On any given day, Asia Saforo is one of the go-to people that the REDCOM Design & Construction team count on. On any given day, Saforo is called on to coordinate each component of a project to deliver it on time and on budget. As one of its Project Managers, that includes creating project schedules and coordinating between the project personnel and owners to meet project goals.
With more than a decade of experience, including seven at REDCOM, Safora’s background includes time as an Assistant PM, where she worked as a designer for Shane Patrick Construction. Today, she spends her time working with the award winning, full-service commercial architectural design, engineering and construction company operating in and around the New Jersey area.
Here’s a snapshot of her journey from drawing behind a desk all day to becoming a major part of what it takes to succeed out in the field.
Tell us your story. How did you get started in the industry?
I got my Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Interior Architecture. After receiving my Masters, I worked in an internship and then at a few architecture firms. Eventually, I was a little bored with sitting behind a desk and drawing all day. I wanted more diversity in what I was doing and liked going out in the field.
I landed a job as an assistant project manager in Pennsylvania where I lived and fell in love with it. I started to gain more knowledge about the industry and how things work together, and gained a deeper perspective of the industry. I stuck with the role and have been working as a project manager for almost a decade.
What are some of the biggest changes you have seen over the past couple of years?
Software and automation. Within the last decade or so, we have gotten a lot better with accounting software, software that keeps track of the project in general, and bidding.
When I started, a lot more paperwork was involved. Now everything is more tech savvy and online, which has streamlined how we work quite a bit.
What opportunities are out there for the industry as we move forward?
The sky’s the limit. A woman can be in the field. She can work as a subcontractor. She can work in the office as a manager. She can work in estimating. She can work in architecture and design. There really are no limits.
What type of trends are you seeing today?
I’m seeing a lot of mixed-use buildings.
What advice can you share?
Whether you are a man or a woman, don’t take crap from anybody. As a woman in this industry, it is easy to be dismissed. Stand your ground, be confident in what you know, and keep moving forward. Don’t let anyone discourage you.
Also, if there are certifications out there—a management certification or OSHA certification—go for it and keep expanding your knowledge in the field and your exposure.
What’s the single best thing every woman can do to make sure they continue to get a seat at the table?
Keep showing up and keep making your voice heard. That’s the best thing you can do.
What’s the biggest item on your to-do list?
Everything, literally everything.
