Juno Celebrates Women in Construction Week
Juno proudly celebrates the 25th anniversary of Women in Construction Week. This year’s theme, Many Paths, One Mission, has inspired us to share the stories and journeys of some of the women building Juno.
Jen Canchola, Head of Development
Jen Canchola was not initially headed on a career path in construction when she found herself working part-time at a construction company on a jobsite filing RFIs and submittals. She quickly fell in love with the building process — and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get to wear jeans and a polo shirt to work.
For those interested in pursuing a similar career path, Jen says, “Be curious and try out different roles. The more you understand different perspectives around the same subject the easier you will find your niche and value add to the industry.”
As Head of Development at Juno, Jen loves helping others find their own passion. “I’m the type of person who is more excited to come to work on Monday than leave on Friday. When you surround yourself with a team — including external consultants who share the same passion for what we do every day — it makes the impossible possible because it’s not just a job.
For more than 20 years, 90% of the time I was the only woman in the room. I am proud to continue to mentor other women to be brave and take chances with their careers. If I could go from filing RFIs in a job trailer (with a fax machine by the way) to the Head of Development responsible for leading an organization with multiple projects all the way from its initial concept to its completed operations once constructed, any woman can do it.
What are you most excited about, when it comes to the future of construction?
We have been one of the last industries to adopt technology to its fullest extent. I’m excited to see more women enter the industry and be the leaders we need to drive the change we want and need to see. The sky’s the limit, literally.
Why did you choose Juno?
I have spent almost my entire career building multi-unit product from hotels, apartments, and condos to student housing. Juno is innovating in a market sector that is repeatable and is ripe to adopt a new way of thinking. Why recreate the wheel every time when you have something worth repeating? Additionally, we have to change the way we build. Componentized building is one way to work smarter as labor resources are dwindling, so we can meet the demand for housing in this country.
Lily Huang, Director of Product
As a child, Lily Huang often accompanied her father on weekends to renovate their house and rental properties and found she had strong opinions on the design aspects of building. Lily shared, “After butting heads with my father on some issues, he finally let me design a basement unit from start to finish. It was an amazing experience to come up with sketches and work with my dad, side by side in bringing the sketch to reality. I was hooked on the experience.”
Lily discovered drafting courses in high school and went on to study architecture at the University of Toronto as a field of study that combined her strengths: art and math It was through the modernist writings of Kenneth Frampton, Aldo Rossi, and John Hedjuk that she came to believe that architecture represents an inherently optimistic future. “You have to believe in the future to build for that future and often within that one can embed a vision of a better future in that design.”
Now a Director of Product at Juno, Lily is most motivated by having an impact on cities and housing. She joined Juno because she believes, “mass timber and prefabricated building systems have the potential to catalyze a design and engineering movement that will define how buildings are constructed in the next half-century.”
Describe your path after graduation.
I had the privilege of working at KPMB Architects in Toronto on a variety of projects spanning the scale from large urban design projects to mixed-use institutional buildings, to commercial fit-ups. I matured as an architect and learned in many tangible ways that architecture is much more than just art and math. Good design is problem-solving and architects wear many hats — as facilitators, advocates, entrepreneurs, project and product managers, and user researchers — to name a few.
After KPMB, I had the opportunity to work on the Sidewalk Toronto project, which was envisioned as an inclusive urban development and the world’s first mass timber, net zero neighborhood. Sidewalk Toronto showed me the power of ideas. Even though the project was not realized, I am excited by many other companies like Juno charting their own path to change the way we build in cities.
What advice do you have for others interested in a similar path/career?
Find your voice and get to the table. Being an Asian woman in construction where I am often the only female in the room — and at times, the youngest — was initially a challenge. I have come to realize that being different can be a superpower. How we define problems can frame better solutions. Ensuring diverse representation and inputs throughout the design process leads to not only better solutions but more equitable cities.
Natasha Sadikin, Development Associate
For Natasha Sadikin, finding her way in the construction industry was driven by a curiosity for more answers. It fueled her leap into development, and then to the start-up world, where she took the reins on the development of multi-family projects. She shared, “Being a start-up in an emerging niche industry meant it was necessary to create new processes and standards — which was something I thrived contributing towards.”
What has been a memorable lesson?
As a minority and female in a predominantly male and white industry, I often received feedback that I was too nice, or friendly, to succeed in this industry. I am thankful to a long line of female mentors in the industry who spoke about their own struggles and how they overcame similar situations. It’s their guidance that helped me to never internalize any doubts.
Their inspiration led me to invest time in finding my own voice and developing my own brand. Through this, I discovered that skillsets like communicating and connecting with clients, being empathetic, and understanding people’s interests were in fact the most important skills to have!
