2019 Women in Construction: Lorraine Finnegan, Principal, Vice President, Director at SMMA

Designation: AIA, LEED AP BD+C, MCPPO 

How many years have you been in your current field? 24

Which project, deal or transaction was the “game changer” in the advancement of your career during the last 10 years? I started working on Swampscott High School as the project architect and took over as project manager when it went into construction. The personal growth that was afforded to me during that project was tremendous. Because I had been intimately involved in the design and documentation phase, I had the confidence to manage the construction phase with a greater focus on the contractual requirements and relationship with the OPM and GC knowing the project inside and out.

Who are three women – living or dead – that you would like to have drinks with and why? 

1) Amelia Earhart - because she had confidence in herself in a time when women were second class citizens. 

2) Mary Robinson - because I can only imagine the stories she must have about being the first female Irish president. 

3) Mary Finnegan – My grandmother, she passed away when I was 11 years old (born 1919, died 1984) but she was the matriarch of our family, showed love to all but also had such strength she ruled with authority.