20-Year Veteran Cynthia Rivera to Manage Grand Hampton Community

Cynthia Rivera is a special kind of person.  She has established her credibility in what many people would consider a male-dominated profession - the construction industry.  And while today it might not be all that surprising to find a female managing the construction of a home, 20 years ago, it was certainly not the norm.  

Cynthia, who recently joined the Tampa Bay Division of William Ryan Homes to manage construction activities its Grand Hampton Community off County Line Road, just east of Interstate 75, is a trailblazer in the construction industry.  She graduated from the University of Florida in 1990 with a degree in design from the College of Architecture.  She quickly landed her first job at BC Environmental in Tampa where she worked with the company president on bids and project management.  Her first job in homebuilding came with local luxury home builder Hannah Bartoletta Homes and she gained additional experience locally with big builders such as Morrison Homes and Standard Pacific.

"I really never thought about the male-female thing," Cynthia said.  "I found that I had a passion for finding ways to build things better.  Once I was given the opportunity, my passion turned into my career," she said.  

Chris Nies who oversees the home building operations at William Ryan Homes says Cynthia is a great addition to the company.  " She has experience, she’s very organized and she’s not shy about recommending ways to improve our homes.  Those are the kind of qualities we look for in our team member,"  Chris said.  

If you ask Cynthia about the "male-female thing"  she will admit that there have been times in her career when she was "tested"  by some of her male counterparts.  "Construction historically has been a male dominated profession and you have to show some men you're willing to work as hard and be as tough as they are,"  she said.  "But once you prove yourself, your just another part of the team," she added.

Now, 20 years later, people like Cynthia get credit for having blazed the trail for women in construction.  In fact, there’s a national organization by that name.   What advice would Cynthia give to women thinking about a career in the construction industry?  She readily ticks off a few suggestions:

• Let your passion be your guide.  Don't be intimidated by anyone who questions your ambition.
• Never stop learning.  Keep your eyes and ears open and pay close attention to the industry veterans.  They will accelerate your learning curve.
• Know what you're talking about.  If you make a suggestion, make sure you can back it up with the facts and the numbers.  It will earn you credibility with your peers.
• Listen to your customers.  "That’s where I get a lot of good ideas.  Be open minded and accept their input."
• Be willing to take on the jobs nobody wants.  " If it's a challenge, that’s where the real learning happens."

Today you will most likely find Cynthia practicing what she preaches - managing a wide range of construction subcontractors at William Ryan Homes' Grand Hampton community. " The job is a little easier than it was in 2006," Cynthia admits.  " The contractors that we’re hiring today are the survivors, which means they know how to do things right.  Five years ago, I felt like a babysitter, making sure everyone was playing together nicely."   She pauses for a moment and smiles.  "Babysitter.  Don't assume that was just a girl thing."  

William Ryan Homes is a family-owned company that was founded in 1992.  Since then, the company has served more than 7,000 satisfied homebuyers in four states and several metropolitan markets including Chicago, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Tampa, and Dallas/Ft. Worth.  For more information visit williamryanhomes.com or call 813-627-9040.