2021 Women in Construction: Kerri D’Amico, Director of Capital Planning/Senior Manager, The Peabody Companies

Why should women consider a career in construction? This industry has historically been run by men, and I believe that a women’s perspective is lacking and needed. The men I work with have nothing but respect for my position and input. It is rewarding to participate in a project and know it not only assists your clients but the residents as well, and to be able to look at a finished product and know your role was pertinent. 

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? I have assisted in successfully completing $1.5 million in capital work, value engineering each project to maximize the dollars spent and put the assets in a position for continued success.

How have you adapted and changed in the last 12 months? Working remotely with vendors on large projects that generally require face-to-face interactions was a challenge at first. I became tech support for some more seasoned vendors. We all adapted as needed.

What are you most looking forward to post-pandemic? Hugging my parents, and maybe a vacation to a warm sunny place.

What steps have you taken to ensure the continued success of your firm? Creating and keeping relationships with vendors and clients by being dependable and honest, ensuring a continued successful partnership.

Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you? My parents always told me I could do anything I put my mind to, and I ran with that always in the back of my head – it gave me a great starting point in life. Working for two incredibly hard-working, smart and talented women just pushed me even further to succeed. They believed in me and I was not going to let them down.