BWiC Emerging Leader of the Year: Jane Kaplan Peck, Owner & COO of Kaplan Construction

Nominated by Susan Riley Shelby of Rhino Public Relations

In October 2014 Jane spearheaded the effort to be certified as a Women Business Enterprise by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Kaplan Construction has since ranked annually as a Top 100 Women-Led Business in Massachusetts by The Commonwealth Institute and a Best Place to Work by the Boston Business Journal, as well as named a Massachusetts Family Business of the Year by the Northeastern University Center for Family Business and a Family Business Association Award finalist for Massachusetts by The Warren Group. The Warren Group also named Jane an Outstanding Woman of Family Business. 

With enthusiasm and encouragement, Jane gracefully led her team through the management transition and technology and systems improvements. She identifies hidden strengths and enriches her staff, even helping an employee learn to read by enrolling him in an adult literacy class. 

Jane balances volunteer duties for her young children with achievements such as leading fundraising, design, and construction efforts for her town’s youth facility, the Brookline Teen Center. Jane also serves on the board and finance committee for the Brookline Community Mental Health Center, where she co-chaired their annual Believe in Brookline Kids gala.