2018 Women in Real Estate and Construction Services: Andrea Mancino, Bright Power

Name: Andrea Mancino

Title: Director of New Construction

Company Name: Bright Power 

Years in your current field: 6

What professional organizations or associations are you a member of? GreenHomeNYC, Women in Construction, The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Certified Building Commissioning Professional, LEED Green Rater 

What was your most notable project 2017?

I’m incredibly proud to be working on MLK Plaza, an affordable housing development in the Bronx. Not only is Radson Development going above and beyond in making the property incredibly energy efficient, but they are also choosing sustainable, high quality materials that are aesthetically comparable to those in luxury buildings. It’s raising the bar in the quality of affordable housing projects. I think Dan Rad, principal of Radson Development, said it best at the groundbreaking, “This project demonstrates how low-income residents can also have access to a beautiful, modern, and stylish building that operates efficiently and sustainably.”

What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2017? 

I was promoted to the director of new construction! I started as an existing buildings intern years ago when we started getting requests from clients to perform Enterprise Green Communities consulting for ground-up new construction and rehabilitation projects. Two of us decided to do whatever it took to meet our clients’ needs. We managed to grow a team to 10 employees (expected to double this year) with hundreds of rehabs new construction projects in progress or completed. It’s been amazing to see our team grow, take on new services, and become an integral component of the design and construction process. 

If you have had a mentor in your career, who was it and what did they teach you? 

Andy Padian helped me break into the city’s energy efficiency network. He taught me the complex art of networking and to always stay humble. Most importantly, he taught me the value of paying it forward throughout my career. I make it a priority to mentor and teach others in the field, especially other women. 

What trends are you seeing so far this year in your field? 

There’s a big push towards Passive House and high performance design. It makes sense - there are significant long-term benefits like reduced operations costs and increased tenant comfort. NYC energy code is also becoming more stringent on efficiency with each iteration, moving towards passive house as a mandate in the near future! 

When I am not working I am…

Spending as much time outside, enjoying day trips around the Greater New York area, and taking in nature. It’s a nice compliment to the time I get to spend on construction sites during the week.