Which project, deal, or transaction was the “game-changer” in the advancement of your career? The Milton Hoosic Club in Canton was the most educating project I have worked on. It is the largest project I have been involved with, and every trade had a new problem I was unfamiliar with, teaching me new problem-solving techniques. The project manager I supported had decades of experience and involved me with each issue, helping me learn and develop for future projects. Even the MHC Board was full of contractors imparting their wisdom in their respective trades. This was a great opportunity to learn and grow while helping to build a beautiful clubhouse for a historic golf club.

How do you contribute to your community or your profession? At Acella I work every day on projects that help our community – whether it be creating new lab spaces for students to learn in, or medical facilities to help people in need, or animal hospitals to heal and nurture the pets everyone holds dear. Everything I do at Acella feels like it gives something back. The company’s culture surrounds and supports its employees while helping them grow and develop into better people while searching out projects that are not just beneficial to the company, but to everyone around them as well.

Who or what inspires you? I am inspired by people who succeed with a lack of selfishness, and empowered by leaders who have reached where they are through support of others. Acella creates this feeling, making me feel that I will achieve great things by working with my team members, not against them. I was recently promoted before my first-year anniversary as they felt I embraced this supportive culture and, through that, developed the skills necessary to move to the next level. This inspires me to work harder every day and help others in my life improve and succeed as well.

What advice can you offer to someone who is interested in a career in your industry? There is much advice I have received in the past year with Acella that has helped me immensely, but the biggest piece of advice I can pass along is to support relationships. From owners to subcontractors to competitors, strong relationships will help make your life easier and more successful. Help those people, communicate with them often, and treat them as people and not just tools. Most of these relationships will travel with you even if you were to change companies and sometimes even cities. They can last a lifetime.