LEVELING UP WITH THE WOMEN OF SUNDT
Spearheaded by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Women in Construction (WIC) week spotlights contributions of women in the construction industry and how they continue to level up. To celebrate, we’re walking you through a day in the life of two Sundt leaders. Scroll further to discover the many ways you can build your career in construction.
Spearheaded by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Women in Construction (WIC) week spotlights contributions of women in the construction industry and how they continue to level up. To celebrate, we’re walking you through a day in the life of two Sundt leaders. Scroll further to discover the many ways you can build your career in construction.
“SO WHAT IS IT YOU ACTUALLY DO?”
Whether you’re in the field or in the office, every day looks different when you’re working in construction. Follow along with Amy Mitchell, assistant project manager for Sundt’s Phoenix Zoo Veterinary Medical Center project, and Reese Fortin, Southwest district health, safety and environmental manager for Sundt’s Building Group to see where their day takes them.
Finding the right career in construction for you
There are so many ways to build a fulfilling career in construction. From the jobsite to the office, there’s a place for every skill set, background or interest.
BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE
Ariel Goodwin
Heavy equipment operator apprentice
Day-to-day: I’m an operator. I was hired to run a haul truck, but I also operate the roller as well as the water truck.
Since joining Sundt’s workforce, I’ve had the opportunity to run heavy equipment. That’s what I enjoy most about this company; it’s full of opportunities to grow.
What have you leveled up? I never considered construction as a career until my brother convinced me to get my commercial driver’s license. The rest is history. I love dirt work; it feels like home.
Roxana Hernandez
Electrician craftswoman
Day-to-day: As an electrician craftswoman, I’m responsible for installing, maintaining, testing, and repairing electrical equipment.
What have you leveled up? I’m building relationships with colleagues and mentors so that I can soak up the knowledge and expertise they have to share.
Letrisha Tuni
Pipefitter Apprentice
Day-to-day: I work as a foreman on a confidential site, fixing just about anything outside and around the jobsite.
What have you leveled up? I’ve been with a mining project and joined the pipefitting apprenticeship program to grow my career.
BUILD SOLUTIONS
Sherry Theofanides
Assistant Project Manager
Day-to-day: My day-to-day is a mix of coordination, problem-solving and keeping the project moving forward. I regularly review schedules and budgets, always staying proactive. No two days are the same!
What have you leveled up? I was a Sundt intern for two years before joining the company full-time in 2019 and have worked my way up to project manager.
Jennifer Graves
Project Manager
Day-to-day: Every day in construction brings a new challenge and that’s what I love most about it. My role is to support our project team and keep the work moving forward safely on time and within budget.
What have you leveled up? I served in both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq in positions such as task force engineer planner, project officer, and platoon leader in a combat engineer battalion before I came to Sundt.
Mackenzie Brock
Project Engineer
Day-to-day: I spend most of my time in focused estimating work—performing quantity takeoffs, thinking through pour sequences and production rates, and reaching out to align subcontractors.
What have you leveled up? I am currently working on a water treatment plant in Oregon as a project engineer, and I hope to work my way up to becoming a superintendent one day.
BUILD TECH
Leena Patel
Project Controls Manager
Day-to-day: I use data analytics to give Sundt’s self-perform teams real-time insights into project performance and build tech-driven tools that help teams plan smarter, track better and deliver faster.
What have you leveled up? Over time, I learned that real growth comes from ownership: looking beyond my immediate scope, anticipating what teams need, and embracing accountability for outcomes—of not just projects, but people.
Jennyfer Labuff
Director of Data & Application Development, IT
Day-to-day: My day-to-day includes setting priorities, removing roadblocks, collaborating with the business, and making sure what we build creates real value for our projects and employee-owners.
What have you leveled up? I began my career at an architectural firm before I came to Sundt. Now, I ’m the director of Data Engineer and Application Development, and my team is responsible for all data movement, reporting, governance, and development.
Ellie Davis
AI Engineer
Day-to-day: I’m responsible for designing the user interface and experience for our internal AI apps. I aim to design interfaces that look great and are intuitive so our users can get the most out of AI technology.
What have you leveled up? I’ve been able to level up in my career by trying new things and figuring out which skills I excel at. I’m excited to continue to grow at Sundt!
BUILD CONNECTIONS
Angie Rosales
Project Director
Day-to-day: I spend my time meeting with existing and prospective clients and attending conferences focused on the markets we’ve identified for Texas, and forming relationships that help Sundt win work.
What have you leveled up? When I entered the construction industry, I set a clear goal for myself: to level up quickly. That meant going back to school to earn a master’s degree in construction management from the College of Engineering at UTEP, spending time in the field on a UT project.
Holly Horsak
Area Manager
Day-to-day: My day-to-day centers on supporting my teams, driving strong outcomes and connecting with team members. I’m also focused on aligning stakeholders, identifying and addressing project risks early.
What have you leveled up? Growth is no longer just about what I accomplish personally, it’s about the people around me. Watching team members gain confidence, make decisions independently and step into their own leadership is what I’m most proud of.
Ruby Trejo
Senior Proposal Specialist
Day-to-day: I lead proposals that win new transportation projects, collaborating with teams across the country to shape compelling RFQs and RFPs that capture how Sundt will deliver the work.
What have you leveled up? I earned my MBA and worked as a proposal specialist in Texas, but a move to Arizona brought me to Sundt.
BUILD PROCESS
Cindy Laughlin
Document Control Manager
Day-to-day: Managing the submittal, review and approval of shop drawings, material certifications, product data and reports, ensuring everything is timely, accurate, accessible, and aligned with project requirements.
What have you leveled up? I have over 25 years of experience in proposal creation and management. In that position, I helped win a number of transportation projects, which spurred a career shift to my current role.
Ana Hernandez
General Administrative Manager
Day-to-day: I support the Transportation Group’s preconstruction estimating and operation teams, keeping them organized, and also assist with training.
What have you leveled up? Beginning as a laborer and water truck driver, I transitioned to the administrative side as an admin assistant clerk before moving into my current position.
Shelby Ray
Pursuit Program Coordinator
Day-to-day: My days are spent digging through our project data. One minute I’m searching for confidentiality clauses, the next I’m combing through employee resumes for project experience.
What have you leveled up? The Sundt training center holds classes that helped me level up my skills with multiple software we use within the industry, while mentorship within my team has greatly improved my public speaking and event coordination abilities.