“For me, construction was kind of an accident,” said Kerri Riggio, superintendent at Suffolk Construction. “I came home from college, and a family friend offered me a job for procurement at an infrastructure company. It was a full-time job, and I was the assistant warehouse manager. I helped with purchasing materials we needed for jobs, making sure our warehouse was stocked with general items we needed.”
Riggio’s introduction to the construction world may have been unplanned, but her passion for the industry was undeniable from the start. Growing up with a father who was a residential contractor, she was familiar with construction in a limited capacity. However, infrastructure—the building blocks of cities—was new to her. “I was very intrigued,” she recalled. “We were creating and building structures, changing the landscape of a city or a town. I had to dive more into what we were doing, all the different project details, asking lots of questions, and then eventually I moved into the field just so I could learn more hands-on.”
Though Riggio initially went to college to study elementary education, her curiosity and drive pulled her into a career that has spanned over 20 years in construction. In her last three years at Suffolk Construction, Kerri has been instrumental in overseeing major projects, bringing her commitment to building stronger communities to life. Reflecting on the changes she’s seen in the industry, she noted, “I think it’s changed a lot, especially when it comes to women and diversity in general. It’s definitely a welcoming change.”
Despite the progress, Riggio acknowledges that challenges remain, especially when it comes to respect. In an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated, earning the respect of peers can require women to put in extra effort. For Riggio, this is a reality not unique to construction but one shared across many industries.
She explains that for her, building relationships with individuals in the field has been key to earning that respect. “It’s like a game,” Riggio said. “I get to know a little bit about them. I ask about their work. You gain a work friendship, and that helps a lot in gaining their respect, being a woman in this business.” These relationships, built on mutual respect and understanding, have helped her navigate the complexities of the field. But Riggio thinks the unconscious gender bias — that the construction industry has traditionally been a man’s industry — can be a struggle. “I think they always just steer that way, but I do see a change. I don’t think it’s always going to be like this. It’s definitely changed a lot, and it’s going to continue.”
Of the many projects Riggio has worked on throughout her career, one in particular stands out — the affordable senior living housing project in the Bronx. “I started on the project when we were still putting the building up, and I worked through the punch list,” she said. The punch list is the stage in a construction project when every detail, from chipped paint to faulty fixtures, is checked and corrected. It’s a tedious but crucial process, and Riggio was there through it all.
But this project became about more than just bricks and mortar. As the senior citizens began moving into their new homes, many coming from homeless shelters, the project took on a deeper meaning. “The senior citizens started moving in, and they were so grateful,” Riggio recalled. “Some even hugged me, thanking me for giving them a new home.” The experience left a lasting impression on her.
While Riggio has accomplished a great deal in her 20 years in the industry, she remains driven by her passion for construction and her commitment to building a more inclusive environment for future generations. She believes that the industry is changing for the better and that women have a bright future in construction.
