Dan Lanneville

I had the opportunity to attend the Professional Women in Construction Connecticut Chapter event last night and left with several themes worth amplifying. Thank you to Kaitlin McCarthy CEO of Ionic Development Company and Co-Founder of ARX, for sharing her path building two exceptional companies in development and construction safety. ARX designs PPE tailored for women’s bodies. Key takeaways: • This is not just a women’s issue. It is a “reimagine PPE” issue. • 92 percent of women do not like their PPE. • Minimum order quantity at ARX is one. • Properly fitting PPE is now an OSHA requirement. • “Industrial athletes” deserve to be safe, comfortable, and confident. • Ethical sourcing requires intentional decisions. • “Why not you.” Good ideas require execution. • Kaitlin is the only woman-owned developer in Boston. We also honored exceptional women in construction: Amy Albandoz of Pirie Associates • Spoke about growing up quickly and how it shaped her leadership. • Shared pride in her Puerto Rican culture and the responsibility of representation. • Reminded us that each of us represents a family and community. • Connected identity and engineering in a grounded, thoughtful way. Jodaliza Feliz of BL Companies • Rooted in hard work, humility, and giving back. • Often the only woman and only Latina on site, but never hindered by it. • “You belong here.” • Excellence in Mentoring is well deserved. Crystal Gelinas of KBE Building Corporation • Accepted Volunteer of the Year with humility. • Used her moment to reinforce why recognizing women’s achievements matters. Emily Federico, PSP of Ankura • Her children have never said, “I wish Mom could do more.” • Credited a strong support system. • Encouraged us to say yes, take chances, and step outside our comfort zones. Thank you to PWC-CT and Michelle Scarpone, CPA (the best CPA!!) for convening the room. These conversations move industries. #WomenInConstruction #PPE #WomenOwnedBusiness #Leadership #Mentorship #ARX #IonicDevelopment

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Forte Construction Corp., based on Long Island, #NY, with a #NYC office, on August 4 announced successful completion of a two-elevator #modernization at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) 66th Street-Lincoln Center 1 #subway station (image courtesy of Forte Construction Group) https://lnkd.in/dRKQdqhY

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Grateful to CBIZ for hosting the New England Construction Summit. Special thanks to Robert Mercado, Joseph Natarelli, and Michelle Scarpone, CPA for bringing together an exceptional group of speakers including: Eric Lopez- Arrowhead Leadership Consulting LLC Key takeaways: • The “Silver Tsunami” is real. • We are managing a four-generation workforce. • For Gen Z, peer influence often outweighs parents or bosses. • Traditional command and control leadership is losing effectiveness. • The U.S. Army’s shift to mission command offers a powerful model built on: • Clear mission, vision, values and intent • Trust and accountability • Empowerment at every level • Mission, vision, and values must be lived and reflected in performance reviews, not just posted. Session 2 Panel – Foundations for Growth in Construction Joseph Natarelli Outlined the major pressures facing construction today: • Labor shortages • Supply chain disruptions • ESOPs and private equity • Increasing risk pressure across projects Milton Quaresma, CPA- Travelers Shared a surety and risk perspective: • High backlogs and succession planning are critical concerns. • Tariffs and supply chain issues continue to impact bonding capacity. • Owners are pushing more risk downstream- not all of it is priceable. • One bad job can have an outsized impact. • While handshake deals are gone, relationships still matter. Katie Wilkinson- Turner Construction Company • Early subcontractor engagement and attention to long-lead items are now essential. • Preconstruction planning and project-level culture directly impact outcomes. • Leadership transparency builds trust and buy-in. • Prefab and modularization will be key as workforce availability tightens. Joshua Sylvester Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Highlighted competitiveness and culture: • The market is more competitive than ever. • Transparency helps teams move projects forward. • Consigli’s focus on internal mobility, recruiting, and training people into the culture stood out. Technology & AI • AI can create efficiency and insight, but doesn’t replace experience. • Technology must fit the organization and improve real processes — not create innovation FOMO. Anirban Basu- Senior Economic Advisor, CBIZ Anirban once again delivered one of the most engaging, insightful, and genuinely funny economic keynotes I’ve heard. Complex data became understandable, memorable, and actionable. Key takeaways: • The economy is resilient but fragile — if one leg of the stool fails, recession risk rises. • Inflation has cooled, but interest rates, housing affordability, and low mobility continue to constrain growth. • Consumer spending remains strong, driven largely by higher-income households. • Construction faces mixed signals: solid backlogs, but pressure from labor, materials, and financing. • The message wasn’t panic — it was prepare. Also loved meeting the team from Professional Women in Construction, New York

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The NYSERDA team, including Max Joel, Director of the NY-Sun program, recently celebrated the opening of the first two residential buildings of the Alafia redevelopment project. Alafia is a participant in NYSERDA’s New Construction Housing Program. Combined, the two buildings have 685 affordable or supportive housing units built to Passive House design standards. The project utilizes a closed loop geothermal heat pump system for energy efficient heating and cooling, a wastewater heat recovery system, and roof mounted solar. ➡️Get more info on NYSERDA new construction programs & resources https://on.ny.gov/44lHmty ➡️See more about Alafia/https://lnkd.in/erqHtwGY

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Suffolk's Gaming & Hospitality Center of Excellence is honored to serve as a construction partner on Campus for Hope, a transformational facility designed to address homelessness at its roots. This 20+ acre campus, which officially broke ground last week in Las Vegas, will provide comprehensive services like healthcare, mental health care, case management, workforce training, childcare and housing support. This facility will help lift individuals out of crisis while also contributing to Nevada’s economic growth and reinforcing the strength of the local workforce. With an estimated 8,000 unhoused individuals in Southern Nevada, Campus for Hope represents a powerful shift from short-term solutions to long-term impact. We are grateful for the opportunity to support this critical project alongside our partners, united by a shared commitment to dignity, accountability and compassion.

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This week marks Women in Construction Week, recognizing the contributions of women shaping the A/E/C industry. To celebrate this, the New England Real Estate Journal published their annual Women in Construction Spotlight, highlighting impactful women across the field in New England. Stephanie Lafontaine, PE, LEED AP, Principal at RMF, is featured for her leadership and expertise in sustainable design and her role in advancing RMF’s impactful project work. Her involvement on projects like Harvard University South Campus Drive Graduate Student Housing demonstrates the intersection of innovation, complexity, cross-collaboration, and technical expertise. Stephanie’s insights on hands-on experience and emerging technologies showcase the growing role of women in driving progress throughout the industry. 🔗 Head to RMF’s Newsroom to access Stephanie’s feature and the full NEREJ 2026 WIC roundup: https://bit.ly/40DOxLd #RMFEngineering #WomenInConstruction #WICWeek #SustainableDesign 

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Is your construction firm ready to scale in NYC's soon-to-be booming market? As market demands evolve, financial visibility will separate thriving contractors from those who struggle to keep pace. Grassi Construction Practice Leader Carl Oliveri offers valuable insights into market shifts, highlighting ways contractors can enhance their cash flow management and capitalize on market opportunities to drive sustainable growth. https://hubs.li/Q03fzJv60 #Accounting #Construction #Contractors

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Suffolk is thrilled to be partnering with Applegreen on the revitalization of 18 highway service plazas across Massachusetts. In collaboration with MassDOT and Upland Architects, this project will transform the roadside travel experience for Massachusetts residents and visitors alike.

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