Catherine Wang, A-Z Fire Alarm Inc.

Name: Catherine Wang

Title: Chief Operating Officer

Company Name: A-Z Fire Alarm Inc. (COO) / AZ Miami Fire Inc. (CEO)

List 2-3 real estate associations or organizations that you are currently a member of:

• PWC (Professional Women in Construction)
• WBC (Women Builders Council)
• NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction).

Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career?

I’ve had a few mentors over the course of my career, but the mentor with the greatest impact is my father. He’s been in real estate/construction for 40+ years and I can attribute much of my excitement around the industry to him. Growing up we looked at real estate on almost every family vacation and that played a large part in my interest in my high school internships and post college career. The most valuable thing I learned from him is the importance of relationships and a strong work ethic. Being taught to treat the intern with the same respect as the CEO is something I bring to the office every day. You never know who or what someone else knows—every conversation and interaction provides an opportunity to learn something new.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?

Project wise, I’m incredibly proud of the Hive42/43 redevelopment we recently completed. We had a large scope of work there—completing the fire alarm, security and ARCS aspects of the job. I also received my Alarm Systems I Contractor license for Florida and am looking forward to our company’s growth and expansion to the South Florida market.

How do you contribute to your community or your profession?

Responsiveness and integrity. When I started in A/E/C industry, coming from the ownership side, I knew that a common frustration was the lack of responsiveness and sense of urgency. It takes 10 seconds to respond to an email, call, or text from a client. Even if you don’t have an immediate solution, letting your client know that you understand the issue and will address it as soon as possible makes a huge difference. Re: integrity -- making sure to act in your client’s best interest, even if it isn’t always your own. I make a conscious effort to do that every day and it has an incredibly positive impact on client retention and new business development.

What led you to your current profession?

I started my career in real estate private equity and found myself drawn to the development deals. The ground up construction of a building really piqued my interest. So, when an opportunity to get involved as a subcontractor presented itself, I jumped on it.

Top three things on your bucket list:

Scuba dive the Galapagos; flip a house; and get another degree

Favorite quote:

“Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.” –Winston Churchill