Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Kassab.
Kelly, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My career began in the late nineties during the high-technology bubble with mergers and acquisitions of large-scale commercial developments. It grew to managing multimillion portfolios in fast paced corporate building designs, renovations and relocations across the US and Canada.
Today, I’m an architectural consultant for AW Hastings, New England’s Marvin Door and Window Brand Distribution. My role consists of supporting local architects, developers and their clients with best-in-class window and door solutions. I am also an active Greater Boston Realtor Board Member.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There is nothing smooth about being a woman in a predominantly male dominated industry. It can feel intimidating for a woman to succeed within the building industry. For starters, I may be among 10-15% of this industry’s professional minority being a woman. Twenty years ago it was different. We’ve come a long way with woman involved in building design and architecture.
My first construction management project was overseeing a four-story office park building during the Dot Com bubble. I was reassigned a project after a several failed to get it going in the right direction. It was a new office building with an impossible five-month occupancy deadline. I considered resigning after confirming the building had no infrastructure built and there was no temporary office leases available to afford more time to deliver.
Instead of resigning, my husband suggested that I create an incredible project plan before walking away. He said, pretend you won the lottery and make it real. It had to be real in case executive management approved it. I fully envisioned failure. My project plans included letting go of the existing team, approving millions for accelerated construction costs and attaching bonuses to all critical trade disciplines. It was brilliant and yet overwhelming when my plan got approved. I was a much younger female walking into a high profile development project. The success of that project was a roller coaster of pitfalls that brought me to tears. In the end, I learned that hard work, risk taking and perseverance paid off.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As a consultant for AW Hastings & Co., I get to work alongside extremely talented architects, builders and dealers who sell the Marvin family of products. At times I could be presenting, traveling or applauding business professionals for their award winning use of Marvin windows and doors.
My role enables me to interact with industry professionals and their clients. I help architects who require technical assistance as well. Glass is getting bigger and architects appreciate consultants who are knowledgeable. More clients desire capturing the best outside views in the living space with greater window walls and scenic doors. Today there are so many new building materials impacting window and door performance or installation with greater wall thickness and a variety of insulations options available now.
I believe that the elements that go into building a home or commercial structure should last for a considerable number of years. People can overlook the lifespan of key components in the shell of a building during new construction or renovations. Quality is important for efficiency and performance over time since different materials break down faster than others. American made Marvin window and doors are considered best in class.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was always outgoing, very curious, adventurous and at times careless. I wanted to go to college, travel the world and take risks with little support or encouragement at home. It took me years of determination to put myself through college. I worked different jobs to finance my way through school and eventually did travel far and wide. Throughout my travels I enjoyed meeting people, trying new cuisines and pure soul searching which helped me settle down and focus on family and career. I’ve always enjoyed home cooking along with family time, boating and alpine skiing.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://awhastings.com
- Phone: 860-394-3433
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awhastings/
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/awhastingsco/aw-hastings-and-co
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