Raleigh Women in Construction: Five Leaders Driving What’s Next

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?  

After 30 years in the construction industry, the thrill of winning a project never gets old. I love contributing to the growth of the East Coast divisions and connecting with teammates across the country. At Swinerton, we build really amazing facilities that make people’s lives better, and it is exciting to be on the ground floor of each new venture.  

Q: What is a piece of advice you never forgot?

Always advocate for a seat at the table. I had several mentors encourage me to ensure that Marketing professionals were perceived as an important part of the strategic process. This has continued to serve me throughout my career, and I encourage my team to do the same.

Q: What have you enjoyed working at Swinerton? 

The spirit of employee ownership is evident in every Swinerton division across the country.  People genuinely enjoy their work and their positive attitudes really set the tone for workplace culture. 

Q: What is one personal and one professional goal for 2026?  

Something that I am focusing on across both areas of my life is to be more present and engaged in the moment. I want to reduce multi-tasking, which is difficult as a marketer, and only focus on the task at hand. Rather than virtual meetings with multiple screens, I am prioritizing in-person meetings. If I am with my family, I want to put my phone away and enjoy quality time and conversation.

Q: What new tools or practices have made the biggest difference in your work?  

AI has definitely made its entry into our daily jobs. Marketing tools like Joist AI and Microsoft CoPilot have been a game changer for process efficiency, compliance, and refinement. As a regional team, we have implemented common workload management and resource sharing, which has been vital to ensuring no one team member is overwhelmed or works in isolation. Further, it facilitates collaboration and best practice sharing.   

Q: How do you see the construction industry evolving in the next 5 years?   

The construction industry will only get more competitive in the next five years.  Firms like Swinerton will be tasked to further differentiate ourselves from competitors and provide an answer to the “So what?” question. We will need to capture the real-life stories of providing value and excellence to our clients and sharing that with the market.  

Q: What keeps you motivated?   

More than anything else I do, I love building teams and watching professionals grow and succeed. I truly love what I do, supporting a people-focused organization like Swinerton and expanding our footprint on the East Coast.    

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?   

I love connecting with and elevating my staff. Helping them grow their own leadership capabilities and laying a foundation for their future success is incredibly rewarding. Earlier in my career, I rarely felt encouraged to pursue leadership roles and had to seek mentorship outside my immediate circle. I never want my team to feel that way. I strive to set clear expectations while also creating a safe space for questions, curiosity, and trust. I work with a group of talented professionals and empowering them with the tools and authority to succeed is the best part of what I do. 

Q: What is a piece of advice you never forgot?   

“It’s easier to loosen up than to tighten up.” 

In construction, it’s critical to establish expectations early and hold project partners accountable from the start. Trying to impose new standards late in the process, especially under deadline pressure, rarely goes well. Strong parameters upfront allow flexibility later when it actually helps the project. 

Q: What have you enjoyed working at Swinerton?   

Swinerton’s biggest differentiator is its people; they operate at a different caliber. Our employee-owners bring deep experience, strong drive, and a collaborative mindset. We all share the same goal and benefit from one another’s success. Closer to home, our Carolinas team genuinely cares about each other as individuals and is committed to excellence every day. Many companies talk about culture; few truly invest in it. Swinerton does, and I’ve felt that investment firsthand. 

Q: What is one personal and one professional goal for 2026?   

Personally, I am working toward better work-life balance and making more time for myself and my family. I have been a “workaholic” since I started working at 16-years-old, but I have learned that balance helps leaders be more present and effective—and I want to model that for my team. 

Professionally, I aim to continue growing our multifamily target market and further establish Swinerton as the premier builder in the Carolinas. I plan to leverage my experience in the market to help the division, and the company, reach new milestones.   

Q: What new tools or practices have made the biggest difference in your work?   

I’m passionate about the power of Lean construction to elevate execution. I was actually the first person in North Carolina to earn AGC’s (Association of General Contractors) CM-Lean Construction certification, and the methodology continues to transform the way I approach multifamily work—especially in scheduling, preconstruction, and systematic delivery for repetitive product types. I’m always competing with myself to improve project over project. I’m also excited about how AI will continue shaping our industry—from quality checks and document management to design standard adherence and expanded accessibility .Swinerton has an annual innovation challenge, encouraging all team members to provide opportunities to improve our processes, and I have loved being part of the 2025 winning team.  

Q: How do you see the construction industry evolving in the next 5 years?

Prefabrication will continue to play an increasingly significant role in the multifamily market, with future developments leveraging fully modular, off-site construction solutions. I bring extensive experience coordinating prefabricated wood-frame wall systems and am eager to further advance the application of volumetric modular construction. One of our current preconstruction efforts is already moving in this direction, with the goal of reducing overall cost, minimizing material waste, and maximizing quality and consistency. 

Q: What keeps you motivated?   

My biggest motivator is my team; I want to support them and be accountable to them every day. I also truly love watching projects come to life from concept to completion, which can take years in the multifamily space. Being part of something lasting, especially in affordable housing, is deeply fulfilling. 

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?   

My favorite part of my job is my team. I love building projects, but even more than that, I love building people. Over the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of growing my team and watching each member develop, thrive, and step confidently into their strengths. Seeing that evolution is incredibly rewarding. 

Q: What is a piece of advice you never forgot?   

When I was early in my career, a female project manager told me, “You are just going to figure it out.” I was worried about how I was going to juggle being a wife, a mom, and the construction leader I aspired to be. She was right—you take it one day at a time and focus on your top priorities. It is an ever-evolving process, but with an incredible support system, I really have made it work.  

Q: What have you enjoyed working at Swinerton?   

