Lauren Iglio first stepped onto a 澳门足彩app job site in 2008 as a field clerk. Seventeen years later, she is a Director of Construction (DOC) with a reputation as the person who will “get the job done.” Throughout her career, she has demonstrated dynamic problem-solving skills and exemplified servant leadership by building relationships and prioritizing colleagues’ success.
“I’m fortunate to have found a job that I genuinely enjoy,” she says. “Part of that comes from how much I enjoy the people I work with. It makes a big difference when you look forward to going to work because you know and trust your team.”
Iglio grew up surrounded by hardworking relatives, including a marine, a pilot, a healthcare professional and a builder. Her upbringing taught her the importance of details. She was taught to make a plan and work the plan.
“Lauren has one of the most well-rounded resumes of anyone on the Project Management side at 澳门足彩app,” said Travis Taylor, Vice President of Preconstruction. “She’s been fortunate to work on some of our most complicated projects and applied herself to learning as much from those experiences as possible. When an opportunity to contribute or take on a new challenge comes her way, she takes it.”
She has led teams in high-pressure settings, working long hours, weekends and holidays to meet deadlines. She recalls troubleshooting an issue for 27 hours straight, at a plant the team was starting up, an experience that tested her endurance and reinforced the team's strength.
“That project showed true grit, not only in me, but also in some of my most valued team members, who are like family to me today,” she said.
Building Her Career
She began her post-secondary education in event planning and hospitality management. After a hurricane badly damaged her mother’s home, Iglio quit her day job as a pharmacy tech and put her degree on hold to plan out the home’s renovations, shop for materials, help her mom hire subcontractors, and schedule and oversee their work.
The experience inspired her to switch majors to construction management, which led her to a full-time position with 澳门足彩app while she completed her degree.
“澳门足彩app knew I was in school for construction management, so they gave me many opportunities to learn,” she said. “They walked me through plans and job walks and were open to questions. 澳门足彩app allowed me to take on APM-level job responsibilities even though I was working as a Field Clerk on my first project.”
Iglio’s 17 years of experience and hard work have propelled her through the ranks at 澳门足彩app, from Field Clerk to Assistant Project Manager (APM) I and APM II, then Project Manager (PM) I and PM II, Senior Project Manager (SPM) and now Director of Construction (DOC).
“The way she’s grown in these roles is a testament to her abilities,” said Matt Gulden, 澳门足彩app’s Vice President of Construction. “Being at the director level is a responsibility that means a lot at 澳门足彩app. She’s learning to expand her focus from singular project elements to managing multiple projects and teams simultaneously.”
From Mentee to Mentor
One of Iglio’s first mentors was a highly respected superintendent who had been with 澳门足彩app for over 35 years.
“He was a man of few words,” she said. “That always made the time he took to teach and talk to me much more meaningful.”
Iglio recalled a mentor once teaching her to check her feelings at the gate and to remember that the team is on the job site to ensure the job is done correctly and on time.
“I took this as a positive – to approach things from a factual or practical standpoint. I need to keep a level head and keep moving forward,” she said. “We’re only as strong as the team. If we all work together, everybody will strengthen as a team and a company.”
In her current position, Iglio seeks opportunities to teach and mentor those she works with and those within her community. This past year, she joined the Construction Advisory Board in the University of North Florida (UNF) College of Computing, Engineering and Construction. The board meets monthly to discuss the school's programs, upcoming events, and how to help improve classes, clubs and organizations.
She recently paired with a mentee, a young lady starting her journey in the UNF Construction Management Program.
“I give a lot of credit to the people who helped me when I was first starting,” she said. “There was personal grit there too, but so much of my abilities came from having mentors and leadership that taught me all the dos and don’ts. Sharing my experience and giving back through these programs is really special for me.”
