Name: Andrea Mesis-Bruno

Title: President

Company Name: D&A Construction Advisors LLC

What advice would you offer to other women getting into the construction industry?
Exercise extreme caution when calling upon property managers within your network. Acknowledge your genuine gratitude for the value that each of these resources have contributed to the deals that are generated once you apply your sweat equity. It’s important in the construction industry to be mindful and non-transactional with the people that are part of your network because it will bear fruit in the long run. Working alongside other women without competition is truly the deciding factor between being just another “woman in construction,” using adversity to your advantage or being a true leader that actually helps real women in their fields without competition.

Why should women consider a career in construction?
Even though I am known as a CRE construction deal-maker I cannot take credit for 90% of the construction projects I’ve sold on behalf of the contractors I represent. I have been lucky enough to work with some of the most influential real estate developers and landlords that are the driving force behind the scenes facilitating every bit of my success. They are amazing and genuine friends who have worked their way up the ladder in this tight-knit industry and they have opened doors to get me my seat at the table to ensure my business’s success.

Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you?
You’d be surprised how frequently I call upon the great leaders that I have worked with over the years. The most notable continues to be, Michael Rodriguez, CEO of Alliance Building Services. He continues to guide me through the intricacies of the real estate industry and its service providers. He has been a true leader and mentor to me while working with him at Alliance and countless times since. I can’t thank him enough for all of the mistakes that he allowed me to make as I grew in my career.