Latest news with #Slaven
Boston Globe
09-03-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Climbing higher: Women in Construction Week celebrates a growing demographic in the industry
Plumber Maria Zammitti, working at 585 Kendall in Cambridge; her mother was a construction worker in the 1980s. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Lauren Slaven, a senior superintendent at construction management firm Shawmut Design and Construction in Boston, has spent more than two decades in the industry. When Slaven arrived at Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2000, she wanted to be an architect. But through the school's co-op program, she found herself at a construction meeting detailing renovation plans for the Harvard University Faculty Club. The project superintendent commanded the room, understood all aspects of the job, and was pushing it to the finish line. 'I was like: I want that guy's job,' Slaven said. Related : Advertisement Slaven on Thursday won the mentorship award at the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts annual Inspire Awards, which honor exemplary women in the construction business. At Shawmut, Slaven started with a three-year rotation program, spending one year learning project management, another learning estimating, and another learning the role of a superintendent. When she started, maybe one-quarter of her rotation's 20-person cohort were women. The most recent cohort was about half women, she said. Kumba Wahkor (center) rode the hoist/elevator to the sixth floor of 585 Kendall. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Shawmut's culture is one where teammates push for others to improve and rise up, Slaven said, whether it be giving someone credit or being an unofficial mentor. 'Their generosity and inspiration and really what they saw in me that I may not have seen in myself — they really believed in me from the beginning,' Slaven said. 'I thought to myself: I need to be paying this forward. Mentorship is a critical role. Because it's not just about teaching technical skills to somebody else. It's about inspiring somebody's confidence, and encouraging their growth.' Advertisement Ironworker Hannah Cahill at 585 Kendall in Cambridge. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff At the AGC awards, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll emphasized the importance of a diverse workforce and how the administration values diversity, equity, and inclusion, drawing strong applause from the nearly 1,000 attendees. 'What makes Massachusetts a strong state is the fact that we have a rich mix of people, a rich tapestry of communities,' Driscoll said. 'What makes us special, I think, is that we recognize that when we utilize everyone, when we make room at the table for people who may not have historically been at that table, we get better outcomes, better results.' Ironworker Shellian Capo-Chichi on site at 585 Kendall. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Catherine Carlock can be reached at
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Sentinel-Echo honored by Kentucky Press Association
When the Kentucky Press Association awards for 2024 were announced Friday evening, the Sentinel-Echo fared well — earning seven awards in the Weekly 2 Division. Staff Writer Madison Nantz — with some help from Times-Tribune colleague Brittany Whitehead and Sentinel/Times Editor Janie Slaven — won first place in the Best Ongoing/Extended News Coverage category for her work tracking the Interstate 75 shooting investigation. 'Madison joined as a correspondent right out of college in October 2023, and hasn't looked back since joining The Sentinel full-time last May,' Slaven said. 'She more than held her own with a story that garnered national attention and required an 'all hands on deck' approach' from our small paper. Brittany and I were happy to fill in when Madison couldn't be two places at once.' Retired staff writer Nita Johnson's candid photography won both first and third place in the Best Picture Essay category. 'Nita Johnson really enjoyed capturing members of our community in unique moments with her camera,' Slaven said. 'She has set a high bar for us to follow after a 20-plus-year career, and I'm happy to say she still contributes to The Sentinel when she can.' Nighttime Editor Brad Hall also won multiple awards in the 2024 KPA contest. Hall, who designs pages for both The Sentinel-Echo and Times-Tribune, received a first-place award as Best Headline Writer as well as a third place for Best Sports Page. 'Brad's eye for graphic design is unmatched,' Slaven said. 'When paired with his clever wordplay in headlines, his work is key to showcasing the Sentinel's coverage of community news.' Collectively, the staff won second and third place in the Special Section category. This year's KPA contest was judged by the Arkansas Press Association. The judging varies from state to state each year with industry professionals judging the entries. The 2024 Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers were announced during KPA's annual convention held in Lexington last weekend.
