/students in underprivileged communities.

recently launched Boston chapter. One of Lateffa’s goals is to create a pipeline to introduce the construction industry to K-12 children/students in underprivileged communities. She is currently working with a talented group of professionals to help her move this effort forward.

&

Merari Pellot’s advice for women getting into the CRE industry is that knowledge truly is power. “Become a ‘go-to’ person for answers about what you know and what you don’t know. If you are asked about something you don’t know, find the answer and become a resource for that person. Be willing to learn all the time and become an indispensable source of information,” she says. “My wish for all women is to have the opportunity to advance in the workplace if they have the talent and desire. We’re all in this game together. Diversity of all kinds contributes to the success of a team.”

CONTROLLER

W. L. French Excavating Corporation

She adds, “Also, having self confidence matters and by having this we can create opportunities not just for ourselves, but others too. Additionally, this is a dynamic industry that is constantly evolving – there are more women in leadership roles and we have the ability and responsibility to show other women this is a great industry with great growth potential.”

When asked what her biggest challenge in the industry has been, Merari said, “Being a well-educated minority woman has its challenges, but motivation is the key. If we are committed to our goals and dreams we will succeed. As former president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said, ‘The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.’”

“ My wish for all women is to have the opportunity to advance in the workplace if they have the talent and desire. We’re all in this game together. Diversity of all kinds contributes to the success of a team.” – Merari Pell ot

PROFILE: Stacey Vega

Stacey Vega joined Connolly Brothers as business development manager in September of 2022 following a successful eight-year stretch at JM Coull. At Connolly, her role focuses on creating and maintaining relationships while simultaneously finding new opportunities for growth within key market sectors.

PROFILE: Susan McCabe Messier

Susan McCabe Messier, DHT has served as principal and owner of CampbellMcCabe Worldwide, LLC since 2013, but she says that building it into the successful company it is today is a result of years spent establishing a solid foundation in the industry through experience, networking, and a deliberate mission of learning and developing strong leadership skills.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

A Villanova University alum, Stacey is also chairperson of the membership committee for the Boston chapter of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), an international organization dedicated to supporting bio-pharma industry professionals.

When JM Coull decided to wind down and cease operations, Stacey says she was drawn to Connolly due to similarities between the two firms, such as the open shop structure and strong focus on design-build. At Connolly, she says she found “not only a skill-set fit but a culture fit.”

Stacey particularly values helping people around her succeed. “I am happy to share with people things I’ve learned throughout my career, to give them the encouragement and support they need,” she says. “When I started out in this industry, I was lucky to have met a

phenomenal group of women, and they really took me under their wing.”

Stacey encourages women interested in working in the construction industry to find such mentors, and while the field still skews male, she says the tide is turning: “With the shortage of skilled AEC professionals and the current workforce aging out, companies must be openminded when it comes to hiring a diverse mix of professionals. This includes a lot of talented women and mothers, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside.”

PRINCIPAL AND OWNER

Campbell-McCabe Worldwide, LLC

Pivotal to that mission was accepting an invitation from her colleague Jennifer Weiss Donovan over a decade ago to attend an event held by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Boston chapter. Additionally, Donna Denio, who now contributes her business development expertise to Campbell-McCabe Worldwide, invited Susan to be a part of the Women’s Exchange for Leadership and Life (WELL) leadership group many years ago. Susan says being a member of, and serving in leadership roles for these and other organizations, was invaluable in giving her the self-confidence and problem-solving skills needed to be an effective and successful leader.

Susan adds that taking ownership of her company has really allowed her to lead with confidence and invest herself fully in

its growth and success. She encourages other women to pursue leadership positions and to not shy away from challenges. She says, “If you’re serious about ascending to a leadership role in the industry, engage in the things you feel you will benefit from in your career development. Become as knowledgeable about other disciplines as you can, spend time serving in leadership positions in organizations like NAWIC, and make investments in your own personal development and in growing your network. There is no replacement for genuine on-the-job experience, and the relationships you will form along the way will endure throughout your career. With proper preparation, the sky’s the limit.”

Connolly Brothers

PROFILE: JocCole Burton

JocCole “JC” Burton, LEED AP BD+C is the founder and CEO of Maven Construction, Inc., a women-owned Boston-based company that provides full service general construction management, energy solution and energy retrofits in the built environment.

