What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? I am incredibly proud of the historic rehabilitation we recently completed at the Pierce Building in Dorchester, Mass. It has all the hallmarks of a successful project in my book: bringing a historic building back to life, building in a neighborhood that is going through a revival period, and making a strong push to hire local, diverse workers and M/WBEs. The project was recently honored with a Preservation Achievement Award from the Boston Preservation Alliance and the Mayor Thomas M. Menino Legacy Award from Preservation Massachusetts. 

Who or what inspired you to join the AEC industry? My mother Cathy Kaplan, who co-founded Kaplan Construction. Throughout my childhood, business was a frequent topic of family discussions, and jobsite visits were as common as school field trips. The constant exposure helped me take an interest in the industry. She showed me at an early age how to handle myself in this industry, to be humble, self-aware, and that despite what society has taught us, it is okay (and at times, necessary) to be emotional in the workplace. She is the reason why I am motivated to maintain the legacy she started creating for Kaplan Construction in 1976.