2018 Women in Construction: Delwyn Williamson, Daedalus Projects, Inc.

Name: Delwyn Williamson

Postion: Director of Cost Estimating

Cpmpany: Daedalus Projects, Inc.

Years in the AEC Industry: 35+

What associations or organizations are you affiliated with? New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors; Association of General Contractors of America; Massachusetts Building Congress; Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Why the A/E/C Industry? I love that the work we do in the A/E/C industry produces such tangible results. As a cost estimator, I get to watch a building develop from early, two-dimensional conceptual designs all the way through to the end of construction. The end result of my work is a physical reality that I can point to, touch, and occupy.

Advice/Keys to Success: Always enter the room with a smile. Doing so not only communicates self-confidence and approachability, it sets a good tone for your meeting or day.

If you had to choose one word to explain why you do what you do, which one most suits you? And why? The challenge is what drives me. I jokingly refer to my job as “spending other people’s money,” but it’s really so much more: cost estimating is a puzzle, wherein I and my team find the way to get a client the best and most creative design possible within the budget constraints. Working collaboratively, we balance constructability, design, technology, and aesthetic elements against cost. Ultimately, I feel that I am making a difference for the design team as well as the end user.