PROFILE: Kara Goodwin

Kara Goodwin has construction in her genes – her grandfather started a design, construction, and maintenance services company in the Greater Boston area. He built the house she grew up in and tree houses for her to play in as a child. When she graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in communications, she spent nine years working in the marketing departments for two construction companies.

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Maven Construction, Inc.

JC attended the University of California, Berkeley and has a MBA Certificate of Finance & Accounting from Georgia State University. Her expertise in high-performing green projects stems from directing more than 40 LEED new construction and energy retrofit projects where geothermal, solar arrays and solar farms are reducing traditional energy sources on average of 23%.

For four years, JC has served as a fellow with the Startup Leadership Program, crafting a construction accelerator. The Startup Leadership Program is a global not-for-profit educational program and professional network for the next generation of founders and entrepreneurs. The construction incubator will address the economic inequality in construction, as it relates to women and minorities. The accelerator will launch in Boston in April.

The Startup Leadership Program is a global not-for-profit educational program and professional network for the next generation of founders and entrepreneurs. The construction incubator will address the economic inequality in construction, as it relates to women and minorities.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT MANAGER

In March of 2021, she joined DPS Group, a global engineering, procurement, construction management, and validation firm serving high-tech process industries. Starting as a senior proposal manager in the Boston office, Kara was promoted to business development account manager in January of 2023. In her new role, Kara will prospect for new clients by utilizing her personal network of 11 years and leveraging DPS Group’s and its new owner Arcadis’ existing client base to ensure a robust pipeline of opportunities.

In January of 2022, Kara was one of only four Arcadis DPS employees in the U.S. to be nominated and selected for the High Potential program. This program is

designed to provide employees who have displayed leadership abilities within the company with opportunities to fast-track their career at Arcadis DPS. It includes a personalized and standardized plan to provide training needed for participants to excel in their desired area.

Kara’s advice to women who want to pursue a career in construction is “Do not be afraid to ask questions or to ask for help. It can be intimidating but be confident, find mentors, speak up, and show your value.”

Delivering success at the speed of science

Arcadis DPS Group

PROFILE: Catherine Roden

Wentworth Institute of Technology has selected Catherine (Cat) Roden as the 2023 winner of the Founders Scholarship. Established in the memory of four founding individuals – Dick Kuchinsky, Dennis Leahy, Ron Gagnon and Patricia Canelli – the scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding undergraduate student focused in construction management or a related field who exemplifies values in academic discipline and civic-mindedness. Preference is given to Eagle Scouts or Gold Star Girl Scouts and the applicant may renew the scholarship in subsequent years of enrollment.

Notes Kevin Quinn, Dacon’s CEO, “When Dacon began this scholarship in 2014, we sought individuals demonstrating a strength of character in personal integrity, self-discipline and a desire for a career within this industry. Catherine is all of that, and we are excited to see what she accomplishes in the future.”

Building achievement has been central to Cat’s life in rural Lebanon, N.Y. Her graduating class consisted of just 23 students, the majority of which didn’t have the opportunity for a collegiate education. Cat stands out not just amidst her high school colleagues but her family as well. Upon graduating in December, Cat will be the only person in her immediate family to attain a college education. Her

father, whom she describes as “by far, one of the hardest working men I know,” acted as her initial motivation to enter the field. Naturally adept at math and solving complex challenges, Cat knew she wanted to apply her strategic and analytical capabilities to building design.

She serves as VP of the Sigma Lambda Chi International Construction Honor Society and is a member of the Construction Management Club. Outside of the university curriculum, Cat is an avid outdoor athlete and enjoys teaching children skiing at a small, western Massachusetts resort. Upon graduating with a B.S. in construction management, she aspires to obtain a position in virtual design and construction within the metro Boston area.

PROFILE: Camilla Vivaldi Coelho

After graduating with a degree in architecture in Brazil, Camilla Vivaldi Coelho spent five years working on the development of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Village, a residential complex with 31 buildings and more than 3,000 apartments. She oversaw the architectural and landscape projects and coordinated with the construction team to create the first neighborhood in Latin America to earn LEED certification.

ARCHITECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

Manzo Freeman Development

She moved to the U.S. to earn an MBA at Babson College before joining Manzo Freeman Development (MFD), a privately-owned commercial real estate firm. Quickly climbing the ranks as the designated architect and construction manager at MFD, Camilla helps lead tenant and building-wide projects at each of the firm’s properties: The Landing at Hudson Mills in Hudson, Mass.; The Landing at Everett Mills in Lawrence, Mass.; and The Landing at One Chestnut in Nashua, N.H.

Camilla excels in building trusted relationships with the firm’s contractors and tenants, and understanding the tenant’s vision for their space and making

it a reality. Camilla is trilingual which is especially valuable in communities with a large population of Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish speakers. Camilla prides herself on guiding tenants through the design and construction process, making it as seamless as possible so they can focus on their core business. She is exceptionally detail-oriented and organized, ensuring all of MFD’s projects are delivered on time and under budget.

“Camilla is an incredible asset to the MFD team, and her skills and tireless efforts contribute to our success,” said Alexandra Freeman, managing partner and COO at MFD.

2023 WINNER OF THE FOUNDERS SCHOLARSHIP

CONSTRUCTIO BREAKFAST WOMEN IN

CELEBRATING THE WOMEN OF CT ABC

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Meet the Women of Integrated at Work

Submitted by Integrated at Work

Integrated at Work (IAW) is a premier specialty contractor bringing innovation and expertise to exterior and interior building projects. Proud to create strong, lasting internal and external relationships, our co-workers don’t just work together, we support and encourage each other. We celebrate women in construction and take this opportunity to applaud three phenomenal team members pivotal to our success.

We celebrate women in construction and take this opportunity to applaud three phenomenal team members pivotal to our success.

Creative and innovative, Barbara Pugsley, estimator, works directly with contractor preconstruction and estimating partners to determine project requirements. She provides accurate and comprehensive estimates, including material quantities, equipment and loading requirements, labor needs, creative construction solutions, and value engineering options. She has over 10 years of experience

working in various capacities within construction management and the general contracting industry.

Wilma Sanchez, project manager, oversees project management from the preconstruction phase and submittals through the final project execution and completion. She has vast industry experience and trained as an architect in Venezuela. Wilma has worked in many capacities throughout her over 20 year career, including operating her own construction company specializing in commercial and residential projects. Her hands-on project management style is a valued asset to the IAW team.

Key to our preconstruction and

Construction

estimating team, Karin Scattolon, estimator, works directly with our contractor preconstruction and estimating partners to determine project requirements. She manages our pre-qualification program and consistently provides accurate and

comprehensive estimates, including material quantities, equipment and loading requirements, labor needs, and project value engineering options. She has over 10 years of experience in construction management and the glazing industry.

Q&A with the American Institute of Architects’ Leadership Team

continued from page 5

LW: I am inspired by the people that we represent and the importance of the work that they do in their communities. Architects are uniquely positioned to transform the built environment and positively impact our well-being. I am also excited for the opportunity to lead the talented team at AIA. The staff has provided wonderful feedback that has shaped much of the direction I have taken as we adjust the organization to better serve the architecture community.

What are you proudest of so far in your leadership at AIA?

LW: I was very proud to secure the feature for AIA and myself as a judge on “America ByDesign,” an architecture show featured on CBS. Throughout this past year, members have said how important it is for AIA to build excitement about architecture in the public. This feature showcased all AIA members and AIA member projects in a six-episode series. It is streaming on CBS platforms now and in February will be in six major markets.

What does AIA leadership mean to you?

ER: The experience is like no other! AIA leadership is a trust to have critical conversations, ask the right questions, and celebrate the amazing work of our members. I still have 20 or more years in the profession, and I am so honored to serve at this time and look forward to use what I learn to grow future leadership.

KD: It means having an opportunity to not only have a voice in rooms where important decisions are being made about the profession, but also to give voice to mem-

bers who have historically felt unheard. How do you want to be a catalyst for equity within AIA and the industry?

LW: It’s all about storytelling. It’s about showcasing and celebrating the amazing design work of architects, particularly of women and people of color, in this country. We have to do more to shine the spotlight out there, and we’re going to do just that.

