Employee Voices: Celebrating National Women’s Month & the Women of VVA

VVA Project & Cost Manager’s 30 years of success would not be possible without the strength of the team we have built. It is made up of a wealth of experienced members, bringing with them expertise from across the industry, who strive for excellence every day. In March of 2024, VVA celebrated National Women’s Month by highlighting three of the many incredible women that make up our team. The women of VVA lead, mentor, inspire, and consistently make a positive difference in the day-to-day experience of their colleagues, clients, and extended teammates.

Pilar Illueca, our Director out of Miami, has been a member of the team since 2023. When asked about the most interesting challenge she’s faced since coming to VVA, Pilar explained that “starting the Miami Office has been a very rewarding experience. The South Florida market is not only home to me, but a unique combination of international backgrounds with different perspectives. The wide range of services and the knowledge that the VVA team brings to the market is invaluable.” Pilar went on to share that her dog “is my lucky charm and when opportunity permits, I take him to my job sites!”

Yadira Alvarez has been with the firm since 2020. A Director and Cost Manager based out of the New York office, Yadira came into the industry through a degree in architecture. Her decision to switch to cost management came at a pivotal time in her career path. Yadira explained, “my college major was architecture, but I needed to go to grad school to become a licensed architect. I started working with a small subcontractor while studying to take the GRE, but I fell in love with construction! I decided to stay in construction instead of pursuing design and I am very happy I stayed in this path.” To those just starting out on their career path, Yadira offers the following advice: “Always ask questions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Keep a list of ‘lessons learned’ and take it out the next time you’re working on a similar project.”

Lori Maas, who leads VVA’s growing Luxury Homes team, works out of the New York office and tackles a very specialized section of the industry with her expertise in residential project management. Lori described the interesting aspects of her work with VVA, explaining that the shift “from the linear construction process for commercial projects to the ‘wild west’ of residential has been a huge challenge. I’m grateful for the rigorous project management framework honed by VVA for 30+ years to provide a strong structure for our Luxury Home clients.”  When asked who inspires her and why, Lori went on to say “people who take pride in their work and strive for excellence every day. Subway conductors, street musicians, millworkers, builders: it’s a reminder that we all have the ability to make a positive impact in this world.”

We look forward to highlighting the wonderful women of VVA every year in celebration of National Women’s Month. Thank you to Pilar, Yadira, and Lori for taking the time to share their stories, and we extend our appreciation to the rest of the women in the industry and all the incredible work they do.