My biggest takeaway thus far is that “no” is never a hard no and that nothing can be taken at face value. Instead, it is an opportunity to look beyond the surface, and better understand the reasons why. Once you understand the Why, you can better understand how to influence & navigate around these initially unyielding beliefs.
As I continue my career path, I look forward to all the new “Whys” I will encounter!
What advice do you have for others interested in a similar path/career?
Get involved and learn through mentorship! Whether it be CREW, Urban Land Institute (ULI), SPUR, or any other real estate organization — get involved with their programs and mentorships. My mentors, spanning a wide variety of industries from Law, Brokerage, and Development, to Capital Markets, have nurtured my career progression from architect to developer.
And, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unclear about something — chances are, someone else is also wondering the same thing.
Why did you choose Juno?
In selecting my next company, I was ambitious in my aspirations:
- Good Company Culture
- A Product to be Proud Of
- A Place to Make an Impact
- A Place To Learn
In many ways, Juno has been able to fulfill all of these needs. My time at Juno has solidified the idea that a project can be good for financial investors, good for the community, well-designed, and (most) importantly, also good for the planet.
I am incredibly thankful for Juno’s strong company culture (helmed by BJ Siegel & Jon Scherr — which is receptive to all feedback and does not dawdle when we need to make swift changes within the company.
Paola Vera Dominguez, Supply Chain Manager
Paola Vera Dominguez’s professional journey has included mentors who helped her build a strong foundation in supply chain and guided her as she became passionate about applying it to construction.
“Through hard work and dedication, I was able to gain valuable experience in various aspects of construction, including project management, logistic coordination, and quality control,” Paola said. “Along the way, I have consistently sought out new challenges and opportunities for growth, which has allowed me to expand my skill set and take on new responsibilities.”
What advice do you have for others interested in a similar career?
Remember that pursuing a career in construction as a woman may come with challenges, but it can also be a fulfilling and rewarding career path. By believing in yourself, building your network, gaining experience and education, and embracing diversity, you can pave the way for your success in the field.
What are you most proud of in your career?
One of my proudest achievements has been breaking down barriers and stereotypes in the industry. Being a Mexican woman in a predominantly male-dominated field has presented unique challenges, but I’ve overcome these obstacles through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence.
Why did you choose Juno?
Juno has the potential to change the way that the supply chain works in the construction industry. Our product can change construction while positively influencing the market with a sustainable and repeatable option.
What are you most excited about, when it comes to the future of construction?
The construction industry is currently undergoing a major transformation, driven by technological advancements, sustainability initiatives, and changing societal needs.
What most excites me is the growing emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness in the construction industry, which is driving the development of new materials, techniques, and processes that can reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and promote a more sustainable future.
Kris Beason, Chief Development & Construction Officer
Kris Beason brings 30 years of construction expertise to her role at Juno. Construction careers ran in her family, with a mother who was a project manager and an aunt who was a pipefitter. As she paved her own path, she took initiative and worked through all of the departments within a general contractor, expanding her knowledge of construction.
Over the years Kris has worked on a range of projects — from building a ski lodge at the top of Crystal Mountain (7,000’) to building the Bertschi school (the first fully-certified Living Building in the world), to completing 400,000 sf of demo and heavy build out for Safeco/Liberty Mutual in just six weeks.
Throughout her career, she has been committed to being a champion and catalyst for change and encourages others to take on this commitment as well.
What advice have you carried with you?
My first boss in construction said, “Always look for ways to build a better mousetrap, and hurry every chance you get.” If you always go at a rapid pace, you’re able to try different things, accomplish more tasks and do them more efficiently and effectively. He also said, “don’t let fear hold you back!” This is a rule I live by and recite to others on a regular basis. He was always giving me stretch assignments and growing my confidence along the way. Without him as my champion, I would not have gotten comfortable with being uncomfortable, or making big decisions without all of the pieces of the puzzle.
What makes you proud of working in the construction industry?
The coolest thing about my job is that no two days are alike. You get to work with all kinds of people — tenants, owners, architects, engineers, inspectors, and craftspeople. Every project is different and you are always looking for a better way to build. When I started my career, the percentage of women in construction was only 4%. Today it’s 10.9%, and I see that percentage growing significantly over the next few years.
What are some actions employers can take to attract, retain and support women?
You need to see it to be it for others to make construction their career. There are more construction C-suite women leaders than ever before who are championing pay equity, a sense of belonging in the organization, and support throughout their journey. Outreach to young girls and exposure to the industry and skills needed will also lead to higher numbers of women. I am very happy to say that Juno is 40% women!
There is great momentum in the market surrounding awareness of the need for more women — and better pay for those women — in construction, yet the data is telling us it’s not enough. To achieve parity it will take all of us supporting and promoting other women. Think of how you can make a difference and take action today.
