Salute
Labor
in Women
Business
Loretta Mitsos-Panvini
to
2016
Story by Brenda Hillegas Q&A by Anthony Panvini
T
my life have I met anyone - male or female for that matter - who works as hard as she does, as well as she does and is always there for others, if needed. Honestly, sometimes I’m not sure how she does it. I do know, though, that I appreciate everything she does and love her to death.” “With a business like this - construction, dumpsters, etc., competition against businesses owned by men is hard enough,” Mitsos-Panvini says. “But with a family and a sick child, it’s worse. Imagine being pregnant, sick, tired and running a business that isn’t the norm for a woman.” Very recently, her mentor passed away. As a young girl, Mitsos-Panvini watched this woman run her business (where a lot of men worked) and was in awe of the power and respect she held. ‘Look at what she’s doing,’ she thought, ‘I want to do what she’s doing.’ Mitsos-Panvini said she would head to work three hours early each day just to watch and learn. “It was exciting to know her,” she says of the woman who inspired her to work her way to the top. “You can do it, too,” she says. For any young woman who has the ideas and determination to start her own business, Mitsos-Panvini says, “Never give up. Work hard. Be relentless in your work ethic.”
Q: Where did you grow up? A: I’ve lived in South Philadelphia my whole life. I grew up on 11th and Bigler.
Q: What was the catalyst for you wanting to be in your industry? What inspired you to become who you are today? A: I started working in this industry when I was 17. I started working for the 5th largest water and sewer contractor in the United States and it was interesting work. I became interested while watching projects get completed. I worked right on the jobsites and it made me want to learn and start my own business someday. That’s what inspired me to start Athena in September of 1988. When you’re young and doing this type of work, it’s exciting. But now that I own my own company, it’s even more worthwhile. It’s rewarding to get so much respect in this type of business.
A: The next year looks extremely promising for Athena Contracting. Over the next year, I would like to continue to grow my company and successfully complete the projects that are awarded to Athena contracting.
Q: Last book you read?
A: I’m actually reading a book now called Among Heroes by Brandon Webb. It’s a true story about a Navy SEAL sniper who talks about the friendships he made during his time and the effects they have had on his personal life. I’m really interested in our military.
Q: What are your favorite things to do and places to visit during the summer?
A: One of my favorite things to do is to be at my yard in the early morning and watch the sunrise with my workers and watch my trucks leave for the day. I use that time to relax and get away from my crazy work schedule. It’s a very satisfying feeling. It energizes me.
Q: What project - personal or work-related - are you most proud of?
Q: Favorite song from back in the day?
Q: What does the next year look like for you? What do you hope to do in your career by this time next year?
Athena Contracting is a member of the Philadelphia RowHome (PRH) Business Network
A: Raising my son.
A: My favorite song is by the Isley Brothers, “For the Love of You.” prh
photo by andrew andreozzi
he Greek goddess Athena was fierce and brave in battle. She was courageous and full of wisdom. There are so many similarities between this goddess and Loretta Mitsos-Panvini, who owns and operates Athena Contracting in Philadelphia. It’s a no-brainer that she would be inspired by Athena and name the company after her. With the struggles and hard work of running a business and raising a family, her story of determination is one for all women. Mitsos-Panvini formed Athena Contracting in her early twenties. Nine years later, she was successful, happily married and about to become a mom. No doubt, it was a wonderful time for her. Unfortunately, her son Anthony came into the world prematurely at 24 weeks. Due in April the following year, he instead arrived in December and immediately, Athena Contracting was put on hold. “Everything stopped,” Mitsos-Panvini says. “He was sick for the first year of his life.” As Anthony grew and his health improved, Mitsos-Panvini was able to get back to work running the construction company. Anthony went on to St. Joe’s Prep and then to St. Joe’s University. He is now 22 years old. “I have the utmost respect for my mother,” Anthony says. “Never in
Athena Contracting, Inc.
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