JoEllen has always been drawn to fast-paced, team-based work. That combination is what ultimately led her into construction, even if it was not the path she originally set out to follow.
Her interest in health and safety began at Keene State College, where she competed as a student athlete and explored career paths that fit her working style. Growing up on a horse farm, she was accustomed to staying active, so sitting behind a desk never felt right. At her softball coach’s suggestion, she took health and safety classes, a subject that quickly clicked. “From that point on, I never looked back. What started as a suggestion became a career that felt natural, practical, and aligned with who I am.”
She felt that connection in her first job as a Safety Intern with Dimeo. Assigned to the Forest Hills project in Boston, she arrived early each day, unsure of what to expect but determined to prove herself. By her second day, she was climbing a stair tower to the fifth floor for the first time. “I remember feeling a little scared but also thinking it was the coolest thing ever.”
What stayed with her from those early days was not just the work, but also the people. “Blakely Builders’ William Ciccheese and Jeff Goulette, along with Dimeo’s Martin Abt, truly took me under their wing. They wanted me to succeed.” Her teammates took the time to walk her through the site, explain the details, and make sure she understood how everything came together. That experience reinforced something she had been missing after college athletics ended.
“For me, the confirming moment wasn’t one single incident. It was a shift in identity,” she explains. “Construction gave me back something I had my whole life through athletics: a team, a shared mission, and a sense of belonging. It helped me build a new identity—not as “the softball player,” but as a safety professional and teammate.”
As her career progressed, key moments began to shape how JoEllen saw her place in the industry. The first came in 2023, when Bob Kunz invited her to attend a national-level Zurich Construction Roundtable. It was the first time she found herself in a room surrounded by senior-level safety professionals and C-suite executives from some of the largest construction companies in the country and, importantly, women in those roles. Watching Reese Fortin speak made a lasting impression. “There’s a phrase, ‘to see it is to believe it,’ and in that moment, I truly believed it,” she says. “Seeing someone who looked like me operating at that level made it tangible. I remember thinking, ‘One day, I want to be in that position.”
Earning her CHST certification was a milestone accomplishment that required a different kind of discipline, especially after time away from structured academics. “Making the commitment, putting in the work, and seeing it come to fruition was something I’m incredibly proud of.” The experience gave her the confidence to keep pushing forward and continue raising the bar for herself professionally. Together, those experiences, one rooted in exposure and one in personal achievement, expanded how she thinks about what is possible in her career.
Today, JoEllen’s role has evolved, and what she finds most rewarding goes beyond the title itself. Over the past year, she has stepped into a more management-oriented role, one she views less as oversight and more as mentorship. Supporting team members like Emma Conkey and helping them grow into their own has become a central part of her work.
“It’s challenged me in ways I didn’t expect,” she says. “It’s pushed me to communicate more clearly, lead more intentionally, and continuously improve myself so I can show up as a better leader.” Watching that growth unfold on site, from building confidence to owning responsibilities, is what she finds most fulfilling. “Leadership isn’t just about managing projects,” she adds. “It’s about developing people.”
Her approach to safety reflects the same mindset: it’s about people, not just compliance and rule enforcement. The real goal is to build trust and understand how people think, what they are navigating, and how to communicate in a way that resonates.
She measures success by what teams do on their own without prompting. When a superintendent pauses work, when a foreperson adjusts a plan, or when someone speaks up because something does not feel right, that is when the impact is clear. It means safety is embedded in the culture, not dependent on a single safety presence on site.
Over time, her role has evolved alongside the industry itself. Safety is no longer viewed as separate from operations, but rather integrated into how projects are planned and executed. A shift that has allowed a more active partnership with project teams, working alongside them rather than policing from the outside.
That shift did not happen without challenges. With a strong safety background but limited hands-on commercial experience, she often had questions and was also frequently the only woman at the table. Instead of stepping back, she stayed consistent in her approach and leaned into it. Early in her career, JoEllen’s curiosity was not always understood. She often asked more questions than others, seeking context and a deeper understanding of the work. At times, that was labeled as being “over the top.”
“I’ve never been afraid to ask the ‘dumb’ or obvious question, even when it’s uncomfortable,” she says. “Over time, I realized that curiosity isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength. It leads to better planning, safer decisions, and stronger collaboration.” This mindset continues to shape how she shows up and leads today, creating environments where questions are encouraged, collaboration is expected, and learning is part of the process.
Reflecting on her experiences, one of her biggest lessons is resilience. Construction is challenging, and growth often involves discomfort. “A quote I live by is, ‘Do it scared.’ To me, that means saying yes to opportunities, even when you don’t feel completely ready. I’d rather look back and say, ‘I was scared, but I did it,’ than regret not trying.”
For JoEllen, being a woman in construction means both opportunity and responsibility. The opportunity to build a career, support herself, and keep growing. The responsibility is to keep that path open for others. “I know the women ahead of me in this industry crawled and walked so that I could run,” she says. “And because of that, I feel a responsibility to make sure the next generation doesn’t just run, they sprint.”
She has seen that progress firsthand. More women are entering the industry, taking on leadership roles, and transforming the way construction looks. Representation is increasing, and with it, the belief in what is possible.
At the same time, she is purposeful about maintaining that momentum through her involvement in industry initiatives. Her connection to AGC of MA’s Building Women in Construction group has been especially meaningful, beginning early in her career when she attended a WIC Week event and witnessed firsthand the impact of representation. “I remember sitting in that room thinking, ‘I want to be more involved in this. Maybe one day I’ll be lucky enough to receive an award,” she says.
Five years later, she returned to that same community as a Rising Star Award recipient, a full-circle moment that reinforced the value of visibility and support. Since then, she has taken on a leadership role within the group, focused on creating those same opportunities for others. “What all of this has meant to me is simple: when you see it, you believe it.”
Mentorship has played a critical role in her own journey as well. She credits leaders who supported her growth, challenged her to take on new opportunities, and trusted her with responsibility, shaping how she shows up for others today.
“Without a doubt, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have strong mentors,” she says, pointing to leaders like Bob Kunz, Kevin Ferreira, Timothy Bemis, and Matt Pelczar, who have served as both advocates and allies throughout her career. “Their leadership has shown me what it looks like to support women in this industry, not just in words, but in action.”
That experience has stayed with her. “I feel lucky to be employed by Dimeo, where I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside world-class professionals who genuinely believe in developing talent, regardless of gender. That support is a big reason why I’ve stayed—because when you’re in a place where people invest in you, that’s where you want to build your career.”
Now, she is focused on doing the same by creating opportunities, offering honest feedback, and advocating for others when they are not in the room. For JoEllen, progress in this industry is not just about individual success; it is about building something stronger for those coming after her.
