Worcester Business Journal

W F O C U S O U T S TA N D I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S - 15th anniversary BY LIVIA GERSHON Special to WBJ H olly Vaillancourt has been investigating the secrets of buildings since she was a kid, helping out with her father's real estate business. "I've always been involved in helping him renovate the apartments and the buildings and keeping them up to date, going to different properties, determin- ing which ones he would purchase next," Vaillancourt said. When she went off to college, studying architecture was a natural fit. Vaillancourt found she was fascinated by the way a building's design is a silent component of the experiences people have in a space. "Giving people that experience of living in a built environment is really important," she said. "What people re- member from being in a space matters." Aer graduating, Vaillancourt spent a decade building her career at various architectural firms in Boston, rising from entry level to project management positions. en, she faced a crossroads. She and her husband were living in Worcester and planning to start a family. She recalls wondering, "Do I want to continue commuting into Boston while also trying to raise a family?" Fortunately, another option was right in front of her. Her husband, Jonathan, also an architect, was working for Ex- isting Conditions, a firm providing 3D scanning and digital models of buildings slated for renovations or other projects. Vaillancourt joined Existing Condi- tions, starting out working limited hours around her responsibilities at home. Still, she used her skills and stayed connected with other professionals in the industry. As her children got older, she took on more responsibility, and in 2020, she was promoted to director of operations. Over the years, Vaillancourt has been part of growth at Existing Conditions. As its volume of work increased, the firm divided its employees into differ- ent departments and reorganized its workflow to keep everything moving smoothly. A given project typically starts with sending a surveyor with equipment to do 3D laser scanning at a building. Aer that, employees working virtually from home offices in different places process images and create the drawings and information architects need. "All that can happen very easily through remote work," Vaillancourt said. Much of Existing Conditions' work is in Massachusetts, including Worces- ter-area projects like the renovation of the Worcester Art Museum. But the firm has clients all over the country, some- thing made possible because only the surveyors actually need to work on site. Existing Condition was entirely remote from the start, so it had a leg up when COVID hit and other companies were scrambling to figure out virtual work. at was especially crucial be- cause building owners chose to use that time to upgrade their buildings, while homeowners took on their own projects. Nancy Ahearn, director of operations for Patrick Ahearn Architect in Bos- ton, said Existing Conditions is a great partner in the high-end residential work her firm does in Cape Cod. Much of these jobs are time-sensitive and work around the busy seasons, so flexibility and consistency are crucial. Ahearn said Vaillancourt makes sure everything comes together smoothly. "She's a plea- sure to work with," Ahearn said. Today, Existing Conditions has 40 em- ployees and is still growing. Vaillancourt developed a new skills as she oversaw this growth. "Architectural knowledge is one thing, but learning to run a business is a whole other animal," she said. Vaillancourt said she has a great man- agement team to lean on, starting with Founder and CEO Kurt Yeghian. Vaillancourt helps up-and-coming professionals within Existing Condi- tions. She applies what she knows from her own varied career path to moti- vating the employees she supervises. Each worker has different needs and strengths. "I really, truly always try to bring out the best in people, understand- ing that what works best for one person may not work out for others," she said. Vaillancourt built a career in buildings Holly Vaillancourt Director of operations Existing Conditions, in Boston Residence: Oxford Education: Bachelor's degree in architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston Whose career would you most like to emulate? "I can and I will" is a phrase I grew up hearing my mother say in our home. With three daughters and a husband who has speech and hearing disabilities and later in life living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, my mother always told us there is nothing we can't do if we put our mind to it! What are the main obstacles women face to success in the workplace? Honestly, I have never allowed being a woman in the workplace to stop me from anything. The challenges I face as a female in the industry, I believe, are the same challenges any professional woman or man face: Work-life balance and professional growth. What advice would you give to a woman just entering the workforce? Treat others as you would want to be treated. Love what you do, and do it with everything you have. Confidence is the result of competence; therefore do not be afraid to commu- nicate your ideas and know your worth. Surround yourself with mentors who have your back and you can learn from. 12 Worcester Business Journal | October 16, 2023 | wbjournal.com PHOTO | CHRISTINE PETERSON

• Cover