2020 Women in Construction: Jennifer Wallace, Assistant Project Manager at Shawmut Design and Construction

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? Graduating from Shawmut’s Construction Management Skills Training program last spring! I was then promoted to Assistant Project Manager and had the opportunity to lead my first project. 

When I’m not working I am…I’m a big comedy fan, so I go to at least one comedy show a month. I played volleyball in college, so I try to continue playing as much as possible. I also enjoy traveling with my friends—we recently returned from Nashville, but I have also traveled to South Korea and Peru. 

What are you doing differently in 2020 that has had a positive impact on your career? I’m trying to focus on taking care of my health—eating well, working out, getting enough sleep. I perform my best at work when I’m healthy, so I know this is important to prioritize. 

What trends are you seeing in your field this year? I’m seeing an increase in technology—everything is being done electronically, and iPads are replacing a lot of the paper drawings. 

Who or what inspired you to join the construction industry? My mom has had a successful career as a project manager for an insurance company. It inspired me to want to work and have a successful career, too. I studied civil engineering in college and had the opportunity to take several construction management courses. Shawmut had a table at a career fair I attended, and the rest is history.