Women in Construction Spotlight: Emily Douglas

By: Claire Sauer

Every team member is an integral part of L. Keeley’s growth and success. Emily Douglas, Project Coordinator for the Industrial Group works tirelessly every day to ensure that not only the Industrial Group, but L. Keeley as a whole, is running efficiently. Her direct impact on L. Keeley’s success has made her a valuable member of many teams.

Emily joined the L. Keeley family over six years ago as a Billing Assistant in the Accounting Department. By starting out in this role, Emily was able to learn different systems and understand the ins and outs of what it takes to keep business running smoothly. She was soon approached with an opportunity to join the Preconstruction Department which allowed her to gain the knowledge about everything it takes to win a project. Since advancing to Project Coordinator, Emily gets to see a project from inception through completion. This role has allowed Emily to feel empowered in her work through her innovative ideas that she can openly bring to the table to help increase workflow and productivity.

“I love being the go-to person for my group when they have questions or need help finding information. I also help multiple groups in the company since many know that they can count on me to help get them through busy times.”

Before joining L. Keeley, Emily hadn’t thought about a job in the construction industry. The opportunity fell into her lap through a connection and it turned out to be a perfect fit. Today, she can’t picture herself being anywhere else. This transition, however, meant joining a male-dominated industry for the first time. While she can find it challenging at times, Emily does not feel that she is treated any differently than any other team member. She always feels respected and valued, especially having been a part of multiple departments. If she could give one piece of advice to other women starting out in the industry, it would be:

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and learn from your mistakes. In the words of Rusty Keeley, ‘Fail Fast. Fail Often. Fail Forward.’”

Throughout her career and experience across departments, Emily has learned a lot of lessons. If she had to choose just one, she will say that the most important lesson she has learned is to stand up for what she believes in and handle constructive criticism. Emily has seen that when she openly receives constructive criticism, she can take it as an opportunity to grow and continue to better herself. When it comes to the future, Emily is excited to continue her growth.

“My vision for the future is to continue my career journey and make sure that there is no ceiling on my growth at L. Keeley. I want to continue to not only better myself but help better the company as a whole.”

Emily, thank you for your passion and dedication to the growth and success of L. Keeley. We would not be where we are without you!