This month, we’re celebrating Women in Construction Week (March 6-12) with a blog series highlighting the value and ingenuity women bring to our member businesses. We’ll also feature careers and opportunities available to women interested in a rewarding, full-time job and being a part of the precast, prestressed concrete industry’s bright future.
Born and raised in southern New Jersey, my favorite past time activities include weightlifting and nutrition. The discipline I’ve learned from this has helped me grow into a motivated self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment. In my position, these characteristics have been the foundation for supporting my team and assisting Northeast Precast (NEP) through periods of growth.
PCI-MA: How do you describe your job to people?
Carr: As the Executive Assistant to Mark Gorgas, General Manager Commercial Division at Northeast Precast, my top priority is assisting Mark in leading the NEP team to further the corporate mission. I achieve this by acting as the bridge for smooth communication, assisting in administrative tasks and strategic planning, and ensuring proper coordination of task delegation and information flow.
PCI-MA: How did your career journey lead you to your company?
Carr: Starting off adulthood as an eager and ambitious teenager, I jumped headfirst into studying for an engineering degree, aiming to solve the world’s problems. This quickly took a turn a little over two years later when I learned that this was not my passion, so I decided to enter the working world without finishing my degree. The days and months of uncertainty flew by as I searched for an industry that inspired me. After learning about NEP, I applied and interviewed for a project coordinator position. NEP gave me the opportunity to prove myself—that despite my lack of experience and education, I would become an asset to the company. Now, three years later, I have found my passion, irreplaceable team members that I trust and support, and a mentor in the construction industry.
PCI-MA: What is one of the greatest challenges you’ve faced in our industry and how have you overcome it?
Carr: In an effort to tighten up internal operations, Northeast Precast made the decision to expand the team and open the door for someone to fill the new role of project coordinator. With no experience or formal training in the construction industry, let alone the precast industry, I stepped in with the intent to take the brief job description and expand the role to pave the way for future project coordinators at NEP. Through hands-on experiences working with the project managers, the quality control team, and the engineering team, I was able to see where the gaps were internally and develop the systems needed to alleviate bottlenecks. Due to the development of this position over the course of two years, I was able to hire a new project coordinator and train him to be self-sufficient in less than three months.
PCI-MA: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Carr: At Northeast Precast, all of our employees have a hand in our success, creating a level of ownership within its staff and making our culture invaluable. As Executive Assistant, I enjoy collaborating with Mark and the team on problem-solving and strategic planning.
PCI-MA: Do you have a mentor or role model? If so, how does this person support you in your personal and professional growth?
Carr: Mark Gorgas has been my sole role model and mentor from the first day I entered the professional world at Northeast Precast. He has created an environment that cultivates curiosity and learning, and in turn, he has developed a safe space for questions and mistakes without judgement. This has allowed me to explore our industry and encouraged me to try new things. The word “boss” does not do Mark justice. He is, by every definition, a leader. He leads his team by example, not only with his knowledge and work ethic but also with his patience, understanding, and empathy towards his team.
PCI-MA: What are your career and life aspirations and goals?
Carr: Long term, I intend to continue to grow my career by expanding my knowledge in the precast industry and leading my team into new precast markets. Though the road to this outcome may not be linear, I will test my skills, achieve new feats, and make new experiences along the way.
PCI-MA: What advice would you give a young woman entering the construction industry?
Carr: Walk into work every day with your shoulders back and your head held high; confidence is the key to growth. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty or to make mistakes; treat problems as opportunities for development. Lastly, collaborative teamwork is essential. Buildings are built by teams, not individuals.
About Northeast Precast
Northeast Precast is a state-of-the-art precast concrete manufacturer located in Millville, New Jersey, that offers commercial products and residential foundation wall systems. In 2001, John Ruga started selling Superior Walls® in New Jersey and started precast manufacturing in 2004. Starting as only a Superior Walls franchise, the company diversified and became known as Northeast Precast, a leader in custom precast products. Today Northeast Precast continues to expand to meet the demands of the residential, commercial building, highway infrastructure, and heavy marine construction markets.
Want to learn more about a career in precast? Check out our workforce Career Center for job descriptions, career paths, job listings, and other helpful resources.