ER: As architects, we need to acknowledge we don’t have all the answers, but we know how to ask the right questions. There is a subtlety to that humility. For every project, for every effort we need to ask if we are not just improving our communities, but what we are missing? When we are guided by the people we serve, we both learn from and create the most appropriate solutions.

KD: By serving as an example of what is possible. My campaign slogan was, “Envision New Possibilities,” which still applies as I step into this position as the first Black woman and the first millennial to serve as national president. My hope is that not only my presence, but also my strong performance in the role, will inspire the next generation to get engaged with making a difference in our profession. Representation matters and is a key building block of equity within AIA and beyond.

Barbara Pugsley

Wilma Sanchez Karin Scattolon

Patra Wroten is the director of external relations at the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

PROFILE: Frances Hughes

After earning a B.A. in architecture from Boston Architectural College, Frances Hughes began her career as an architect. After 20 years, she made a life-changing decision to take on a new challenge in the industry: managing projects designed by others on behalf of the owner. As an owner’s project manager (OPM), Frances now draws on her extensive experience to ensure projects maintain the highest level of design and construction quality while remaining within the owner’s project budget, a difficult task in the past two years.

With a vision of how an architecture practice “could be” and no path to follow, Laura Pirie, AIA, LFA, NOMA set out 20 years ago to create a firm where inspiring design, technical excellence, and life balance would coexist to make the world a better place. Corny, but true.

PROJECT MANAGER, PMCM GROUP CHA

CONSULTING, INC.

Frances encourages other women to hone their industry skills in project and construction management, budget development, and business development, and then look around. “Leverage personal skills like good verbal and written communication and networking to explore new opportunities within the industry,” she says. “You’ll find many people who are willing to help you grow your career.”

Frances has managed large, complex projects in Massachusetts, including healthcare facilities such as the nine-floor Shattuck Hospital relocation to Newton Pavilion and MSBA-funded school

projects such as the new Westport Middle and High School. This school construction project involved complex phased construction to limit the disruption to the nearby elementary school and library and is constructed for sustainability to achieve LEED Silver certification as determined by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Ratings System.

Long before the pandemic-induced demand for life-work balance and contrary to growth-as-thegoal objectives, Laura has led the talented team at Pirie Associates to create sensitive, impactful, and integrated built environments one project at a time. From placemaking and community engagement to landscape, architecture, and interiors, the firm’s multidisciplinary approach brings the right tool to each job. Laura often cites the old saying, “If you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail” to describe the opposite of Pirie Associates’ approach. Why work this way? A client’s built environment is a partner to help them achieve their unique goals, and using the right tools makes all the difference. And here’s a secret: This approach does not

PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDER

cost more money – it just takes a bit more thought. While practicing this way, a few things became clear: First, every project deserves a good story. A story that describes why the built environment is designed the way it is connects people to their place, and connection is vital to belonging and health. Second, value management is a decisionmaking tool based on the arc of impact. If it’s cheaper out of the gate but falls apart or is too expensive to operate, how is that a good value? And last, why and how we make matters. What we make and how we make it impacts the entire living system, and we can use our creativity to regenerate and sustain life instead of draining life.

Over two decades, Pirie Associates has come full circle: The design of our practice for life balance has led to the design of built environments for life balance. Who would have guessed?

Laura advises, “Trust your path, including the unexpected twists and turns – it will lead you where you need to be to make a difference in the world.”

our communities

Pirie Associates

PROFILE: Susan Shelby

Susan Shelby, FSMPS, CPSM, ABCP began her career in public relations 28 years ago in the competitive marketplace of high-tech. When the dot-com bubble burst in 2001, her career path diverged into the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. A 2004 layoff inspired Susan to launch Rhino PR, which prioritizes the integration of public relations, marketing, and business strategies to help AEC clients increase their visibility in the marketplace.

Like her company’s namesake, Susan considers herself a rhino, charging forward to meet client goals, armed with thick skin, and undeterred by obstacles. For the past 18 years, she has enabled clients to take ownership of their public image through targeted news releases, byline articles demonstrating thought leadership, successful media relations, and effective crisis communications.

She recently completed a 30-minute podcast, “Thick Skin, Public Relations & Crisis Communications,” for The Resilience Journey and will be co-presenting “Not All Publicity is Good Publicity” at the Society for Marketing Professional Service’s (SMPS) Northeast Regional Conference (NERC) in May with Chuck Raymond, CPSM from Weston & Sampson.

