Luncheon hosts women transcending gender boundaries
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

PHOTO/ANGELA GREINER (l to r) Tracy A.L. Ingles, Women's Business Council member; Jennie Lee Colosi , president of ETL Corporation; and Cathy Mogavero, executive vice president of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce

Marlborough - Jennie Lee Colosi, the president of ETL Corporation, was the guest speaker at the Nov. 9 Women's Business Council luncheon. The Women's Business Council, a group within the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, invited Colosi to address members about her work in an industry that is not a traditional one for women - construction.

During the event, Colosi recounted some of the trials and triumphs she has faced as president of what is rated as one of the top women-led businesses in the commonwealth.

"It is so exciting to have the blueprints of a bridge and to then to look at it when it is completed and know that you built it," Colosi said.

Telling her story to a group of 20 women gathered at the Embassy Suites Hotel, she explained that after going to a finishing school for the last two years of high school, she opted to study engineering. After getting accepted to all of the engineering schools she applied to, her father said that it was because she was a girl.

She received a degree in civil engineering.

"It was a challenge sitting with male professors who would just look right through you like you were invisible," she said. "Or I would raise my hand with a question and they would ignore me."

She also recapped stories of working with her father, the former owner of ETL, on a construction site during the summer and coming across a foreman that would not even say hello to her.

"You just have to be more patient with them [workers like that]," Colosi said.

She explained that in the end, the foreman commended her for her work. She believes that the way women are viewed has improved significantly over the years.

"I am often the only woman who goes on the tour of the new Caterpillar plant … I don't mind and I don't think the plant minds," she said.

Colosi said she likes to mentor young engineers in the business. Although the number of women entering the field is steadily increasing, Colossi said that there are still not a lot.

"I hate to hear girls say they can't do math," she said.

When Colosi first took over the business in 1989, there were only two women working at the company, herself and a secretary. Now the organization currently employs two female engineers as well as several female heavy equipment operators.

According to Colosi, days in construction often run from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. As a wife and mother of two children, she said that it was tough to juggle work and family.

"I had a lot of help at work and two very good nannies at home," she said.

She gave credit to her large team of loyal employees for her company's success.

"I have one general contractor who has worked with us for 43 years," Colosi said. "Without them [our employees], I would be nothing."

As a supervisor Colosi would sometimes spend Monday through Friday living in hotels at job sites with the crew.

"It makes you a better manager to know what your employees are going through," she said.

She offered three pieces of advice for retaining loyal employees: "Say thank you … Respect your employees … Try to be flexible and work with people."