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The Smart Agency presents GlobeSt Women of Influence.
Jenn Quader (00:08)
What does it take to build something that lasts? Not just a building, but a team, a market presence and a legacy inside one of the most demanding and deadline driven industries in the world. Today's guest on the Smart Agency Presents Globe Streets Women of Influence podcast has spent her career answering just that question.
She is Kelly Cantley. Senior vice president at Bozzuto Construction Company, which is one of the most respected names in multifamily, mixed use, senior living, and affordable housing construction with more than 62,000 homes and apartments built since 1988. They are recognized as an ENR Top 400 contractor, and Bozzuto has operations on the East Coast and as of this year, Texas, which we'll talk a little bit about today.
Kelly herself is a Women of Influence honoree. She is a champion for women in construction and leadership. And she's a living example that you can rise to the very top of a field and helped to reshape it from the inside. We are so honored to have you, Kelly Cantley, welcome.
Kelly Cantley (01:11)
⁓ Your enthusiasm is amazing. Thank you, Jen. That was nice. Like thank you for all those kind words too, especially about Bozzuto We're very proud and I appreciate that. Thank you.
Jenn Quader (01:24)
Well, you have something to be proud of. what does make you most proud as you sit in this seat today? All the things Bozzuto has been doing. What makes you feel so proud to hold this seat and be where you are?
Kelly Cantley (01:35)
You know, it's probably part of the conclusion that will hit as well. You know, being at Bozzuto for 15 years and being in the industry of construction for 15, I look at the amount of women that I've seen come into Bozzuto construction and succeed and grow. I think that's what I get most excited about and I'm most proud of. But really, at the end of the day, you know, our mission is to provide sanctuary. everyone deserves a safe Place to live.
taking it a step further it's a safe Place to work too and so being part of growing our construction arm and being part of the bigger group that we're associated with and just having that top of mind that's what I'm most proud of for sure.
Jenn Quader (02:18)
Kelly, it makes so much sense. And when you talk about building a sanctuary, mean, certainly those of us in the housing and the commercial real estate industry, we understand at end user that you're trying to build that. But I love that you also equated that to your own team, because a lot of what you've done as senior vice president is you've built this company from the inside out. I want to say really quickly for those who are listening that Kelly is going to be on the stage the Globe Street Women of Influence Conference in
Denver, Colorado, that's coming up July 13th and 14th. So I want to peek into that as we talk about how you not only build these sanctuaries, but create a sanctuary environment for your team. One of the things that I noted is that you guys just entered Texas. So ⁓ woohoo! So the Marianne I read about is a 294,000 square foot senior living community. It's in Dallas. And I see that it mix of independent living and assisted living and memory care.
Kelly Cantley (02:58)
Yeah.
Jenn Quader (03:11)
What I want to ask you about is how do you do that? How do you stand up a new construction team? You have a company that already has like very high quality expectations. How do you meet quality? How do you field that team? How do you build trust? How do you take on that kind of assignment as Bozzuto entering Texas?
Kelly Cantley (03:30)
Well, to say it simply, it's not easy at all.
And I say that because part of my job responsibility is our pipeline. And I have experienced taking us into new markets such as the New England area. We're in Boston, we're in Connecticut. We've been in Pennsylvania but still needing to grow and stabilize. So branching into Texas was not a light decision. We wanted to do a smart way that took our Coulter and was able to transplant it with the right local team. So when you're expanding into a new market, especially with construction
It's almost like it's three pronged approach. You need the right field team on your construction staff. You need the right partner from a client perspective. And then you need your subcontractor and your trade partners, right? any of those working properly, you will not succeed. So our staffings, I'll take the first one.
having a local presence and we had the opportunity to know someone that had been in the market for 20 some years that we had a similar, we'll say leadership style that was willing to help us grow down there and open that office. So that was a win. And then with him came another team of project managers and superintendents. So having local people already that knew was amazing.
So it's very important that we use a hybrid approach where we have local individuals that know the sub-market, that know the jurisdictional requirements, but we want to match them up with a peer mentor, someone from our headquarters, that can help them navigate our SOPs, standard operating procedures, or anything else that is a nuance to the way we do business. So that seemed to be very successful. And so then, let's take it to the client element.
South Bay as our client and we were fortunate enough that they had this project which they allowed us to competitively bid So we competed against four local contractors which was a big deal that we I mean, right? Like how exciting. But I believe strongly that our pre-construction and really truly Bozzuto Construction
Jenn Quader (05:30)
Yeah, coming from out of town and you win.
