2024 Women in Construction: Jordan Koliss, Corderman & Company, Inc.

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? My greatest professional achievement so far would be taking the leap from interior design to construction. It’s an intimidating thought to divert from the field you received your degree in, but I felt there was more growth, challenge, and opportunity to learn in construction. The transition was seamless, and I knew immediately that I had made the right choice. I have been an APM for three years and Corderman & Company has given me the tools and resources to advance and succeed. I’ve been given the opportunity to take on running my own smaller projects, which is putting me on the fast track to becoming a project manager.

Who or what inspired you to join the AEC industry? There are a few factors that inspired me to join the AEC industry. I started my career as an interior designer, which was inspired by my grandmother. She has always had an eye for design, and this drove me to obtain my interior design degree. I enjoyed the architectural side but over time became more interested in how the project came to life. I grew up surrounded by construction; my dad is a general contractor and carpentry teacher, and my brother is a labor foreman. It was meant to be that I would end up on this side of the industry.

What has been the driving force behind your success in the AEC industry? I embrace the challenge of being a woman in construction. Being a part of a predominantly male field can be an intimidating career path to pursue but at the same time it’s rewarding. My biggest motivator is to gain as much knowledge as I can from the experienced talent surrounding me, so I can then pass my knowledge onto the next generation. I’m fortunate to have had many mentors throughout my career and credit them for being an influential part of my success thus far.