2018 Women in Construction: Siggy Pfendler, Columbia Construction Company

Name: Siggy Pfendler

Postion: Director of Virtual Construction

Company: Columbia Construction Company

Years in the A/E/C Industry: 18 years

What associations or organizations are you a member of? NAWIC Boston Chapter, board member; AGC, BWiC committee member

Why the A/E/C Industry? Construction projects have a tangible product at the end. Being able to point out buildings I worked on is so satisfying. Also, projects are only a finite length of time. This means that you are regularly faced with new challenges and if there’s something about a particular project that you don’t like, it is only a matter of time until is over. 

Advice/Keys to Success: Never stop learning from everyone around you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Build relationships with as many people in the industry as you can. The construction industry in Boston is a very small community. You never know when you’ll need help from someone and when you’ll be able to offer help to someone else. Find an employer whose values and goals align with your own. 

What was your most notable project in 2017? New England Biolabs in Rowley, Mass. It is a manufacturing/R&D facility with ISO 8 spaces. The mechanical space was a challenge to coordinate, but when it was complete, the space was beautiful. The challenges we worked through to get there made it even more satisfying when the project was complete. It was also a great team to work with.