PROFILE: Sharon Bonneau

“I love being an electrician,” says Sharon Bonneau, Interstate Electrical Services electrician. “It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. Every day I get to do something that makes me proud.”

Sharon began her career with Interstate as an apprentice in 2016 and continued on to earn her journeyman license in 2021. “Being part of the Interstate team is fantastic,” she says. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

A member of SMPS since 2001, Susan is a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) and an SMPS fellow. She is a former SMPS Boston chapter president and was recognized as Marketing Professional of the Year by the chapter in 2016. When she’s not working or volunteering with Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue (YGRR), Susan makes time for Finley, her own golden retriever, reading mysteries, and watching British crime shows. At the top of her bucket list is an African photo safari with a working vacation at a rhino orphanage.

When Sharon started working in the field, she faced challenges as a woman in the trade. One of her biggest fears was not being able to bend conduit. As she progressed through her apprenticeship, Sharon’s confidence continued to grow. Today, she can bend a ten-foot piece of conduit in four different directions. “My job is so rewarding,” she says. “I can walk into a finished room after the power’s been turned on and see the lights on and things plugged into the walls, and know that I did each individual thing in that room. It’s one of the best feelings!”

“As for being a woman in the trade, I think I’ve been very lucky,” she continues. “I’m treated with respect.” When Sharon

first started at Interstate, she admits it was hard to ask for help. “I was raised to be strong and independent, and the word ‘help’ never came out of my mouth. Now, if I need help, I’ll ask for it knowing my team is there and has my back.”

As a WBE that values diversity, we are proud to celebrate the women of Bald Hill Builders during Women in Construction week, and all year long. We strive to “Build A Better Experience” with great people, knowledge, experience, and services. Bald Hill Builders is proud to be a recipient of the Boston Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” award. Bald Hill Builders also supports the development of affordable and sustainable housing to attract and retain a diverse population; stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods; and support workforce housing through the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing construction projects. BHB believes construction funds should remain in the communities in which we work, providing economic opportunities to a diverse local workforce.

ELECTRICIAN Interstate Electrical Services

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Rhino PR

MENTORING: Work closely alongside experienced electricians, assemblers, engineers, and many other talented industry innovators. Learn from the best to become the best.

INNOVATION: Advance through innovation. Our unique project delivery model employs both cutting edge technology and extensive prefabrication providing a safer and less stressful work environment for you.

CAREER GROWTH: You decide how far you want to go and we will help you get there.

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN: We pay for apprentice schooling to complete classroom hours. As an apprentice, you work and earn great pay while you learn the trade. Start earning day one!

PROFILE: Sophie Haddock

Sophie Haddock is a landscape designer and assistant land planner at TFMoran. She holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture with a minor in community planning from the University of Rhode Island. She also serves as treasurer of Granite State Landscape Architects (GSLA).

Sophie’s role at TFMoran is to plan and design landscaping projects, working to bring balance to the site and harmonize with its setting. This year, she helped the Town of Derry redesign and revitalize a historic public park.

PROFILE: Juli Lemire

Born in Boston and raised in Somerville, Juli Lemire has been a New England native her entire life. Juli attended Katherine Gibbs School and worked in the local mortgage industry for over 15 years before co-founding Temporary Wall Systems in 2017.

Sophie’s role included design of a new playground, water fountain, “sprayground” splash pad, and nature trails for all ages to enjoy. Her favorite part of the job is designing spaces that benefit people, as well as their environment and ecosystems.

TFMoran

Sophie utilizes Lumion, Sketchup, and AutoCAD to create lifelike context in her landscape designs by turning any space into a 3D model. By showing the plants’ sizes, colors, and textures, the designer can find the perfect result before reflecting that onto a landscape plan to help clients and contractors better understand how their project will turn out.

In her free time, Sophie feeds her passion for environmentalism. She and

Sophie’s role at TFMoran is to plan and design landscaping projects, working to bring balance to the site and harmonize with its setting.

her husband recently purchased their first home which was overrun with invasive plants. They have enjoyed restoring its natural charm by planting native species, starting new gardens, and encouraging biodiversity. Sophie also enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with family and friends.

