2023 Women in Construction: Shannon Terriaca, NEI General Contracting

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? Most of my projects are moderate rehabs in occupied multifamily properties. These types of projects present a multitude of constraints when it comes to scheduling and facilitating work. Challenges on previous projects compelled me to find a better way, so I developed a strategy for anticipatory scheduling and a multi-phased coordination of projects. My approach now allows me to build a project schedule that accommodates the needs of the construction team, our clients, and most importantly, the residents. In the past 12 months, I’ve now implemented the same tactic on two additional projects and the entire team is benefitting as a result. 

What tips or advice would you offer to other women who are considering entering the construction industry? It’s easy to be intimidated by the industry when you’re first starting. There’s a misconception that you need to be an expert in construction. However, I’ve found the most common experience on construction sites, regardless of identity, is that you’ll never completely understand something until you have to do it. The knowledge and experience you gain from working out problems is how you truly build your proficiency. You don’t have to be an expert – no one is. All you need is the willingness to learn, the drive to do so, and the trust in yourself that you will.