2023 Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders: Jacob Lemieux of Hancock Associates

3 skills that you use every day in your position: Communication, common sense and research.

Best book, podcast, or app for aspiring leaders: Any sort of white noisemaking app. It helps quiet down the mind after a busy day.

Best advice for new leaders in 10 words or less: Don’t sweat the small stuff but don’t be careless either.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I am most proud of the affordable housing projects that I have worked on, most recently The Westcott at Swampscott by Winn Development, which is under construction now. This project will bring 114 mixed-income apartments to the town of Swampscott, which is becoming increasingly important in today’s housing markets. I am proud to be some part of improving the lives of others, even a small one.

What was one of your biggest challenges as a leader and how did you overcome it? One of the biggest challenges I faced was when I served as the chairman of the Young Professionals Group, which is a group in Hancock Associates that helps to organize and focus the next generation of leaders within our company. This role forced me to adapt to challenges that I would not normally face, and I overcame this by learning to trust and rely on my teammates more to guide me in the right direction.

What makes this nominee an Industry Leader? “Jacob has the technical prowess to be a successful engineer in the land development field and the maturity and common sense beyond his young age critically needed to be a successful project manager for our team. This and his stellar work ethic has allowed him to rise fast in our organization.” - Joseph Peznola, P.E., Director of Engineering at Hancock Associates.