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I’m an Executive Assistant. I support the two owners, Kevin Buchek and Mike Duffy, with scheduling and day-to-day operations, and I’m also responsible for onboarding, employee engagement, marketing, and event planning.

Roanoke Construction is a mission-driven general contractor focused on affordable housing, community development, and neighborhood revitalization. We specialize in building and renovating multifamily housing, particularly below market rate and senior living projects. Kevin Buchek founded Roanoke because he wanted to increase access to affordable housing and create opportunities for historically marginalized communities. We believe in going above and beyond to hire and empower MBE and WBE subcontractors. We just broke ground on a project in Hazelwood that has almost 60% of contracts with M/WBE firms. And this year, we’re celebrating our company’s ten-year anniversary.

What first sparked your interest about this organization and led you to want to be a member? 

I started my position at Roanoke in March, and I had never worked in the A/E/C industry before. I was introduced to several people in marketing and business development and asked everyone for advice. Each person told me about organizations I should join to help me in my new role, and SMPS was the one organization that everyone recommended.

Now that you are a SMPS member, what are you hoping to gain most through your membership?

I have no prior experience with marketing or business development. So, I’m hoping to learn as much as I can. I think the most rewarding thing for me will be networking and building relationships with people I can go to for advice.

As a member of the AEC industry, what do you find to be the most rewarding part of your position? And the most challenging part too?            

Roanoke focuses on building and renovating affordable housing, so the most rewarding part is knowing that our projects are vital to the communities we’re working in. A couple weeks ago we held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Scott Manor, an independent senior living community we built in North County. One of the residents spoke at the event, and she talked about how difficult it was for her to maintain her house by herself after her husband passed away. She’s lived at Scott for two years now and has built a community there. She told us, “Here, you’re never alone.” That was really wonderful to hear.

The most challenging part right now is allowing myself the time to learn and grow into this position. I keep wishing I could be an expert already.

What led you to your current position?

At the beginning of the year, I was working for Operation Food Search as a database manager. In January, a family friend reached out to let me know there were several open positions at Roanoke, where she was working as a consultant. I had never heard of them, but I trusted her recommendation, so I met with the two executives. Kevin and Mike spoke about being a mission-driven company, and the kind of impact they want to make, not just in the communities they build in, but in the construction industry. I knew it was the right opportunity for me to make a career change and develop new skills while continuing to do mission-driven work.

What’s your most recent obsession?

I love MUNA’s new self-titled album! I love pop music. Anything But Me is my song of the summer.

If you had all the time in the world and could learn to do anything, what would it be?

There’s so much – but glassblowing is probably at the top of my list. It’s been on my mind ever since Chihuly exhibited at the Botanical Gardens when I was a kid.