Inside the Industry: Laura Soma on Sustainability, Career Growth, and the Future of Construction
We sat down with Laura Soma, CCE Advisory Board member since 2013, to learn about her career, sustainability in construction and her insight into the industry. Laura is the Sustainability Manager at GLY Construction, holds a LEED AP, BD + C, and was elected CCE Co-chair at the most recent Advisory Board meeting.
Construction Center of Excellence (CCE): What first got you interested in the construction industry?
Laura Soma: It was divine providence. In the early nineties, when I was 18, I worked for a small concrete contractor for a few years. The company went out of business, but I stayed friends with my previous boss, who started her own espresso stand. One of her regular customers, a GLY Construction employee named Elaine Bravenec, told her how the company was having a hard time finding good people to hire, and my friend said, “I've got who you need!” So, 26 years ago, I interviewed on a Saturday, and I started the following Tuesday. I’ve been with GLY ever since!
CCE: What does a sustainability manager do for a construction firm?
Laura Soma: A lot! A few fun highlights include:
Request for Proposal (RFP) Support. Many RFPs ask for strategies to achieve specific sustainability goals, which I help respond to. Sometimes, the client doesn’t request anything specific, but if I am familiar with the company, or if it's a new client, I'll research the firm to understand their overall sustainability values and goals, and then I'll find ways to incorporate their priorities into our RFP response.
Sustainability Training. I train our operations teams—Superintendents, General Foremen, and field crews—on practical sustainability practices, focusing on what sustainability means for them and actionable steps they can take to reduce waste and carbon emissions on job sites. I also conduct sessions for Project Engineers, Project Managers, and Executives, sharing industry trends, upcoming changes, and ensuring clarity on GLY's sustainability strategies. We've made significant progress, along with the industry, and established clear processes that everyone is trained to follow.
Publish Blog Posts & Occasional Articles. I periodically contribute to our company’s Insights blog, highlighting both our company’s and the industry’s advancements in sustainability.
External & Internal Sustainability Advocacy. I actively engage with industry associations, serving on boards and committees focused on sustainability. Internally, I lead our sustainability advocacy group and mentor the next generation of professionals, particularly new Project Engineers as they begin their careers with us. The majority of my time is spent working with our clients and project teams to achieve their sustainability goals. This also includes consulting with architects on material selections and helping to review and verify certification credit pursuits.
CCE: You said that you've seen construction firms increase their focus on sustainability. How have you seen the focus change over the years, either industry-wide or at GLY?
Laura Soma: I earned my LEED accreditation, a globally recognized certification overseen by the US Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization (despite its official-sounding name). LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, sets the standard for sustainable building practices. It emphasizes energy and water efficiency, carbon reduction, responsible sourcing of materials, and minimizing harmful chemicals in construction, all aimed at creating cleaner, more sustainable projects.
The most significant change over the years is that sustainability goals are no longer treated as one-off initiatives. While not every project aims for LEED certification, nearly every client now has specific objectives related to sustainability, equity, and inclusion, as well as a commitment to community engagement in the areas where their buildings will be constructed. This is very different from past practices.
Fun fact: there are over 600 sustainable certifications available worldwide, covering not just buildings but also materials and processes. I was surprised to learn the number exceeded 600!
CCE: I imagine a role like yours could help clients identify which certifications matter and which don’t and which clients should focus on.
Laura Soma: Yes, absolutely. My focus has shifted toward health certifications for buildings. While LEED primarily addresses the building's structural aspects, certifications like WELL and Fitwel emphasize the quality of the environment that occupants experience once the building is in use.
CCE: What are some of the innovative building methods that you've seen come into construction, sustainability, and construction in general?
Laura Soma: I’m currently excited about two innovative developments in construction materials. First, there's a new concrete alternative made without cement. The use of cement in concrete is the leading contributor to carbon emissions in construction, primarily due to the large quantities required and the energy-intensive heating process needed to convert it into clinker. This process relies heavily on fossil fuels, such as gas and coal.
There is a company that has come out with a chemical that acts like cement. I haven't seen an actual Environmental Product Declaration yet as they're still collecting data, but it’s possibly a 90% emissions reduction. It's been used locally by an architect in a building footing.
It's exciting, but it's hard when concrete has been tried and true for hundreds of years. To try and do something different, there's a lot of risk. Is this component going to stand up to hundreds of years?
Another development I'm thrilled about is the transition of most U.S. steel producers from coal-fired blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces. This shift is poised to significantly reduce carbon emissions, making a substantial impact on the overall environmental footprint of the steel industry.
