This week, we’re celebrating Women in Construction Week (March 3-9, 2024) with a blog series highlighting the value and ingenuity women bring to our member businesses.
PCI-MA: How do you describe your job to people?
Rawan: I coordinate with architects, EORs and GCs in ensuring the execution of the design and completion of the project all while keeping the project on track and providing a quality product. I’ve been in my role for almost two years.
PCI-MA: How did your career journey lead you to your company?
Rawan: I graduated from Rowan with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. My career journey as a pharmacy technician, microbiologist, and an advocate for retirees on Medicare helped me acquire important skills such as being organized, having a problem-solving mindset, great communication skills, and attention to detail to provide quality assurance to clients. When a friend of mine that has worked with NEP for a few years advised of a position that was open and was looking for someone with those attributes, I was excited to apply as I’ve always heard amazing things about Northeast Precast through her.
PCI-MA: What is one of the greatest challenges you’ve faced and how have you overcome it?
Rawan: For me, the greatest challenge was becoming familiar with the precast/construction industry. Coming from a science background, the terminology in the engineering realm was new to me but exciting. To coordinate information accurately and ensure the design of the project meets the scope and intent of the Architect/EOR, you must know what’s being asked. How I overcame that is by being completely transparent and asking questions when I was unsure of the intent. This helped build up my understanding of the industry, of the roles other trades play, and it helped me do my job efficiently.
PCI-MA: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Rawan: What I enjoy about my job is that every project is unique, so I am always learning. I love that my job challenges me in ways that allow me to grow and become better at what I do. I also really enjoy seeing the project through from start to finish – it’s very rewarding.
PCI-MA: Do you have a mentor or role model? If so, how does this person support you in your personal and professional growth?
Rawan: Cheyenne Doyle-Schreffler and Peter Gorgas have been detrimental to my professional growth as a project engineer. They always take the time to teach me something new and provide me with new perspectives to advance my thinking and ways of tackling challenges. I am so grateful to have them as my mentors. I’d also like to thank my other colleagues at Northeast Precast as they all have been amazing team players and have provided me with their knowledge and expertise in different areas that made my journey here pleasant.
PCI-MA: What are your career and life aspirations and goals?
Rawan: I hope to continue with this path and one day join the Project Management team.
PCI-MA: What advice would you give a young woman entering the construction industry?
Rawan: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, whether it’s voicing your ideas or asking questions, the contribution, and unique perspectives that you bring matter. Embrace challenges as they offer new learning opportunities and don’t get discouraged when you make mistakes.
Northeast Precast is a state-of-the-art precast concrete manufacturer located in Vineland, New Jersey, which 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.