CO-FOUNDER Temporary Wall Systems

Juli’s husband Ryan, a union carpenter with over 20 years of experience, had expressed frustration over the thousands of square feet of traditional stud and drywall being used for temporary containment, only to be discarded after project completion. Shortly after, Ryan saw a state-of-theart reusable modular wall containment system on his jobsite and told Juli about it. Juli immediately recognized this reusable containment system as an environmentally responsible alternative to containing dust and debris.

Combining their passion for creating solutions, Juli and Ryan created a plan for this amazing opportunity. Juli realized they could satisfy the industry need for a durable containment system that withstands the rigors of an active construction environment and marry it with a full-service rental solution that they would offer to general contractors

and facilities within New England. They outlined a service-oriented business model, developed a strategy for creating vendor partnerships and implemented the tried-and-true philosophy of “going the extra mile” for their clients because Juli believes that “success is all about the service.”

Juli believes in ongoing personal development and specifically recommends the principles outlined within the book, ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill, which has contributed greatly to her persistence and the success of Temporary Wall Systems.

Brenda Kolbow, LLS, PLS Jennifer Porter, PE

Maureen Kelly, EIT Margaret Levell, EIT Sophie Haddock

Irina Donskaia

Talent and Flexibility: Mantras of Ebbrell Architecture + Design’s Firm Culture

Submitted by Ebbrell Architecture + Design

With backgrounds that include working for large, global firms on projects around the world, to local planning and urban design, team members at Boxford, Mass.-based, woman-owned Ebbrell Architecture + Design all sound a familiar tone when discussing their work – they love their jobs because they work with a talented team of women on gratifying projects and have wonderful work/life balance.

“I didn’t know firms like Ebbrell existed. Now I look forward to Mondays,” says Lauren Foley, NCIDQ, LEED GA, interior designer. Foley, who has been with Ebbrell for 18 months and has over 13 years’ experience in corporate interiors including working for international firms on high-profile projects for corporate and healthcare clients in New York and Boston, says of the workplace culture at Ebbrell, “We deliver great designs for our clients because we feel supported in our jobs.”

Rachel Molé, LEED AP, interior designer, started her design career in healthcare focused on international work and gradually found herself designing university recreational centers. Years later she began designing workplace projects ranging from 240sf lobby refreshes to 390,000sf corporate headquarters. Molé

Lauren Foley joined Ebbrell five years ago and says, “It’s been wonderful to use my design skills on some really interesting projects.” She cited the great mix of talent and the flexible work schedule as other benefits of being on the Ebbrell team.

Robin Willcox, M. Arch, AIA, architect, began her career assisting on architectural, landscape, and urban design projects, and spent 10 years on the Hamilton, Mass. planning board, bringing expertise in public process, presentation, and policy. Willcox, whose work is primarily commercial interior

fit-out projects, has been with Ebbrell for seven years and recently achieved her architectural license. When asked about working at the firm she describes it as “friendly and honest, which is very refreshing.”

Miika Ebbrell, AIA, LEED AP, principal of the firm, says, “Robin brings her meticulous attention to detail to our field and production work, lending valuable support to our real estate clients’ needs through leasing, design and construction.” Ebbrell says, “Lauren connects with clients and guides them

through the design process seamlessly,” and “Rachel has amazing design talent and listens carefully to the client then translates what she hears into unique and beautiful designs.”

Overall, Ebbrell says the talent her team possesses is the firm’s biggest asset and it allows her to pair the right mix of designers on each project whether it’s a lab or technical facility fit out, building repositioning, or corporate headquarters. “I’m honored to have such a great team that always exceeds my expectations and really delivers for every client.”

Cometeer, Gloucester, MA

Rachel Molé Robin Willcox

AGC MA Announces 2023 BWiC Inspire Award Winners

Wellesley, MA – The Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) announces the winners of the 2023 BWiC (Building Women in Construction) Inspire Awards, designed to recognize and celebrate exemplary women in construction who demonstrate leadership, generosity, innovation, and unwavering commitment to their career, colleagues, and industry.

The BWIC Inspire Awards are peer nominated and the final selection process is managed by a team of nine judges with commercial construction experience.

