South Coast Improvement recognizes Women in Construction Week

Marion, MA South Coast Improvement Company (SCIC), a design-build general contractor serving New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, was in full support for the National Women in Construction Week. The annual recognition event, held by The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), took place this year during the week of March 7-13.

“We applaud the recognition week NAWIC holds every year as it’s a great reminder to pay tribute to the incredible contributions of women to our industry,” said Tom Quinlan, president of SCIC. “I can honestly say our company would not have achieved the growth over the past few years, prior to the pandemic, without the incredible women on our team. Perhaps what distinguishes the women at South Coast is the diversity of backgrounds. Some have worked in construction for several decades; some are just starting. Some work on the project management end, others are involved in the business side with contracts, bookkeeping and pre-construction.”

Pam Carew, a controller at SCIC, has worked on the numbers side of construction for more than two decades. Her expertise spans all areas of Construction Accounting, including Accounts Payable & Receivables Management, Client & AIA Billings, Budgets, Job Costing, WIP Schedules, Payroll & Benefits Management and General Ledger Maintenance.

Conversely, Sue Hackett has been on the management side of things as an assistant project manager. A U.S. veteran, Hackett achieved rank of Staff Sergeant with the 399th Combat Support Hospital, embarking on a construction career in 2009. She’s currently the assistant project manager on several key South Coast projects, including Brookdale Carriage Club Providence in Charlotte and Five Star Premier Residences in Teaneck, New Jersey.

“Pam and Sue have been in the business for a while. I love having that kind of experience in our ranks,” said Quinlan. “We’re also fortunate to have women in the early stages of their careers already making big contributions.”

Quinlan noted the work of two such staffers: Kathleen Durocher and Rachael George.

George serves an integral role in estimating and preconstruction, handling important logistics such as subcontractor and vendor relations, driving and monitoring the solicitation of quotes from subcontractors and vendors, qualifying subcontractors and their quotes, facilitating and monitoring pre-bid / pre-con walk through meetings with subcontractors and coordinating and assisting with critical path submittals and permitting processes.

Durocher has already had quite a career with South Coast Improvement. She started in 2016 as an estimating administrator and, in short order, was promoted to assistant project manager and then lead assistant project manager and was instrumental in South Coast Improvement’s transition to Procore.

“Again, we’re grateful to have these women and several other women as part of team at South Coast,” said Quinlan. “We commend NAWIC for holding Women in Construction Week to remind all of us to take a step back and acknowledge the significant contributions women make to the construction industry.”