2026 Women in Construction: Jessica Morrissey, NEI General Contracting

Project or accomplishment you’re most excited about: Passive House principles have been used abroad for years and are becoming more common in new construction here in Massachusetts. What’s especially exciting now is seeing those principles applied to existing buildings. While achieving full Passive House certification is not always feasible in a renovation, deep energy retrofits can dramatically improve performance. Residents benefit from greater comfort and a higher quality of life, and building owners see long-term savings through reduced energy costs. It’s a meaningful shift that balances sustainability with practicality.

Emerging challenge or opportunity ahead: AI presents both a challenge and an opportunity for our industry. There are numerous tools promising faster take-offs, improved budget tracking, and stronger coordination, and the technology is evolving quickly. Our approach is to be deliberate. The tools need to deliver on their claims, integrate with our existing systems, and maintain the accuracy our clients expect.

If implemented well, AI could strengthen the preconstruction process and improve efficiency, allowing our teams to focus more on complex project challenges while continuing to deliver high-quality results.

Habit that keeps you focused: My calendar and to-do list. Without a clear roadmap for the week, it’s easy to get pulled in too many directions.