Spotlights

2019 Women in Construction: Julie Toland, Assistant Project Manager at Lee Kennedy

What are you doing differently in 2019 that has had a positive impact on your career? I was recently deployed to the Middle East for the majority of 2018. I am extremely grateful to be home and grateful for the support from Lee Kennedy upon my return. While overseas, I assumed a similar role to that of an owner’s project manager.

2019 Women in Construction: Sue Muckle, President at M & A Architectural Preservation

What project, transaction, honor or accomplishment are you most proud of? When I first saw the sad state of the 267-foot Ayer Mill Clock Tower in Lawrence, once the symbol of America’s textile industry, made possible by generations of hardworking immigrants, I wanted to restore it.

2019 Women in Construction: Stacy Roman, Senior Project Manager at Bowdoin Construction

Who are three women – living or dead – that you would like to have drinks with and why? 1. Ruth Bader Ginsburg because she has been influential in her career in so many facets of equal rights.

2019 Women in Construction: Jane Kaplan Peck, Chief Operating Officer at Kaplan Construction

What is the best leadership advice you have ever received? Who was it from? From my mother: be humble and self-aware and accept that you cannot be an expert in everything. Don’t be afraid to take guidance and advice from the outside and build your network accordingly!

2019 Women in Construction: Alexandrea Banks, Project Manager at Timberline Construction

What was your first job and what did you learn from it? The first job I had was cleaning cottages on the weekends at the age of 13. This taught me a great amount about responsibility and work ethic. Some of these houses would be trashed, because the previous tenants didn’t have any respect for the property.

2019 Women in Construction: Taylor Bousquet, Estimator, Acella Construction

Which project, deal or transaction was the “game changer” in the advancement of your career during the last 10 years? Leaving my first job out of college and starting at Acella. I have learned that a working environment where you really fit in outweighs most other benefits!

2019 Women in Construction: Emily Thomas, Project Controls Manager at DPS Group, Inc.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it? My first job was managing a snack bar at a local pool club. I learned many things from working there. I was responsible for managing a budget, inventory, employees, and client expectations. The biggest thing was it helped me begin to manage people

2019 Women in Construction: Becky Rupel, Landscape Architect at Copley Wolff Design Group

Who are three women – living or dead – that you would like to have drinks with and why? Rachel Carson, Alice Waters, and Rosalind Franklin. Their bodies of work inspire me, period. The fact that they were in the gender minority of their respective fields is kind of icing on the cake. I would be interested to hear all three talk about their work and its cultural context, because it seems like they each homed in on these somewhat subversive topics that were way ahead of their time.

2019 Women in Construction: Danna Day, Principal and Director of Marketing at Copley Wolff Design Group

What was your first job and what did you learn from it? I worked on a ranch in Wyoming for two summers during high school! While there, I learned the importance of hard work and the results one can achieve when they put their mind to something. I learned how to take initiative, ask questions, and solve problems – skills I use every day in both my personal and professional life. 

2019 Women in Construction: Mary Leahy, Project Manager at Erland Construction, Inc.

Which project, deal or transaction was the “game changer” in the advancement of your career during the last 10 years? The Chase 1 was a game changer for me. I was an assistant project manager, hungry to do more, I took it upon myself to jump in with the field team and get the amenity area turned over on time for the client.