AGENDA
Thursday, June 12, 2025 5:00-9:00pm
5:00pm Registration & Reception
6:15pm Dinner
6:45pm Welcome & Membership Recognition
Awards Ceremony
Collaborative Leadership Award
Luiza Mills , Interstate Electrical Services Corporation
Outstanding Young Professional Leader Award
Samantha D’Agostino , Construction Solutions Group
Educator of the Year Award
Eugene Torone , SLAM Collaborative
Distinguished Service Award
Dawn Monde , Red Thread
Special Industry Recognition Award
Yale University
8:00pm Celebration continues
9:00pm Adjourn
THANK YOU
Thank you for joining us as we honor our Members who have achieved milestones in years of continual membership with the Construction Institute, as well as our distinguished award recipients for contributions to the CI community and the AEC industry at large.
WELCOME TO THE CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE
At The Construction Institute, we are leading a collaborative movement, bringing together all industry contributors to shape the future.
Ignite, empower, and engage — that is our mindset for creating an inclusive network. We are powered by people with real world expertise. Our collective mission is to advance the AEC industry through education, innovation, and developing essential skills to deliver a better built world.
Why? It is really this simple: we create the connections that will revolutionize the future of our built environment.
Igniting collaboration for a better built world.
TABLE SPONSORS
ADDITIONAL SPONSOR
LUIZA MILLS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
INTERSTATE ELECTRICAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Luiza Mills brings two decades of executive management experience in electrical distribution to her position as Senior Vice President at Interstate Electrical Services Corporation. Her leadership at Interstate, the largest privately held electrical services company in New England, is driven by education, energy, a passion for excellence, and detailoriented focus.
Mills’s extensive background in the construction industry spans human resources management, business operations, contracts and insurance, marketing, lean methodologies, training, and safety. As Senior Vice President, she is committed to excellence in all areas at Interstate and fosters a culture that values employees, encourages growth, nurtures new ideas, and prioritizes safety.
Her extensive board experience includes her current role as Chair of ABC Massachusetts and past Chairperson of the Gould Institute. Her additional affiliations include the Construction Institute’s Education Committee, IBUILD NH/VT Board of Advisors, and the ABC Human Resources Committee. Furthermore, Mills collaborates with agencies to advance trade programs, works closely with schools and industry affiliates, actively supports women in the construction industry, and serves as an advisor on various committees and boards.
SAMANTHA D’AGOSTINO PROJECT MANAGER CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS GROUP
Samantha D’Agostino brings a deep commitment to client advocacy to her role as Project Manager at Construction Solutions Group. With a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut, she began her career as a Project Engineer at a large construction management firm before joining CSG in 2020. D’Agostino plays a critical role in all phases of project development, leading with precision, clear communication, and a collaborative approach that aligns project teams and drives successful outcomes.
Her passion for construction and community-building is rooted in her upbringing and lifelong interest in the transformative impact of civil engineering. At CSG, she is recognized as a dedicated team member and a trusted leader. Beyond her project responsibilities, D’Agostino is actively engaged in the industry — she served on the planning committee for the Construction Institute’s 2024 Owner’s Forum and is currently supporting efforts to re-establish the Early Industry Leaders Group.
EUGENE TORONE PRESIDENT SLAM CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
Gene Torone is President of SLAM Construction Services and a Designated Design-Build Professional™ (DBIA™). He brings over 40 years of experience planning and managing construction projects, including 27 years managing design-build projects. He has been responsible for the management of over 100 design-build construction projects and hundreds of construction projects. His experience includes work for educational, healthcare, corporate and public sector clients. He is particularly adept at devising highly-effective delivery plans and construction methods using innovative fast-track and design-build techniques.
Torone actively shares his expertise through educational initiatives, workshops, and mentorship programs. He is committed to fostering the next generation of construction leaders. His participation on the Construction Institute’s Education Committee has significantly elevated CI’s professional development programs. He continually demonstrates his commitment to advancing the construction industry, speaking at conferences and serving as a member of the Construction Institute’s Board of Directors.
DAWN MONDE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC ACCOUNTS/CLIENT SERVICES
RED THREAD
Dawn Monde is Senior Vice President for Strategic Accounts/Client Services at Red Thread, where she leads the Hartford and Stamford Sales Teams and Connecticut Design Team. With extensive experience in design, project management, client services, and sales leadership, Monde helps clients address the evolving needs of their workplaces. She works closely with corporate, higher education, and healthcare clients to develop integrated solutions that align with their real estate goals, combining furniture, architectural products, and technology.
A lifelong learner, Monde actively seeks new insights and innovations that elevate her work and inspire those around her. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within her teams and the industry at large.
Monde serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for The Construction Institute and is a proud member of the Women Who Build Planning Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Textile Marketing from the University of Rhode Island. Monde is dedicated to shaping dynamic, high-performing work environments that empower people, support business goals, and evolve with the future of work.
Yale University is committed to improving the world through research, scholarship, and education and its investment in preservation, infrastructure, sustainability, and the community where it resides. As an active member of the Construction Institute, Yale has demonstrated ongoing dedication by participating in CI programs and events. Beyond this, Yale’s positive impact on the City of New Haven and greater region is unmatched.
Yale is the largest private employer in New Haven, supporting over 16,000 jobs with more than 6,000 held by New Haven residents. These work opportunities extend to AEC industry partners in the region, whose employees and subcontractors have benefited from the labor hours and trade possibilities provided through significant capital investments. More specifically, Yale is transforming its upper Science Hill area. This multiyear development includes the new Physical Sciences and Engineering Building — a 600,000 square foot hub for interdisciplinary research with a modern cleanroom — as well as innovative facilities like the Advanced Instrumentation Development Center. Yale is a leader in climate action, setting ambitious targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2035 and zero actual emissions by 2050. To meet this goal, the university is investing in geothermal technology on Science Hill and other campus areas in addition to requiring the application of sustainable materials, systems, and sourcing for its projects, among other efforts.
YALE UNIVERSITY
45 Years
O&G Industries
40 Years
Arborio Corporation
Gilbane Building Company
35 Years
CECO Concrete Construction
30 Years
Montagno Construction
UConn Health
25 Years
Antinozzi Associates
Flow Tech
20 Years
All-Brite Electric, Inc.
Interstate Electrical Services Corporation
10 Years
KC Architects, LLC
Town of South Windsor
TSKP Studio
University of Massachusetts Amherst
We would like to extend an Honorable Mention to our 5 year members
BRG
Meyer
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Board of Directors
Anthony Messina, Chair
Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Dawn Monde, Vice Chair
Red Thread
Melissa Ferrucci, Treasurer CohnReznick LLP
Kara Bacik, Past Chair Patriquin Architects
Jim Cecil
A.P. Construction Company
Kathyann Cowles KC Architects, LLC
Kaitlyn Dobberfuhl Gilbane Building Company
Zoraida Ferguson Pratt & Whitney/United Technologies
George Fink BRG
Lance Martin
Salas O’Brien
Erik Sanford Dellbrook|JKS
Eugene Torone SLAM Collaborative
Emeritus Leadership
Lewis Finkel, Professional Construction Services, Inc.
Kent Goetjen, PwC
David Jepson, JCJ Architecture
