2020 Women in Construction: Cara Catinella, Architectural Designer at DPS Group

When I’m not working I am…I am working out. I swim laps and try different yoga classes. A year or so ago, DPS held a Wellness Week and offered a yoga class in our building. It was such a hit that we now hold the class every Monday night. We rent a room in our building and have about six or seven regular attendees every week. When the original coordinator of this activity left the company this past November, I happily stepped up to keep the successful program running. 

What are you doing differently in 2020 that has had a positive impact on your career? I’ve been with DPS for five years, and one of the benefits here is a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program. For 2020, I’ve utilized this tool to map out how to leverage and maximize my presence in the AEC industry. I’ve planned for increased face time with clients, exposure to up and coming engineers and architects by attending career fairs as a DPS representative, and I am currently helping manage an intern. These goals provide the framework to understand how a project comes together end to end, and what the next generation of great minds are looking for when beginning to plan their career path. I find it rewarding to have a part in that. 

Who or what inspired you to join the construction industry? A friend of mine had a beautiful Colonial house when we were children, and her father decided to DIY renovate and add a bathroom on the first floor. While from a plumbing/engineering standpoint it made sense to have all the pipes line up in the house, this unfortunately meant that the new bathroom was directly adjacent to the kitchen. Maybe this would not have been an issue in other homes, but as a result of the way sound travelled in this house, there was no privacy. This made me realize that a space needs to be both well designed and functional. People will remember for a lifetime if it isn’t!