The BWiC Mentor of the Year award goes to Linda Shaughnessy (posthumously), compliance officer, Walsh Brothers, Inc., for working to inspire, nurture, and educate the next generation.

Jess Baccari, project manager, Siena Construction Corporation, receives the BWiC Emerging Leader of the Year award.

The BWiC Rising Star of the Year award, which is given to someone who is already making their mark on the industry as they continue to grow in their profession, goes to Stephanie Crepeau, superintendent, BOND Building Construction.

Awarded to a noteworthy graduating college senior with a concentration in construction management, the BWiC Young Achiever award goes to Chaise Kakuk,

Wentworth Institute of Technology.

The BWiC Tradeswoman of the Year award goes to Jenaya Nelson, laborer, Local 223, for demonstrating exceptional craft and a commitment to developing it further.

“Women play essential roles all across the Massachusetts construction industry,” said John Ferrante, CEO of AGC MA. “The BWIC Inspire Awards pay tribute to their invaluable, wide-ranging, and growing contributions, and we congratulate this year’s exceptional winners.”

Leading Change Bettering Outcomes Ensuring Opportunity WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Linda Shaughnessy

Jess Baccari

Stephanie Crepeau

Chaise Kakuk

Jenaya Nelson

PROFILE: Marisa Somers

NEI General Contracting is pleased to announce that Marisa Somers, LEED AP has been promoted to project executive. Since joining NEI in 2017, Marisa has been an asset to the company and its projects.

PROFILE: Kerrie Julian

Kerrie Julian, RA, LEED AP, CDT has been working in the design and construction industry for over 25 years and brings a wealth of experience in project programming, detailed design, and construction administration. In her role as the director of science strategy at Margulies Perruzzi (MP), she lends her expertise to projects, manages and recruits staff, and develops new client relationships.

PROJECT EXECUTIVE

In her new role, Marisa will leverage her 18 years of experience to organize and execute projects and trades to achieve maximum construction and cost efficiency. She will be involved with the preconstruction process to assist with the definition of the project scope, document development, and project scheduling and phasing.

NEI General Contracting

Marisa has always seen herself in an executive role and wanted to work for a company that gave her the opportunity to grow and to take on more responsibility and she found that with NEI. “NEI believed in me and gave me the space and support I needed to take my career to the next level,” she said.

Marisa most recently completed Holtzer Park, a 70,000sf development in Jamaica Plain with 62 affordable rental apartments, and Holmes Beverly, a 67,000sf, 6-story, transit-oriented mixeduse development located adjacent to the

Beverly

She is currently working on Dudley Crossing in Roxbury, Mass., a 47-unit preservation project that includes the construction of a new 24-unit Passive House building and a historic renovation of another 9-unit building.

Marisa is a LEED AP and a PHIUS Certified Builder.

DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE STRATEGY

Margulies Perruzzi

Kerrie has worked on a wide variety of projects in the Greater Boston area including Immunogen, Seurat, Boston Heart Diagnostics, Biogen, Quest Diagnostics, Smith and Nephew, Frequency Therapeutics, Triplet Therapeutics, J&J/DePuy, EQT Exeter, Pfizer, and Moderna.

When young women ask her for advice about a career in the industry, she always tells them to get involved. “Simply being a member of a professional organization isn’t enough – you need to join a committee and be an active participant,” she advises. Kerrie says this is how she built her network, and she has relied on that network throughout her career in a variety of ways.

Kerrie is on the sponsorship committee for the Boston chapter of Women in Bio, an

organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship for all women in the life sciences. She is also a member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Boston chapter.

Kerrie earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Wentworth Institute of Technology and completed a lab safety seminar at the Harvard School of Public Health. She is VP of alumni relations on the Wentworth Institute of Technology Alumni board and co-chair of the Wentworth golf committee.

The Construction when it is more

The construction industry is stronger when it is more diverse and inclusive!

Depot commuter rail station in the heart of downtown Beverly, Mass.

PWC CT Recognizes Four Women for Contributions to AEC Industry

Hartford, CT – On Jan. 24, the Professional Women in Construction Connecticut Chapter (PWC CT) held its first event of the new year, where four recipients were awarded with professional achievement awards for their outstanding contributions to the architecture, engineering and construction AEC industry.

