Women @ MATT 2022

To celebrate our second annual Women in Construction week, we are highlighting some of the women who have been integral to our success as a company. Meet Martha Welborne, Jordan Vallejo, Gianna Furumoto and Susan D’Angelo below. 

Martha Welborne: Senior Advisor, HR&A Advisors & MATT Construction Board Member

Q: What is your favorite part about the construction industry?

A: The construction industry is very exciting and challenging because you are always learning new things. Every project is unique, every client is different, and you often work with various team members from one project to the next. Working in the construction industry is never dull. The great reward is completing each project and knowing that you have positively impacted the lives of those living in, working in, or enjoying the project you have had a hand in building.

Q: What is your proudest moment in your career?

A: My proudest moment might be the day I was able to secure the approval of 13 separate legal agreements by both the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which allowed the Grand Avenue Project to proceed. Of course, many people were involved, but I was in the driver’s seat, ensuring everyone’s issues were resolved. And let me note that, yes, the approvals happened on the same day!

Q: What do you enjoy most about being on the MATT board of directors?

A: I enjoy being on the Board of Directors at MATT because I am working with a group of super-smart, dedicated, and experienced professionals who are committed to creating iconic buildings and also to creating a company where employees can have long, fulfilling careers.

Q: What’s a challenge you’ve had to overcome while you’ve been in the industry?

A: As a young architect 40 years ago, women were not nearly as welcome in the construction industry as we are now. Sometimes, there was outright hostility and there was always skepticism that had to be overcome. The world has changed since then, and there are more women architects now than before and there is much more openness to accepting our talents and contributions.

Q: What is something that would surprise us about you?

A: I appeared in an episode of Star Trek Voyager as an alien queen with horns coming out of the top of my head like skyscrapers on a skyline.

Jordan Vallejo: Assistant Project Manager

Q: What advice would you give young women entering the construction field?

A: My advice is to ask questions to everyone involved in the project. In my experience, people get excited when you express interest in learning about what they’re doing and are happy to share their knowledge. Take the time to learn how all the different trades build their scopes of work–it will help you learn how to coordinate and create a cohesive project.

Q: What has been your favorite project to work on and why?

A: My favorite project that I have worked on is the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. It was my first project as a full-time employee at MATT. I was very excited to be a part of the project; it’s such a unique and iconic building.

Q: What is your proudest moment at MATT?

A: I think the proudest moment of my career would be when, several years ago, I was taking a shared uber, and while in the car, we passed LACMA, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Academy Museum–all buildings built by MATT. The other passenger had never been to Los Angeles before and as we drove by them, he asked our driver about each building, saying how cool he thought they were. Sometimes it’s easy to forget what an achievement it is to successfully complete buildings like these, so it’s rewarding to hear other people take an interest in and appreciate the work we do.

Q: Tell me about a time when your technical skills aided your team in succeeding on a job.

A: I was recently brought on near the end of a project to help with the commissioning process while another Project Engineer managed the MEP trades. Shortly after I joined the project, the other Project Engineer left the project, and my role shifted from helping with commissioning to managing trades and all the remaining work on the project that I had little to no background on. By applying lessons learned through past experiences with similar scopes of work and coordinating well with subcontractors, I was able to help successfully complete the project.

Q: What’s a challenge you’ve had to overcome while you’ve been in the construction industry?

A: Many people aren’t aware of how much coordination is required to run a construction project smoothly. There is so much going on behind the scenes to make a project successful. One challenge in this industry is learning to communicate that there is more to construction than just handing people a set of plans and some tools. Addressing the misconceptions of what the construction industry is and the types of people who work in construction has been a challenge I’m working on overcoming. 

Gianna Furumoto: Project Engineer

Q: What is your favorite part about the construction industry?

A: I enjoy how hands-on and involved the general contractor is from start to finish on a project. The general contractor takes the time to work through all the minutiae with the subcontractors and ensures that a project runs smoothly.

Q: What advice would you give to young women entering the construction field?

A: Construction is an industry that men have historically dominated, but thanks to many brave women who came before us, this has started to change in recent times. It is up to us to continue trailblazing the way and advocating for meaningful diversity in the industry. Know that you will be joining a strong community of women in construction who will support you on your journey.

Q: What’s a challenge you’ve had to overcome while you’ve been in the construction industry?

A: Adjusting to construction hours was honestly pretty difficult for me–I’m definitely not a morning person! I’ve grown to appreciate having more time in the evenings, even if I have to get up early for work.

Q: What is your vision for the construction industry five years from now?

A: I hope that the construction industry will: 

1. Adopt more universal sustainability practices and policies

2. Become more conscious about the impact development has on the environment and surrounding communities 

3. Welcome and support more women and people of marginalized genders, sexes, races, ethnicities, and religions

Q: What is your favorite hobby outside of work?

A: I love playing basketball when I have time. I grew up playing and it’s a fun way to stay active, plus I like that it’s a fast-paced, high-scoring sport by nature. 

Susan D’Angelo: Office & Administrative Manager

Q: What is your favorite part about the construction industry?

A: The people. People in the construction industry are amazing! Construction is unique and it’s always a team effort; no one singular person builds a building. People in the construction industry are straightforward, genuine, and want to get the work done.

Q: What advice would you give young women entering the construction field?

A: Construction is an environment where you will always be challenged–it’s a constantly changing industry. You won’t always know the answers so learn to solicit help. Ask questions and continue learning by taking classes, attending seminars, etc. MATT has no shortage of mentors!

Q: What has been your favorite project to work on and why?

A: In November 2010, I was given the directive to organize a company-wide wellness activity by the end of the year. Before Thanksgiving break, MATT’s first “Wellness Committee” was formed, and registration flyers were sent out to the team. On a foggy Saturday morning in early December of 2010, 20 MATT employees, along with their family members and dogs, were on their way to the ‘Jingle Bells 5k’ in San Diego’s Balboa Park. We crossed the finish line with some in costume (including the dogs) and celebrated our first wellness event. Since then, MATT’s Wellness Program has evolved to encompass several areas of wellness, including financial health, mental health, nutritional health, and of course, physical health.

Q: What is your vision for the construction industry five years from now?

A: Although women are still underrepresented in this industry, we are making significant progress as leaders. A substantial portion of women executives and construction managers entered leadership roles in the last five years, suggesting that companies have recently promoted women to leadership positions. I hope the industry will continue to become more diverse and inclusive in the next several years.  

Q: What is something that would surprise us about you?

A: I love rock n’ roll music. I saw the Beatles in concert and I dance every day with my soul mate.