Swinerton gave me the trust and resources to build part of the business from the ground up. I was empowered with the autonomy and responsibility to grow my team, expand the Carolinas division, and enhance both our local and national portfolios. It has been a deeply rewarding experience. Even when the work stretched me, I always felt supported by the strength of a large, established national firm behind me, and that gave me tremendous peace of mind.  

Q: What is one personal and one professional goal for 2026?    

A personal goal I have is to complete the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in Peru with my husband, daughter, and dad. Professionally, I want to strengthen Swinerton’s healthcare footprint in the Carolinas and achieve measurable year-over-year growth.    

Q: What new tools or practices have made the biggest difference in your work?   

Reoccurring, intentional one-on-one meetings with my team have been an easy and impactful way to enhance culture and results. These check-ins create space to connect personally, identify support needs and ensure clarity and accountability for ongoing deliverables.   

Q: How do you see the construction industry evolving in the next 5 years?

We are seeing significant growth in the education and healthcare market sectors driven largely by population increases. With more than 100 people moving to the metro Charlotte area each day, schools and hospitals must expand capacity and efficiency to keep up. I also expect to see increased interest in construction-related careers. While AI will streamline parts of our industry such as document management, it will never replace the hands-on, human expertise required to build.   

Q: What keeps you motivated?

I’m motivated by my personal drive excel in everything I do. I want Swinerton to be the premier builder in the Carolinas equipped with the highest-quality talent in the industry. Rather than being seen as a replaceable service provider, I want our team to be recognized as a strategic partner, one that our clients, architects, and trade partners actively want to work with because of our shared, consistent success. 

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?    

I love building relationships with people across the Triangle, connecting with a diverse group of community leaders to really make an impact on North Carolina. It is so rewarding helping us secure projects that better future generations, from schools to fire stations to affordable housing.  

Q: What is a piece of advice you never forgot?   

“Always advocate for yourself because who else will.” I have learned to take a proactive approach to secure a seat at the table, not sweat the small stuff, and celebrate all wins. You can be your own champion while being a collaborative team player.   

Q: What have you enjoyed working at Swinerton?    

I love the culture and its employee ownership model. Every decision is made from a shared purpose and pride in what we do, and it has been a true pleasure to come to work every day. The Carolinas team consistently strives to deliver excellence in every endeavor and works to make it a great company.  

Q: What is one personal and one professional goal for 2026?     

Personally, like most of us, I want to be more present and really soak in all the moments with my kids while they are little. They are my number one priority and I want to maximize my time with them. Professionally, I am interested in exploring how AI can maximize efficiencies, from market data to meeting minutes. Hopefully, one day it can help me manage my every-growing email inbox.  

Q: What new tools or practices have made the biggest difference in your work?    

Using a reMarkable pad has helped me get rid of 30+ black books and keep all my notes in one place. It helps me keep things simple, removes distractions, while keeping the conveniences of digital notes like searchability and tagging collaborators.   

Q: How do you see the construction industry evolving in the next 5 years?

The demand for large-scale projects like data centers will only increase, likely adding pressure to the already strained subcontractor labor force. Thankfully, Swinerton continues to invest in workforce development through our partnerships with organizations like SkillsUSA to bolster the future of our industry. I also see more women entering the industry, and I look forward to even more women joining Swinerton’s leadership team in the Carolinas and beyond.  

Q: What keeps you motivated?    

First and foremost, my family is my number one driver. Further, I love what I do, so showing up to the office or partner event every day doesn’t feel like work. I am thankful for such a rewarding role and immensely talented peers. 

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?    

I love working with professionals and a leadership team who share the same goals and ambition. This common purpose allows us to make our vision a reality.  

Q: What is a piece of advice you never forgot?   

“Never assume that your question will be met with a no. Stay curious and ask questions.” We often don’t ask necessary questions because we assume the answer. If you get a no, you are in the exact same spot as before but at least you asked. If you get a yes, you now have direction to move forward.  

Q: What have you enjoyed working at Swinerton?    

I have stayed at Swinerton for over 17 years because of the people. I still keep up with coworkers from the Hawaii division and have formed lasting friendships with my Carolinas team members. The workplace energy is unmatched even when I am remote.  

Q: What is one personal and one professional goal for 2026?     

As Preconstruction Executive, I want to optimize our preconstruction and estimating processes so our team can provide a cohesive Swinerton standard to the next generation of preconstruction professionals. We are working to create a manual-like document that outlines Swinerton’s fundamental processes so that every new team member can easily assimilate. Through this, we establish methods for each estimate to be a team approach rather than relying on one individual. I also look forward to bolstering our preconstruction and estimating team with the highest quality talent. Personally, I am excited to travel with my family now that my husband is retired from over 20 years of military service.  

Q: What new tools or practices have made the biggest difference in your work?    

Institutionally, Swinerton has embraced the Destini preconstruction platform and I have honed my skills in the application. I am able to execute a more robust budget on a faster timeline by removing duplicative functions. 

Q: How do you see the construction industry evolving in the next 5 years?

There is a lot of AI implementation planned for the preconstruction sector. We are exploring how to manage this new tool to make us more efficient while also avoiding risk. Swinerton’s March to 2030 initiative is fast approaching, and the pipeline will be massive. We are looking to maximize our efficiency and effectiveness, grow our team, and invest in innovation solutions to tackle this workload. 

Q: What keeps you motivated?    

My family is my primary motivator, but I am also excited to see how Swinerton’s Charlotte and Raleigh offices will continue to expand and flourish. I have enjoyed being part of the growth thus far, and I am passionate about building up the next generation of preconstruction professionals.