CCE: You've been a leader in hosting and planning and promoting conferences like EmPower and Enlighten. Why are conferences important to building and construction professionals? And what do attendees gain from these conferences?
Laura Soma: Different conferences offer unique benefits, and I make it a point to attend events like Green Build and Living Future, which focus specifically on construction materials and processes. These conferences provide valuable insights, education, and opportunities for community engagement around sustainability. They help me stay current on emerging practices and materials that I can implement within my firm right away.
Conferences like EmPower and Enlighten offer a more personal experience for me. While I hesitate to call it emotional—after all, construction is a practical field—I find attending and participating in these events to be a labor of love. They provide valuable insights, education, and a sense of community specifically for women in the industry. This focus creates a unique atmosphere that elevates the experience and fosters deeper connections.
Being a woman in a historically male-dominated industry can feel very lonesome at times. There are times when I might be the only female on an entire project. And that's where a lot of the attendees are. Women only make up something like 7% of the construction industry across the US. You may often be the only woman on the job site.
Navigating a different atmosphere in the industry is crucial, and learning from women who have been in this field for 20 or 30 years is invaluable. These experienced professionals can guide others in finding their voices, making connections, and identifying mentors and champions. It’s important to recognize that having a mentor is not the same as having someone who actively champions your growth and success.
Those can be game changers, especially for women or non-traditional people in the industry. And I think it's really important that you have the opportunity to not just survive in the industry, but to actually thrive. EmPower and Enlighten truly can help people thrive.
CCE: The Washington State Construction Center of Excellence has been lucky enough to have you on the board for 11 years. What role do you see the CCE playing in the future of the construction industry?
Laura Soma: For me, it's an opportunity for both employers and for tradespeople. The CCE offers training and conferences that focus on justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—concepts that are relatively new to the construction industry. While these values may have been part of a company's culture, they often lacked formal recognition. It's essential to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding these terms, especially as many of our clients are now incorporating specific goals related to these principles into their RFPs. Understanding the opportunities to enhance our practices in these areas is crucial for our growth and success.
I also really appreciate the toolbox talks for workers. They offer valuable insights and help ensure everyone can perform their jobs safely. These talks provide essential resources for workers, which is a significant benefit. I believe we need to emphasize the available resources on the CCE website even more to maximize their impact.
The CCE excels at understanding the industry's needs, whether from state or local government or contractors. This includes not just General Contractors but also trade partners on the Board. It creates a valuable opportunity for everyone to come together, share their focuses, and discuss their goals while ensuring that each voice is heard. This platform allows us to gain insights into the challenges subcontractors face on job sites and the impacts of changing laws, fostering collaboration and awareness across the industry.
We frequently discuss how technology is evolving in the field. How can our Training Centers adapt? What can our Community Colleges do? What can they focus on? Can our unions help teach the next crew? What can they be focusing on?
Not everyone wants to swing a hammer. Some may be excited about layout design or working with the computer systems used in the process. The ability to create a 3D model of a building before it’s constructed can be incredibly appealing to the next generation. One of the greatest strengths of the CCE is its ability to provide access to all these opportunities and information in one place, fostering interest and engagement in diverse career paths within the industry.
CCE: What did we miss? What else should we know about you, about GLY, about construction in Washington in 2024 or anything else we didn't ask about?
Laura Soma: For anyone wondering whether they can succeed in the construction industry, my advice is simple: just go for it. The industry offers a living wage for hard workers who pay attention and take pride in their work.
You can also have peace of mind regarding job stability. We prioritize keeping our workforce employed as much as possible, and here in Washington, our temperate climate allows us to avoid seasonal layoffs, whether in winter or summer.
There’s something special about sharing stories with your Aunt Jenny when she visits from the Midwest, driving through Seattle and recounting your experiences building a specific structure, installing the facade, or coordinating the shutdown of I-405 to position a statue. These are the stories you can pass down to your children and grandchildren, and witnessing your progress at the end of each day is incredibly rewarding.
If you’re unsure about college or your next steps, I encourage you to explore the construction industry. Programs like ANEW offer pre-apprentice training, providing a fantastic opportunity to explore different trades and discover what truly makes you happy.
There are few limitations in the construction industry. You can transition from the field to the office and vice versa. I began my career as an admin and am now in my seventh position at GLY, continuously growing and evolving with the company. Company growth and change is inevitable wherever you go, so find one you like and stick with it!
Learn more about the CCE Toolbox Talks in English, Spanish, and Russian: https://www.constructioncenterofexcellence.com/toolbox-talks
Learn more about Enlighten and EmPower: https://www.tradeempower.com/
Learn more about apprenticeship exploration: https://www.apprenticeshipsrock.com/