Kelly Cantley (05:38)
Building anything with a pillow is what we say. That is all we do. So we were up against other contractors that were diversified in maybe their product type. But our ability to understand this type of product, we had built for this client before, so they trusted us. It was a win-win. So we were thrilled. I mean, and we broke ground right for the holiday, and it's going just like every other construction project, always a tough, let me tell you, a fun day. But we have the right team, and we have the right client.
and then the trade partners as well. So that's the third element. You need to have the right...
actual individuals doing the work that you can build a office with, So we start those meetings really early. ⁓ Branching into any new market, you need to meet their leadership, meet their foremen, meet the individuals that you're going be working with, and let them understand what we're all about, what are our processes. And I think that that's a unique differentiator for us that we've done in the past. Subs are like, nobody ever likes to come to our office and actually have a meeting. that has helped
really get a strong response to our bid process and start off on a strong foot.
Jenn Quader (06:49)
You know, it makes a lot of sense because in my history in commercial real estate, and I've been in it for maybe a little over 15 years, I feel like what I've seen is what I'd call kind of the institutionalization of the asset class. So it went from more regional owners, operators, to these more institutionalized investment vehicles that are responsible for larger portfolios. So what I'm hearing in what you're talking about is you've been able to quote unquote pivot from, hey, we started in these areas where we'd already worked, but now...
we're gonna leverage existing relationships and we're gonna lean in and help these now institutional investment platforms go where they need to go. So How much infrastructure are you laying down quote unquote as you go into this stuff?
Kelly Cantley (07:25)
That's right.
Thank you.
So infrastructure from a physical perspective is one thing. Yes, yes.
Jenn Quader (07:34)
From, yeah, and I'm
meaning a meta, and let me clarify, because you're right, in construction we can't say that. I'm not even saying, let's not get into MEP and structural, but more, how are you laying the business framework? Let's use the framework, or what's the runway? That's a better word, is that absolutely right?
Kelly Cantley (07:39)
Yeah.
What's my runway?
That's right.
So some runways are longer than others. In the case of Texas, it's my shortest runway I've ever had. And it was just, I hope I can replicate that if I go into another market. But basically, in May, we made the decision we're going to go. This is just six months ago, or really eight months at this point. six months before we broke ground. So having the local team ready to go that we hired.
And then a client that trusted us, an architect that was fantastic. Like it was a really great recipe, really was. And our pre-con manager had also worked with this client. So he was able to quickly understand what is a client like? What don't they like? How can we make sure the numbers a full court press and we were able to break ground within six months. So it was a shorter runway. There have been longer runways though, Jen.
Jenn Quader (08:40)
Listen, I understand
and it is important because everybody does need to know it's hard but at the same time I hope that you had cake, champagne, a bubble bath, like something because that's huge.
Kelly Cantley (08:44)
Bye!
⁓ we definitely, that's
one thing, everything's bigger in Texas and they definitely celebrate well. we did.
Jenn Quader (08:59)
Nice. I love it.
Well, and beyond navigating new markets, quite varied in your product. I like that you said we build anything with a pillow. And so you're you're hitting a lot of those sectors. One of the other projects I read about is a Coulter Place, and that's in Pennsylvania. I read that it's 131 units, it's LEED gold, and it's inside one of the country's first open air shopping centers. Tell me about that. Tell me a little bit about that project.
Kelly Cantley (09:06)
it.
Yes.
I mean, the project is fantastic. So it is actually with our development company and partnership with Kimco. And this is not our first job together. So they own that area. And I just think the product is gorgeous. I don't know if you ever get an opportunity to go there and see it, but they've done such a fantastic job. But this is another runway there. So each project has its own runway. We're working in partnership with our management company as well. So it's kind of four pronged.
Jenn Quader (09:30)
Okay.
Kelly Cantley (09:51)
partnership group, hit and repeat to some degree, but really understanding what the area needs and then designing accordingly. So it's been a fun project. is going to be just, I think, hugely successful in that area. But I think you had some questions really just about like our role and LEED, I believe you were talking about that prior.
Jenn Quader (10:11)
Well, yes, and
I'm interested in I'm interested in kind of this is maybe where I'll nail down to more what I was saying about infrastructure, which is when you come in, I think it's a it's a constrained site. think I read it was one point six, nine acres and it's residential on top of active retail. how are you coordinating the MEP, the structural? How are you doing that? And then also, what does it take to be building at a LEED gold level right now, especially in current?
Kelly Cantley (10:19)
Yeah.
very, very cool.
Jenn Quader (10:37)
conditions when everything's moving all around, what does that look like on the ground?
