Maria Matamoros
Vice President of Risk Management
The Weitz Company
I had the opportunity to visit with my friend and colleague Maria Matamoros. Maria and I met several years ago at the IRMI CRC Conference. Maybe it was the fact that we were both in a sea of men at the conference making the handful of women in the room stand out. I am forever grateful to have made the connection.
Maria Matamoros is Vice President of Risk Management for Orascom Construction USA, Inc. and its affiliate companies The Weitz Company, Contrack Watts, Inc., and Watts Constructors, LLC, a full-service general contractor, design-builder, and construction manager. She has worked in the construction industry for 31 years.
Maria embodies so many aspects of the best of the B Words, including balance, bravery, believer, and creator of bonds. Here is Maria’s story.
TK: How did you find yourself in the construction industry?
MM: I graduated from college with a degree in Business Administration. Shortly afterward, I had my first child, and after my maternity leave, I returned to work at the financial institution I had been working at for six years. At that time, I began to feel something was missing – work wasn't as exciting anymore – and I was leaving my newborn child to do something that wasn't fulfilling.
My husband’s family that worked in the construction industry were awarded a large condominium project and looking for an administrator for the office close to our home.
After starting to climb the corporate ladder and with the potential for a good career path, I had to make a choice. Take a step down to improve family/work-life balance or keep doing something that wasn’t exciting anymore. After seven years of belonging to an incredible organization, I resigned. This was the first time making a significant career change – and it was terrifying! I had to face the disappointment of others in my personal and professional circles.
I took on administrative and accounting responsibilities in my new role. The position was a few steps down from a professional perspective, but it provided flexibility both at work and home to be close to my son.
One day, my husband and father-in-law invited me to attend a Project Management seminar with them. I walked out of the workshop fascinated – thinking this is something I would love to do! Later I pursued a Master's Degree in Construction and Real Estate Business Administration issued by the Catholic University of Santiago of Guayaquil, Ecuador, in partnership with the Technical University of Madrid-Spain.
As a first-generation-born American, I attribute my work ethic to my hard-working parents, who immigrated to the United States from Ecuador. Mom worked hard in taking care of our home and family. My father worked several jobs in the aviation field, providing our family with the opportunity to live worldwide. My father had a strong work ethic coupled with a profound faith in God, which I have adopted throughout my personal and professional life journey.
My parents moved our family to Ecuador when I was starting high school. At the time, I could speak Spanish but was challenged to learn to study, read and write in Spanish. This experience improved my Spanish abilities and provided a solid connection to the Spanish-speaking worker in construction. I realized the risk and challenge of understanding and comprehending a common language. Throughout my career, I embraced my language abilities, providing translation, connection, and communication with the field to ensure they receive essential, lifesaving information in a language they understand.
After working in Ecuador for several years, my husband and I decided to relocate to the United States. I applied for a position with the Weitz Group in Florida, basically starting over (second time!), in the beginning, as a project coordinator. I worked my way up to project engineer and ultimately earned a project management position. In 2009, a leader at The Weitz Group identified me as a high-potential future leader. During a leadership training session, the CEO asked me if I was interested in a risk management position. I accepted the challenge realizing that the role required me to start a new career path (third time!) and relocate my husband and kids to Iowa.
TK: What was it like relocating your family to Iowa for your career opportunity? Do you have any advice for women in a similar situation?
MM: My husband and I made the decision together. His support was vital. My oldest son was starting his freshman year in Florida, so the distance between us became greater than initially planned. Moving from Florida to Iowa for college was not an option he would entertain. This was hard; not only was my first son leaving home for college, but we were also moving far away from him. My middle son adjusted relatively well once he started playing on the school basketball team. I think the immediate incorporation into a group with a common goal was key for him. My youngest was going into 5th grade and adjusted reasonably well. The move also represented a career change for my husband. Today he works as a Business and Communications Manager at a parish church.
My advice for anyone in a similar situation is to imagine what your personal and professional life will look like in the short and long term. Imagine both the positive and the negative consequences. Balance is important. Once you make a decision, take the leap! Change can be fun, exhilarating, and healthy! Today, 11 years later, I think our entire family would agree that both of our moves were great moves. All of our now-adult children live within a 7-minute radius of our house. We gather as a family for dinner or outings at least once a week. Our marriage is strong, we are closer than ever as a family, and our boys have grown into amazing young men. And my professional journey in Construction, Project Management, and Risk Management has been an amazing one, although not without challenges!
TK: How has education influenced your life and your career?
MM: I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I would never be where I am today had I not pursued educational opportunities every step of the way. Having a minimal background in Risk Management, I worked diligently to become an expert in the complex world of construction risk management. I sought advice and guidance from other risk management experts and pursued my education to support my new role. While raising my family, I followed my education and credentials to obtain expertise and knowledge in my new position.
I am still learning and working towards completing my Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation next year. Education is a meaningful way to stay up to speed and relevant in your chosen profession.
TK: How are you multiplying your influence through mentorship?
MM: I believe in paying it forward, and the best way to do that is through mentoring to attract and retain future leaders in the construction risk management industry. I have served my industry in several leadership roles, a frequent speaker at construction and risk management conferences. I also make an intentional effort to mentor women within my organization and encourage advancement in their careers.
TK: How has your philosophy on networking (bonds) impacted your career?
MM: I attribute much of my success to forming relationships with other construction risk management experts to learn and share experiences. Through our external insurance partnerships, including our brokers and carriers, I set out to learn from the best in the industry. My construction operations background provided the framework and a unique perspective that complemented the business's risk management side.
I put in the time, effort, and hard work to develop a strong network of connections, so I knew who to ask for advice or guidance. I encourage people just starting in the industry to seek out and participate in peer groups, industry events, and committees.
For those in a leadership role, I encourage you to support and mentor the next generation by sharing your connections and creating space for the next generation. For example, after working on a volunteer program called Building Firm Foundations for several years, designed to educate the next generation of construction risk professionals, I encouraged one of my team members to get involved. She is now one of the leaders of the program. I also have her accompany me and participate in meetings, like for example risk management training sessions and workshops that I present, which provides her an opportunity to learn the risk management language, concepts, and process.
It requires an attitude of abundance. The more I mentor and support others, the more impactful and rewarding my work and effort become.
TK: Who is your role model?
MM: My father. He never went to college or became a corporate executive, but worked like he owned the companies he worked for, traveled the world, made his faith in God the center of his life, helped the poor and those in need, laughed and joked non-stop, and loved his family more than himself. His favorite saying was, "Don't worry!"
TK: What is your favorite quote?
MM:
““Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you.””
