Sitting down with Skanska’s 2023 ENR Top Young Professionals

Maura Fox, Project Manager
ENR Mid-Atlantic

Can you tell me about your path to joining the construction industry?

I wasn’t born into a construction family like many people in the industry. My dad taught high school accounting and my mom was a paralegal, both of which I think play to my strengths as a project manager. 

How has Skanska enabled you to grow as a leader?

Skanska has provided opportunities for me to continue to grow. I’ve worked in new construction and renovations; projects in life sciences, higher education, healthcare and commercial; and jobs that were fast-paced and small-scale to high-dollar and multi-phased.

What is your proudest moment so far in your career?

During my first year with Skanska, I won the “Rookie of the Year” Award. During that year, I had a lot of self-doubt about the career I had chosen for myself since I did not have a lot of construction experience. I think this was the confidence boost I needed.

How have you given back to the industry or your local community?

Starting in 2019, I ran the Blue Bell office’s Young Builders Group for project engineers, assistant superintendents, and PSGs with less than five years of experience to foster educational and networking opportunities for those newer to the industry. 

Will Senner, Vice President of Preconstruction
ENR Southeast

How does it feel to be named one of ENR’s Top Young Professionals?

It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized among a group of such amazing professionals, particularly when there are so many impressive people—both at Skanska and more broadly—working to transform our industry and impact our communities in meaningful ways.   

How has Skanska enabled you to grow as a leader? 

Throughout my career, Skanska has challenged me with new assignments and responsibilities which have allowed me to grow as a professional and a leader. 

I’ve learned from outstanding builders and inspiring leaders. I very much appreciate their seeing potential in me to add value in new and unique ways. 

That is something I certainly carry forward with my teams from a standpoint of inclusive leadership. 

Everyone brings a different perspective and skillset, and part of my responsibility as a leader is to build a team that leverages those different perspectives and skills that adds value in a way that is greater than the sum of the individual parts. 

What is your proudest moment so far in your career?

Skanska has such smart and passionate people. While I’ve taken on more management responsibility in recent years, I’m continually amazed by the work our teams do. 

The opportunity that we have to elevate the work of our teams and our people through data is tremendous. 

I’m incredibly proud of the work we are doing to enable our people to unlock new insights through data and leverage that to find ways to provide increased certainty and value to our clients.

How have you given back to the industry or your local community?

Initially, I was very involved in the green building movement, engaging with the U.S. Green Building Council and eventually serving as chair of the board of directors for our local chapter, in addition to roles with the national organization. 

This work led to my being recognized as “Green Advocate of the Year” by our local business journal in 2011. 

After my work with USGBC, I engaged more with my alma mater, Duke University, eventually serving as president of our Engineering Alumni Council. This allowed me to connect with and mentor current students while enabling similar opportunities for hundreds of other alumni. 

Currently, I serve as chair of the Historic District Commission for the Town of Hillsborough, NC where I recently moved with my wife and kids.

Ellen Mair, Vice President – Business Development
ENR California & Northwest

Can you tell me about your path to joining the construction industry?

My family is full of engineers, so construction was a perfect fit, although I never considered it growing up. The industry is ripe for diversity of thought and experience, which gave me the opportunity to make a difference.

I’m not an engineer, but my strengths in business, research, systems analysis and performance development seemed to fit right in with Skanska, a company that is constantly focused on continuous improvement, sustainable growth and building for a better society.

How does it feel to be named one of ENR’s Top Young Professionals?

I’m excited to join such a strong group of local young leaders in California and add to the list of national Skanska alums who have helped pave the way.

How has Skanska enabled you to grow as a leader?

In my 12 years at Skanska, the leaders throughout this company have enabled me to grow both personally and professionally.

Learning about different parts of the business has enabled me to become a well-rounded construction professional and a flexible team player who’s empowered and encouraged to think differently and develop our business and our people.

How have you given back to the industry or your local community?

As the executive sponsor for Skanska USA Building’s Los Angeles corporate community involvement, I help lead our commitment to being a responsible member of the local community.

Some of these partnerships include nonprofits such as Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, City of Hope Walk for Hope, Downtown Women’s Center and more.

In the industry, I’m involved with a variety of councils and committees in the broader California community.

I’m a Board of Governors member at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, a group that collaborates with community, government, business and education partners to promote innovation around economic and workforce development, and small business assistance.

I serve on the board for the Los Angeles Headquarters (LAHQ) Association, a top local business organization that facilitates and engages the region’s diverse real estate and AEC leaders through advocacy to promote business growth.

I’ve also served on the California Clean Air Day Committee, joining professionals across a variety of industries to drive companies and individuals to reduce air pollution. Their work has resulted in over 1.8 million participants committing to complete 3.4 million actions to clean the air.

Raki Chaitt, Senior Project Manager
ENR California & Northwest

Can you tell me about your path to joining the construction industry?

My dad is a structural engineer. During a “Take Your Daughter to Work Day,” I realized that I didn’t want his job, but I loved visiting construction sites with him. 

In college, I interned as a special inspector, mostly for concrete and rebar. I enjoyed being in the field and seeing work progress from dirt to structure to a building. 

Skanska was at the career fair at my college, so I interviewed, received an internship and began work on a healthcare project on campus. I’ve been with Skanska ever since!

How has Skanska enabled you to grow as a leader?

Through relocation opportunities, mentoring programs, leadership training, the Stretch Program, and hands-on experience managing teams.

I’ve also participated in community service events and professional groups.

What is your proudest moment so far in your career?

I got accepted into Skanska’s Stretch Program, where I collaborated with an international group of peers on an HR case study. We presented our findings to global leadership in Stockholm, Sweden and saw our recommendations implemented globally. 

In my abroad assignment for the program in Budapest, Hungary, I worked for our Commercial Development Group and gained a better understanding of our global business and diverse cultures. I worked with colleagues from Hungary and Poland, in addition to offsite trips to Norway and Poland for knowledge sharing. 

How have you given back to the industry or your local community?

I’ve participated in park clean-ups, “Rebuilding Together” volunteer days, the ACE Mentorship program and Canstruction.

I’ve also been a guest presenter at elementary schools to teach kids about the construction industry and apply it to what they are learning in STEM.