How many years have you been in your current field? 35

What was your company’s greatest achievement of 2018? Through the talent and efforts of its members, the Construction Institute had an incredible year. We are proud to be the winner of the 2018 Connecticut Entrepreneur Community’s Favorite Event Award for our annual Women Who Build Summit. Our first book, The Future of the Design and Construction Industry: Construction Industry Conversations, a collection of essays by members of our board of advisors, was published in the spring of 2018. In November 2018, we introduced our new signature program – The AEC Leadership Conference, which provides inspirational multidisciplinary training for professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction and facilities maintenance.

What is the most exciting job/project for your company in 2019? The 10th Annual Visionaries Forum will take place on Thursday, April 11, at the Mark Twain House in Hartford. The Visionaries Forum brings to our region thought leaders with diverse backgrounds to explore cutting-edge issues in the architectural, engineering, construction and facilities operations industries and what it means to our businesses. In September, the Institute will celebrate its 25th Golf Classic at the beautiful Blackledge Country Club in Hebron, CT. We are continuing to create valuable content. This year’s core project – Protocols for Best Practices in Project Communications – is supported by a grant from the American Arbitration Association.

What do you like the most about doing business in the Hartford Region? I am inspired every day by the talent, energy and dedication of the professionals in the Hartford Region. 

They devote countless hours to the mission of the Construction Institute, providing training, information and networking opportunities for the betterment of the industry and the region. They bring knowledge, experience, and work opportunities to students at local universities and high schools to engage them in the industry and in the region. Whatever challenges the region may face, it can call on resources of these professionals and organizations like the Construction Institute. 

What Hartford Region networking opportunities does your business participate in? The Construction Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan association of diverse professions in the AEC industry dedicated to sharing knowledge, advancing relationships, and developing business leaders. For 43 years, the Institute has been known for high quality Programs, Professional Education Workshops and creating meaningful opportunities to connect industry professionals through committee work, speaking and writing opportunities, and networking events. Our members include a multidisciplinary range of industry professionals - owners and facility managers, architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, project managers, consultants, manufacturers and distributors, governmental agencies, lawyers, accountants, and other support services. They are the creators and caretakers of the built-environment.