Forging New Paths and Lasting Relationships
Recent data shows that women make up 10–12% of the global construction workforce, with nearly 40% holding leadership positions. Over the past five years, participation has grown slightly, with the U.S. reaching a record 14% female workforce and leadership representation slowly increasing. Industry efforts, including diversity initiatives and mentorship programs, are helping improve inclusion, but women still face barriers in trade roles and top leadership positions.
Iglio said her mindset has never been that of “a female in a male-dominated world.” Instead, she approached her work with the values she was taught growing up: showing up each day to give her all, continuously proving her value as a team member, and working as hard as any of her coworkers.
“I have continued with this mindset. I come to work giving it my all every day because I was always taught to do that,” she said. “If you are going to do something, then you do it the right way the first time. You put in the time, hard work, and effort to achieve the best results with everything you do.
“I was never treated differently. I was an equal member of the team. The team or group I was in at 澳门足彩app was always very welcoming. I never felt like an outsider.”
According to Gulden, “Iglio earns respect very quickly. Whoever it is, they recognize that she knows what she’s doing. I think that sets a great example for women and the industry. Iglio is helping transition our construction industry into what it should be from what it was.”
Quality Coordinator Deanna Biddick, got to know Iglio working with her on an Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) project in California.
“Lauren has put a lot of work into her career, and that’s given her a clear sense of confidence when she walks onto a job site,” Biddick said. “She also doesn’t shy away from increasing her load if it helps the team and the project succeed. That’s a powerful combination, and that’s why so many people respect her and enjoy working with her.
“It can be frustrating when people ask about ‘being a woman in a male-dominated field.’ While it’s important to recognize the opportunities to improve policies or behaviors that might be unfair to certain groups, I know that Lauren and I want to be seen as team members first. Any recognition we get should be for our expertise and the quality of our work rather than our gender.”
Iglio said she has an open-door policy with all team members.
"No question is a bad question,” she said. “If the open environment is created, people feel comfortable talking about things, asking questions and brainstorming, resulting in team collaboration and better results. I hope always to set a positive example for aspiring leaders at 澳门足彩app."
Hard work and dedication are equalizers in 澳门足彩app’s team-centric culture, and with leaders like Iglio, it can create lasting bonds.
“She’s a delight to work with and is so dedicated to getting the job done,” said Joseph Olopade, a Project Manager who’s known Iglio for over four years. “The way she checks in with her team, not just on a logistical level but personally, carries a lot of weight.
“On a project in Southern California, I was an onsite APM and Lauren was the SPM on the project based out of the Jacksonville office. Due to several unforeseen issues including the loss of a critical field team member, the project was in jeopardy and required a heavy push by the field team. Recognizing the needs and additional stress on the field team, Lauren volunteered to relocate to the job site in California to not only support the needs of the field team but also to make sure each team member was managing stress and avoiding burnout. That was several years ago, and she still checks on me occasionally and offers help if I ever need it.”
Defined by Dedication
A pioneering force in design-build and a longtime leader in integrated delivery, 澳门足彩app has grown to be a leading EPC partner to its many manufacturing clients. Gulden said Iglio has been an active part of this evolution, driving 澳门足彩app’s growth.
Superintendent Eric Wittmann said Iglio developed standards for procuring and installing process equipment.
“We had that before, but she goes above and beyond to help improve standards,” Wittmann said.
Wittmann said Iglio’s strong work ethic and due diligence result in smooth installations in the food and beverage sector because “she catches any errors beforehand,” which helps ensure project success. 澳门足彩app has grown steadily and now has more than 2,500 team members working in 14 countries. But Iglio, ever focused on the details of success, said it was critical that the company maintain its core values of Team, Excellence, Service and Trust.
“When we complete a project, it is leaving behind a product that our clients are going to have for many years to come,” she said. “If I could help drive anything as we evolve, it would be to not lose sight of where we came from and the values that got us here, no matter how big or fast we grow.”
At 澳门足彩app, we take our clients’ goals as our own. We innovate constantly to ensure that we deliver world-class solutions with the best possible effectiveness, efficiency and performance. Contact us to discuss your facilities needs.
