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Providence, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co. has tapped industry veteran Heidi DeBenedetti as its next chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1.
DeBenedetti, who has 25 years of experience in the construction field and nearly nine years with Gilbane, will take over from current COO Adam Jelen, who will become Gilbane’s new CEO next year.
Heidi DeBenedetti
Courtesy of Gilbane Building Co.
DeBenedetti is currently Gilbane’s chief administrative officer and regional president leading the company’s federal and southeastern divisions. During his tenure with the company, he has overseen more than 650 employees, with annual revenue exceeding $1.5 billion, according to an announcement shared with Construction Dive.
In his role as COO, DeBenedetti will lead operations and administration in both support and field operations, according to the firm. He will also lead Gilbane’s efforts in economic inclusion and sustainability, and will continue to lead the federal business and business oversight of insurance, security and information technology.
As a member of the industry’s executive steering committee Construction Inclusion Week initiativeDeBenedetti is also the executive corporate sponsor for empoWer, Gilbane’s employee resource group dedicated to supporting women who work at the company.
Although women have made significant strides in construction in recent years, they still make up only 10.9% of workers in the sector, compared to 46.8% of the total workforce, according to the Office of Labor Statistics. DeBenedetti’s promotion will make her one of the highest-ranking female executives in the US construction industry.
“Heidi’s ability to develop high-performing teams, build operational excellence and lead complex projects is invaluable,” Jelen said in the announcement. “As our COO, she will be instrumental in positioning Gilbane for future growth while supporting a workplace culture that thrives on innovation, talent development and inclusion.
DeBenedetti joined Gilbane in 2015 as a key part of the company’s global advancement initiative. Prior to that, DeBenedetti spent nearly 11 years with engineering firm CH2M Hill in Englewood, Colorado. He holds a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an MBA from Colorado State University.
