2020 Women in Construction: Hannah Augustyn, CMST Assistant Project Manager at Shawmut Design & Construction

What trends are you seeing in your field this year? Safety has always been a core part of Shawmut’s culture, but I have noticed even more protective safety equipment become available and subcontractors making it more of a priority as well. At Shawmut, all members of a project team are responsible for submitting safety reports for a project, so there is a constant flow of team member and subcontractors correcting safety items. 

Who or what inspired you to join the construction industry? I was an architecture major in college and a member of the women’s leadership network. During my sophomore year, we took a field trip to a construction site that was led by a female project manager. After spending an hour on the site and learning about her career, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do.

When I’m not working I am…Traveling! I have been to 15 countries in the last 10 years, including Iceland at the beginning of the year. 

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? I think my greatest achievement in the past year has been working on the St. Luke’s Hospital ICU Renovation, which began in May 2019 and will be wrapping soon. I am an Assistant Project Manager on this job, but I have spent the last few months on site, allowing me to also at as an Assistant Superintendent. It has been a great opportunity to help solve day-to-day issues on site and build relationships with each subcontractor. This project has also given me a stepping-stone into working in healthcare. 

What are you doing differently in 2020 that has had a positive impact on your career? This year, I am volunteering at Roger Williams University (my alma mater) as a mentor in the senior construction capstone class. Through this opportunity, I have been able to build relationships with the students and give advice on their assignments throughout their semester-long project. Volunteering on behalf of Shawmut motivates me to work harder and smarter. In addition, it is great to be able to positively impact the students and give them advice before they start their careers. 

What trends are you seeing in your field this year? Safety has always been a core part of Shawmut’s culture, but I have noticed even more protective safety equipment become available and subcontractors making it more of a priority as well. At Shawmut, all members of a project team are responsible for submitting safety reports for a project, so there is a constant flow of team member and subcontractors correcting safety items. 

Who or what inspired you to join the construction industry? I was an architecture major in college and a member of the women’s leadership network. During my sophomore year, we took a field trip to a construction site that was led by a female project manager. After spending an hour on the site and learning about her career, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do.