Kelly Cantley (10:42)
the sequencing of operations I think is the first thing. And we decide that very early on in partnership with our client, like what are your goals, where, you know, which units need to be delivered first. And when you say over active retail, ideally we are turning over the amenity space with those first units. So all the construction noise is happening and I think in this particular case they started from the west wing, that west side of the building. So that we're delivering the units and people aren't living over construction. So we're trying to do all
that
together. And then you work your way to the rest of the building and we try to stay as quiet as possible when we're doing construction while people are living there. But the retail spaces do at times remain vacant for a little bit longer than we want. So you have the amenity, which is your clubhouse and all the fun things that we have in the apartment element itself. But then you have the retail, whether it's a restaurant, it could be a grocer, ⁓ several of those. So ideally they come online with us.
But if they trail a bit, we do try to put as much into place, whether, you we call it a warm lit shell, so there's lighting, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing elements, major parts are in there. But you will have a little bit of noise that we try to mitigate with that, with work hours and whatnot. So coordination is paramount when you have such complicated systems. And we have an in-house virtual design coordination as well as scheduler.
all of that early up front with our trade partners at the table to determine, you know, where is everything going to fit? It's a lot of equipment that has to go in. And so we do that in that 3D element so we can see it live before we get into the actual building and start installing it. So that's an important aspect that I think we bring
Jenn Quader (12:29)
Yeah, because you're talking about really technology as it meets early collaboration and I'm aware that those in construction and architecture You even before the AI boom you all were using 3d modeling and those types of things now it's a good segue to the topic on everyone's mind and Your CEO Toby Bozzuto was recently quoted in multifamily executive and his quote about AI was that it should be high touch and high tech
So he's saying it should enhance service rather than replacing people. And I this is a huge topic in construction. from where you sit where do you think technology is actually moving the needle for Bozzuto , both for your clients and also for your team?
Kelly Cantley (13:11)
That's a great question. So I'll focus first on construction and how.
we're approaching the whole technology and AI demand. And then I'll touch a little bit on our management company because they do indeed kind of what Toby said, it's very critical, the human element is still very important. So as far as construction goes, yeah, we are seeing...
some helpful tools as it pertains to pre-construction, scheduling, and there's some operational elements that I can talk through. But in pre-construction, for example, take-offs, instead of us sitting there clicking and measuring, being able to just put it into a program that will spit out all the elements that we might need. That's one. We have a scheduling tool that is able to quickly analyze, because these schedules are thousands of activities on them, pages and pages, and can pull out where they think
It's like predictive measures, like what could there be an issue? You might run into this problem. And then really giving you a view of what's going on with your project in quick order instead of the human going in and really studying everything. Safety, we've had great success with a program called Site Metrics. it can follow the flow of your workers on sites. You understand really like productivity measures.
quicker, so definitely truly from a safety perspective, you know what's going on. So those are really where the main ones are, but drones, scanning, we do a lot of adaptive reuse, so scanning an interior existing building and making sure that that overlays properly with your BIM model, where you're understanding that can things really fit in this building. So we're using it a lot, but I will say,
I get a call probably every other day from a vendor that has a new tool. And so we formed up an AI committee to really truly start to vet these further. We think there's still more tools out there. But if it doesn't help me by saving time, it doesn't help me prevent risk, if it's not making me more efficient, then I'm not going to waste my time with it. I mean, we're still sticking bricks on a wall. We're construction, right?
we need to not get distracted because that can happen. And really, truly, a lot of this is driven by data. And I think that's the number one challenge you're going to see in any type of tool. It's only as good as the data you have. So do you have that cleaned up properly? What are your protocols? So we have a governance committee for that now. And it's really truly to make sure we're trying to be as diligent as we can so when we do have these overlays, it's pulling the right information.
Jenn Quader (15:49)
So important and again what you're speaking to is that wide lens view of how to look at AI in a way that's not reactive, but instead, as I'm hearing, you're using it in many places, but filtering it through the lens of the AI committee, the governance committee, you're keeping people safe. Again, I like that you said not being distracted because there's such a focus on that. So it sounds like you have so much in Place, I think, to both make sure that you are innovating and using these tools.
but then also to be sure that the good homegrown relationships and work that Bozzuto is known for is there. So I kind of want to go into the people. And we actually talked off camera before we started the conversation about people and the people coming into our industry. And on July 13th and 14th, you'll be up on the stage at Globe Street Women of Influence, and there'll be people there who are running companies sitting in the C-suite, but there'll also be a lot of people who are growing their career and trying to find their footing and their place. And so...
Kelly Cantley (16:31)
Thank
Jenn Quader (16:45)
I want to know as you look at the people in this industry and specifically those women who are going to sit in the room at Globe Street Women of Influence, what do they need to know about what you see that's ahead? What's coming in technology and operations in culture? What's coming that they should know about? And then also you can go ahead and tell us what's coming for Bozzuto that we need to know about.
