Suffolk superintendent to women in construction: ‘Be confident and trust yourself’

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With over 25 years of building expertise, Kerri Riggio has seen lots of change for girls within the male-dominated trade.

Initially, Riggio pursued a profession in training, largely for 3 months’ trip each summer season. However when she transitioned to building — the trade by which her dad labored — she discovered it a rewarding shift. Nonetheless, there was room for progress when it got here to creating ladies really feel included.

Now a senior superintendent at Boston-based Suffolk, Riggio has overseen some main, high-profile initiatives in New York Metropolis, together with features of the restoration of the iconic Waldorf Astoria.

Right here, Riggio outlines what building means to her, the initiatives she’s proudest of and her recommendation to different ladies within the trade. 

CONSTRUCTION DIVE: What about building attracted you to change from educating?

KERRI RIGGIO: I feel for me, the largest factor is that we have an effect on the world round us. We construct tangible issues. We construct faculties, we construct houses, bridges. And all of these things are issues that folks use every single day. It provides lots of goal for me. The issues that I do every single day make it worthwhile standing exterior when it is zero levels; figuring out somebody’s going to reside on this constructing, put it to use, make it their dwelling. 

I feel that is what actually made me fall in love with building. And dealing as a crew. Getting to fulfill so many various personalities and the way they have an effect on that dynamic on the challenge website in our workplace. 

What was it like engaged on the Waldorf Astoria?

It’s an incredible constructing. I used to be introduced on to do the structural renovations. That included demolition, metal, concrete and fireproofing the constructing. That was about 4 years in the past. We could not demo the facade. We could not demo components of the plaster. They had been landmarks.

We primarily rebuilt the constructing with out knocking it down. 

About two years in, they moved me as much as the pinnacles, that are the copper spires up on the prime. We supported the copper after which demoed all the partitions and rebuilt your entire construction of metal, brick, stone, home windows, doorways, terraces, all whereas they had been becoming out the underside portion of the resort, which had been now residences. 

Additionally, one thing else I’ve by no means carried out in my profession, which may be very cool; scaffolding was welded into the metal of the constructing. We labored on it from the skin, 750 toes within the air. 

It was a really cool challenge. It gave me lots of grey hair, but it surely was very cool!

What are the opposite initiatives you’re proudest of?

Probably the most notable one can be an inexpensive housing unit within the South Bronx, throughout COVID. It was not a simple construct. Every part had lengthy lead occasions. The place we’d usually have 10 or 12 folks engaged on one facet, we had three or 4. That is what town allowed. 

On the very finish we obtained to fulfill a number of the residents. They got here within the door and so they had been past grateful. Some had been senior residents dwelling in homeless shelters or in ladies’s shelters. They’d no privateness. And now they had been making use of to have an house, one thing to name their very own.

I stated earlier than, we construct tangible challenge merchandise and it is nice to see that, but it surely’s even higher to see when it goes to any individual in want. I keep in mind this one lady, she was like, “You are a lady! You probably did it by your self!” 

And I used to be like, “I had assist.” However that’s fairly nice. 

What has been your expertise as a girl in building? 

I feel that it is modified loads. I did work for a GC years in the past the place it was positively an all-boys membership. I had folks reporting to me that had been making more cash than I used to be, which is a motive why I left. We weren’t even invited to the occasion, nevermind, getting a seat on the desk. Fortunately over time, that is modified. We’re now on the desk and there is a couple of of us. 

I at present work on a crew the place there are eight ladies. That is extraordinary. That’s challenge managers, area folks, not simply administration. I feel it’s fantastic. I feel extra ladies wish to get entangled. 

What recommendation would you give different ladies in building? 

My recommendation to ladies early of their building careers is to be assured and belief your self. It’s regular to have moments of self-doubt, particularly in an trade that hasn’t all the time appeared like us, however don’t let that maintain you again. You belong right here. Imagine in your skills, communicate up and know that you’ve got the aptitude and willpower to succeed. Confidence grows with time, and each problem you tackle helps construct it.