Innovator Spotlight - Kara Mele
Project Executive Kara Mele has found her home in the construction industry, uniting a range of talents and exciting experiences into a career she loves. Her “work hard, play hard” mindset has allowed her to find adventure both in and out of the office—read about her endeavors here!
How did you come to join DAVIS?
I joined DAVIS in July 2012, transitioning from working in finance and architecture. I have an undergraduate degree in finance and a master’s in architecture from Georgia Tech and started my career in Atlanta before a brief stop in New York City. When my husband and I decided to settle closer to family, the opportunity at DAVIS caught my attention. Originally from Highland, Maryland, and coming from a construction family, I decided it was time to get back to Maryland and finally make my way to the other side of the table in construction—I have never looked back!
Tell us about your role at DAVIS.
My role has evolved quite a bit. Coming from architecture, I told myself no question was too silly to ask and spent my first few projects as a manager absorbing information and learning the construction side of the industry on a fundamental level. Now, as an executive, I lead a team in the Interiors practice, and much of my job involves mentoring younger members, however I still approach everything I do from a place of learning. You can take lessons learned from your past work, but every project is unique in its own way. Each project brings new challenges, and I enjoy diving into the details with my team problem-solving aspect. There is always something new to learn and you need to be open to those situations, no matter what your role on the team is.
What do you admire about the company?
I love the people and community first and foremost. The connections that you build over time are what I value most and consider myself lucky to have had some great mentors who took a chance on a little architect and gave me space to grow over time. It did not take long after my arrival here to realize that the community many had told me about was in fact very real. For me, it’s all about being on and having success as a team. At DAVIS, I’ve always experienced a fairness and flexibility that has allowed me to balance a successful career with raising three kids and enjoying my life.
What is your favorite part of work at DAVIS?
Beyond the people, we’ve had the chance to work on some incredible projects. For me, every project builds excitement for the next one, and that’s what I love about this industry—the thrill of what’s next keeps me motivated. We win challenging projects, do them well, and work with amazing people, and that sets the stage for the next opportunity. When I came to DAVIS, it felt like everything clicked. It has been the perfect combination of my experiences in financial consulting, architecture, and construction—I’ve really found my stride in this industry.
What is the most rewarding project you’ve worked on?
There are so many! One that stands out is Nestle’s Headquarters that began in 2017 where we helped them move their North American headquarters across the country in a phased move. The job was complex with everything from new connecting staircases to a test kitchen and lab spaces for their different teams. It was the start of a great relationship with Nestle and we continue to find ourselves back at Nestle working on new projects to this day. It’s pretty incredible to think of how many DAVIS employees past and present have had a part in that job. A close second is the recently completed Atlantic Council project, where we were tasked with some serious technical and structural challenges that included building a terrace on the exterior of the building 11 stories up!
Having grown up between both, do you prefer rural life or city life?
A bit of both. I am very much an outdoorsy person, and I like to joke that ‘I require outdoor time every day’. I truly love being outside, whether it’s running, biking, or spending time with my children on the sidelines of their sports matches. That said I am an architect at heart and when I can I have always enjoyed travelling and exploring new cities. When I went back to school for my masters, I was determined to go abroad, an opportunity I did not have in undergrad since I played collegiate sports. What I thought would be a week or two in Italy turned into semester in Paris. That time was spent hopping city to city whenever possible. We’d travel anywhere a train—sometimes a plane—could take us, and that opened my eyes to all the different cultures, cities, and buildings out there. My husband and I have found a good spot here in Maryland; we can travel easily, have access to a lot of things, and still spend time outdoors.
What do you enjoy outside of the office?
Anyone who knows me has probably heard a story or two about my boys ages, 7, 9, and 11. It's no understatement that my time outside of the office is all about them and time with my family. It’s highly probable that you will find me on the sideline of a lacrosse or soccer game on any given weekend and I have to say I absolutely love it. Also, my husband and I ironically were both raised by Italian fathers who made their children garden and work in the yard all spring, summer and it rubbed off on us. Because of that. we spend a good bit of time working in the yard when we can. I’m on the Board of Calvary Women’s Services and when I can I try to stay involved in the kids' school and volunteer there. I feel like I’ve taken on my biggest challenge yet this year as a third-grade class Mom.
What would you like people to know about you?
Work hard, play hard—that is who I am professionally, personally, and as a parent. Most people probably only see “Work Kara” on any given day. But that is just one sliver of who I am. I like to work hard and get it done, but once the work is finished, I am all about family and friends and the next adventure. Let’s go do all the things!