The event, “Paving the Path to Diversity… A View from the Road,” drew a crowd of attendees that gathered to show their support for the award winners and hear from the presentation panel of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leaders.

Kathleen Cloud, president at M. Frank Higgins & Co., was honored with the Women of Achievement Award. She has over 20 years of experience in the industry and says she is passionate about mentoring and teaching, and developing training opportunities for members of the AEC industry.

Jillian Gibbs, NCIDQ, AP, Well AP, senior associate and senior interior designer at Phase Zero Design, was given the Rising Star Award. She says she is committed to continued education and professional development opportunities for herself and her teams, and Phase Zero Design at large. This past year, she also helped concept, coordinate, and

lead a program with Connecticut-based nonprofit, Girls for Technology.

The Excellence in Mentoring Award was given to Katy Gagnon, PE, LEED AP, senior project engineer for Langan for her work and dedication to mentoring young engineers within the AEC industry. She dedicates her time to the ACE Mentoring program and works to empower women

to achieve career and personal success by networking, sharing experiences and forming professional identities.

Amy Ray, director, business development & marketing, was honored as Volunteer of the Year for her volunteerism and support of the chapter. She has spent countless hours in her roles as PWC board member and PWC communications chair,

and has been a key part in growing the PWC CT brand. She has also supported roles within the programs committee and with PWC National’s website relaunch. Following the awards ceremony, attendees learned about goals set, strategies employed, challenges faced, and lessons learned on the path forward to continued advocacy for change.

(l-r): Patty Bilotto, Amy Ray, Kathleen Cloud, Jillian Gibbs, Katy Gagnon, and Dawn Meeker

Women at Griffin: Powering the Pathway to Potential

A leading electrical subcontractor throughout New England and the Southeast with more than four decades of experience, Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. (Griffin Electric) is a firm believer that the continued success of the company and future of the industry relies heavily on the cultivation of highly skilled electrical craft workers. Griffin Electric recognizes that women and other underrepresented groups possess valuable skills and unique perspectives, and strives to do all that it can to help them have successful careers in the trades.

Griffin Electric proudly celebrates both its 45th anniversary and the 30th year of its Apprenticeship Training Program in 2023. The company takes an active role by partnering with local organizations focused on highlighting the value of promoting construction as a viable career option for women. Griffin Electric also works to uphold equality and actively promotes diversity as an important component of its merit shop philosophy and commitment to “Work with the Best. Be the Best.”

The company’s free, in-house Apprenticeship Training Program is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and is designated as an approved training site by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Classroom and hands-on instruction takes place in the 27,500sf of training space that is part of Griffin’s headquarters in Holliston, Mass., and on-site at each of the company’s regional offices in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Apprentices benefit from 600 hours of classroom instruction and on-the-job learning, where they earn excellent wages and benefits while gaining 8,000 hours of practical field experience under the supervision of

a licensed journeyperson.

Though apprenticeship may be the same starting point for many, each individual has the ability to move forward in whichever path she may choose. If a woman has the talent, drive and desire to pursue greater leadership opportunities in her career, Griffin Electric will do everything in its power to help make those aspirations a reality. The company is committed to helping all women earn competitive wages and advance their careers equitably.

Griffin Electric offers a mix of both job-related and personal improvement resources throughout the year to help employees achieve an ideal work/life balance. Through a partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology, Griffin is also able to provide a rare opportunity for licensed graduates of its

Apprenticeship Program to achieve an Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Technology degree, with the company covering up to 70% of tuition costs.

With several large-scale projects on the horizon, Griffin has exciting employment opportunities in both the office and the field, and is currently looking for dedicated individuals. More than just a job, the company is proud to help the next generation of individuals forge their own paths and embark on exciting and successful careers.

For more information about Griffin Electric and its employment opportunities, please visit waynejgriffinelectric.com, call its recruiting hotline at 800-421-0151, or email your resume to fieldrecruiting@ wjgei.com.

Mentorship

Networking

WE’RE BUILDING A MOVEMENT OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Education and Training

New Business Growth

Apprenticeship

IBEW Local 103 and NECA electrical contractors are advancing diversity and equity in the trades, breaking down systemic barriers, and supporting new and experienced licensed minority and women electricians seeking to open their own businesses.

Together, we are creating more opportunities for women and opening doors for new businesses to thrive.