2018 Women in Real Estate and Construction Services: Lauren Novellano, EW Howell Construction Group

Name: Lauren Novellano

Title: Assistant Project Manager

Company Name: EW Howell Construction Group

Years in your current field: 8.5

What professional organizations or associations are you a member of? US Green Building Council

What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2017? 

Completing working on several retail projects on Long Island (Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Goods, Target Express in Port Washington, NY and now the new Blue Point Brewery in Patchogue) Though my greatest achievement this year was having my first baby! I am maintaining this new work/life balance. It’s something a lot of people don’t talk about, especially in the construction industry, but it’s an important topic.

What was your most notable project 2017? 

For me the most notable project was completing the Target Express store in Port Washington, NY. The schedule was accelerated and while it wasn’t our first Target, it was the first of this new format. Typical Target stores we’ve done in the past were all new buildings, where you had control over all the systems and geometry of the building. With the new flexible-format approach, Target is occupying existing buildings and tenant spaces, and each project becomes a custom design, adapting its smaller stores to the constraints of the space and lease requirements.

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

My father was a general superintendent for E.W. Howell, with the company for 37 years, and he was the reason I decided to get into the construction industry. He taught me to work hard, be honest and always be respectful of others’ opinions, even when you don’t agree.

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

In the retail division, we’re definitely seeing a trend towards major retailers moving to smaller format stores to get into different neighborhoods, and adapt to the online shopping trends.

When I am not working I am…

Spending time with my seven-month-old daughter and family!