INDUSTRY

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

A seat at the table Our conversation with Jenn Sussman, Director of National Accounts, Powerhouse

Jenn Sussman, Powerhouse

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nergy. Boundless, uncanny and spirited energy. If you were to try put a label on what Jenn Sussman brings to the commercial construction table, you’ll want to start there. As the Director of National Accounts for Powerhouse, she is part of a company that places a premium on the instrumental contributions that women bring to the game. Known for the genuine and sincere approach she fosters in every relationship she creates, Sussman currently has submerged herself into the continually fast-paced world of construction, roll outs, and facilities and maintenance. We sat down with her to get her thoughts on today’s commercial construction business and why women continue to help bring a strong foundation to the industry’s future.

to transform the digital experience by elevating and expanding drive-thru capabilities, implementing buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) and contactless and/or curbside options, and employing state-of-the-art safety measures like upgraded air filtration systems to reduce airborne contaminants. Also, due to an increase in permanent store and restaurant closures, there are more opportunities than ever to retrofit available spaces for new purposes. The obvious trend right now, and most likely for the foreseeable future, is the reinvestment into existing properties through remodels and refreshes, however at a slower pace than previous years given the current circumstances.

Give us a snapshot of the construction market today? What are you seeing out there?

My entire employment history would require a double issue, so I will only subject your readers to the abbreviated version. Unlike those who had a clear-cut path professionally, I guess you could say I took the scenic route. If one found himself wallowing over a receding hairline, I provided him with a new mane.

Like most industries, construction faced a year of unprecedented trials and tribulations. Nevertheless, the trailblazers found a way to swivel when adversity struck. This pandemic hastened the need

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How did you get started in the industry? What’s your story?

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — DECEMBER 2020