Her Story
About Alyssa
I've been in construction for 13 and a half years, and my journey has been anything but linear. After graduating in 2012 with my architecture degree, I started with a pallet racking contractor, designing the warehouse racks you see in places like Costco and Home Depot. From there, I jumped around to different general contractors and subcontractors - working on restaurant remodels, cabinet contracting, even briefly with an interior designer, and public works projects like fire stations and county buildings. That variety taught me so much. I joined Suffolk in the middle of COVID in 2020, which was probably the most challenging period of my career, but it's where I've grown the most. Now I manage our San Diego Gas and Electric account, running multiple substation projects at once. My days are never the same - I could be working on proposals, doing change orders and billing, coordinating with field teams, managing as-builts, or handling the constant email coordination that keeps jobs moving. I was just promoted to my current role as of the new year after working this account for three and a half years. While I don't get to do the design work as much anymore, I've found that I'm really good at being organized and managing projects - organizing people, plans, documents, details, staying on top of tasks and calendars. That's where I thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alyssa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mom instilling a very driven, hardworking personality in me. Growing up, my sister and I were always involved in sports, and that taught us commitment - once we started something, we were going to finish it and see it through. That mindset carried over into school and into my career. I've always been very determined to see things through and give 100% effort, whether a job or project works out for me or not. It's that determination and commitment that has really shaped who I am professionally.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to stand up for yourself and make sure you're not being walked over. It's about finding gentle or kind ways to go about it and striking that balance - making sure you're being respected, taking on enough work but not too much, and not being taken advantage of. Whether it's about workload or the way people are talking to you, it's important to find that happy medium of being respected while maintaining your boundaries.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say just start and jump in. Don't be hesitant or afraid to ask questions. Find a mentor or someone who can help you, and really dive deep into the work. Don't be afraid of making mistakes - that's what helps you grow. Construction is a tough field or industry to be in as a woman, so it's important to find your voice and just keep learning and growing as you go.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges right now are budget and timing constraints. People want to get work done within certain timeframes, but they may not have the budget, or the budget changes and they're still trying to get the work completed. Sometimes they find the budget but need the work done in a very short amount of time. It's always changing in construction. And now with tariffs and lead times on materials changing, we're still trying to figure out ways to accomplish projects and fit everything in despite these obstacles.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are caring, respect, and determination. As long as you're trying to make an effort and working hard, I feel like that acknowledgement is realized, recognized, and appreciated - there's potential there. Really just putting in that effort goes a long way. And caring about others is fundamental to everything I do.
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