INDUSTRY
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Building With Purpose Jennifer Lyons on partnerships, mentorship and women in construction
F
or BRPH Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lyons, construction has never been just about buildings. It’s about bringing people, ideas and disciplines together to solve problems and deliver projects that make a lasting impact.
Since entering the industry more than two decades ago, Lyons has built a career leading projects ranging from residential and multi-family housing to historic renovations, higher education campuses and complex aerospace and advanced manufacturing facilities. Her portfolio includes work at the University of Florida in Gainesville, along with large-scale industrial projects where collaboration is just as critical as technical expertise. Looking back on her career, Lyons discusses the mentors, partnerships and experiences that shaped her approach to leadership and why investing in the next generation is every bit as important as delivering successful projects. Raised in a family of engineers, Lyons initially thought she would pursue architecture. After exploring interiors, she ultimately found her passion in construction. “I realized I could marry the design passion I have with constructability.” That intersection has defined her leadership style. Lyons describes it simply: “Trust but verify.” She often repeats a phrase shared by a superintendent early in her career—you get what you inspect, not what you expect. For Lyons, accountability and communication are the backbone of every successful partnership. “Whatever the problem is, communication is always the answer. Using your connections, asking for help, asking a question, finding a mentor—communication can solve almost anything.” Those principles were tested on one of the largest projects of her career: serving as senior project manager on a satellite processing facility supporting Amazon’s Project Kuiper initiative. The more than $150 million facility prepares satellites to be integrated into launch vehicles, a technically demanding environment requiring close coordination among multiple stakeholders and launch providers.
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Jennifer Lyons, BRPH Senior Project Manager
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 7, 2026