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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.”

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.”