Kelly Cantley (17:07)
Toby said it best.
these AI and these technologies that are coming into play should help reduce the friction and the process, but they should not replace the human interaction. And I think as we start to get bogged down and people get distracted so easily with so much technology, the need for that human interaction is gonna be even more important. And so ⁓ that's a big philosophy that Toby has. I know you said it earlier and I just wanted to echo that I agree with that. People that can effectively figure this out are gonna do great.
philosophy.
Jenn Quader (17:39)
Well, and
I'll continue that just for, but it's not just Toby. know that sounds like something he's leading, but it's also you, Kelly. Like I think you're an adjunct professor for young talent. Like I think, you know, so you too are committed to the people. Can you talk a little bit about that?
Kelly Cantley (17:56)
I'm really, really excited. So Loyola, Maryland.
just got approved a construction management degree program. So I've been on the real estate advisory committee for a while to just kind of help them figure this out because there's a shortage of individuals wanting to go into construction. And how do we make sure that we have the schools available with those programs? And Maryland has like maybe one other school here that provides construction management degrees. So I love it. And I will say that when I first did it, a lot of folks were, ⁓ are you going to do this virtually? And I'm like, no, I want to be in person. I want to interact with people.
and I want to make sure that they have the support they need and how do you do that you know when we're never in the same room so it's been wonderful I just love the energy of our next wave our next generation our future that's going to be running our companies and our construction projects so it's been great thanks for asking
Jenn Quader (18:48)
Of course, and that's a Place that's
really close to my heart as well. think all of us that have been in the industry for, you know, 15, 20 years, we've seen not only, and again, I was just at a pension real estate association and somebody said, man, there are so many more women here than there were 10 years ago, and that is something to celebrate, yes. And equally, there's plenty more to go. There's plenty more that we need to do, and we know that we have challenges in this country as far as getting people to understand.
Kelly Cantley (19:05)
I agree.
Jenn Quader (19:15)
not only that we are doing good work, that we're not in a capitalist bubble, but also that we bring a skill that can help for life. So ⁓ I would like to ask, as we now get ready to take the stage at Globe Street, you've painted a cool story for me, Kelly, that I can really see, which is that Bozzuto , and tell me if I've got this right, but you seem to have a really nice mix or balance of...
the AI forward, which is using that where it's needed in a focused way, and then a really human forward that I see in not only you going in person to teach kids, to teach students, I should say, but also having those meetings with your trade partners in person in Dallas. just getting boots on the ground to be there, mixing that with a forward AI looking technology. So I guess I wanna ask,
We're chatting with people who are deciding if they're going to come in July. And of course, I'd like them to come. I'd like them to buy a ticket. But what...
Kelly Cantley (20:13)
I agree and
it's a blast. I just love it. This is my like sixth year. It's been our fifth year I believe. How many years we've had it. It's wonderful. They do a great job.
Jenn Quader (20:22)
So
why should people come? If you were, and again, you don't have to do a sale, like what's your advice and or your suggestion to people who might be thinking about coming? What will they get out of this event?
Kelly Cantley (20:34)
My biggest takeaway from the conference is a wonderful balance between actual content related to our industry.
It's not just a bunch of professional development topics. It's a good 50-50. And we need both. And to share experiences, whether it's about how to run a construction crew or how to manage up, it's all there. And they do it so wonderfully. And the women are so passionate. I love being on this board because it's just motivating in itself. Because it's everyone trying to really come together with the right content so that the conference is a huge success and people
continue to come back. And I think we've grown over the years as well. It's been very, very exciting.
Jenn Quader (21:18)
It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing that energy. Kelly, thank you for sharing your insights. You are leader who has inspired and who is inspirational, and you're someone that I very much look up to. So thank you very much. Can you let anyone who's watching know where could they find you and where can they learn more about Bozzuto ?
Kelly Cantley (21:34)
Bozzuto.com and my information is definitely on the website. Again, we're one of several companies within the group, and I sit in our construction company and I'm very, very proud, very proud, and thank you for having me today.
Jenn Quader (21:49)
Kelly.
Thank you so much. It has been an absolute honor to have you. We cannot wait to celebrate you and for all of you out there listening, we look forward to seeing you in Denver on July 13th to 14th. We hope you will get your tickets today and use the discount code. Globe Street Women of Influence is the singular national networking, professional development and team building event in commercial real estate. Companies from all over the world send representatives to this two day event to gain deeper insights, make valuable connections and cultivate new ideas that bring innovation.
growth and deal flow. We'll see you there.