Gilbane Building Co. hires Wessels as senior project executive

Boston, MA Gilbane Building Company has hired Marna Wessels as senior project executive in the firm’s local office. This hire underscores Gilbane’s commitment to effectively managing and building exceptional projects within its growing portfolio across Massachusetts and Northern New England. In her new role, Wessels will lead and manage complex projects within Gilbane’s regional life science, healthcare, and commercial portfolio.

Wessels has over 20 years of experience across the project life cycle, most recently serving as a project executive for John Moriarty & Associates. Throughout her career, she has led projects for biotech and healthcare companies, including Takeda, Moderna, Sanofi, and several cancer research companies in Boston’s Longwood Area.

“Having Marna on our team strongly positions Gilbane for continued growth and expansion of our New England portfolio,” said Justin MacEachern, Mass. and Northern New England business leader for Gilbane Building Co. 

“Marna brings exceptional leadership skills and a wide breadth of experience to her new role at Gilbane, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact she will have on our business and our team.”

An experienced senior project executive, Wessels has a proven track record of successfully leading and delivering major construction projects. Beginning her career as a quantity surveyor, she transitioned to project management-focused roles, overseeing upwards of $250 million in corporate, biotech, multifamily, and mixed-use projects. Wessels began her career at South Africa-based Murray & Roberts Properties and Aub Projects LTD before moving to Massachusetts, where she worked for Amgen, GID, and Faithful & Gould. Wessels’s cross-functional leadership skills and collaborative management approach make her a highly valuable asset to Gilbane, contributing significantly to the company’s expanding presence in the region.

“Gilbane is renowned for its exceptional construction services and diverse workforce,” said Wessels. “I look forward to collaborating with the outstanding teams across the region to strengthen Gilbane’s presence in key markets and to continue supporting the next generation of construction leaders.”

Outside of the office, Wessels serves on the Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care and Life Sciences Leadership Council, which works with local business and legislative leaders to preserve the region’s leadership and excellence in innovation, research, and care quality. She is also an active member of CREW Boston, where she advises young professionals in the organization’s Mentor Program. Wessels holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and is certified by the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) International.