Some partnerships in construction feel effortless, built on clarity, trust and the shared belief that great work matters. For Taylor Goldthwait, Senior Project Manager at Granger Construction, and Kara Pellerito, Director of Planning, Design, and Construction at Ferris State University, that synergy has defined project after project across the Ferris State University (FSU) campus. Their collaboration reflects what Women in Construction Week is all about: women leading with confidence, elevating teams and positively impacting the industry one successful project at a time.
Taylor’s path into construction began at Ferris State University, where she was studying without a clear career direction, until a class pushed her to explore different career paths. That’s when she found the Construction Management program. “I realized I could combine hands‑on work, problem‑solving, and leadership into one career,” she said. From that moment, she was all in.
By the time she crossed paths with Granger, she knew exactly what she was looking for. The culture sealed it. “I immediately felt like part of the team and like I could make a real impact on the company’s goals,” Taylor said. That early sense of belonging set the tone for what would become her rapid progression from Intern to Project Engineer, to Project Manager and now Senior Project Manager.
Regional Vice President Brad Hesche, who first met her at that FSU career fair, still remembers how quickly she stood out. “During her very first summer, she jumped into a subcontractor‑ and client‑facing role on a project for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. In record time, she had earned the trust of everyone around her, becoming the go‑to person for everything on the project. She’s never looked back.”
Granger and FSU have a long-standing collaborative relationship. From athletic facilities to student housing, and even the Granger Center for Construction and HVACR, the connection runs deep.
For Kara Pellerito, who oversees all planning, design, and construction efforts at Ferris State University, working with Taylor and Granger has been a natural fit from the beginning.
Her own role carries immense responsibility, guiding projects through RFPs, design, construction and warranty while ensuring every space on campus reflects FSU’s mission and commitment to students. She brings a thoughtful lens to every decision, and she values partners who share that dedication.
“My vision for campus facilities is that they are student focused, while providing a safe, accessible, comfortable and clean space that supports the University’s mission and long-term goals,” Kara explained.
When Kara and Taylor began collaborating, the alignment was immediate. Together, they’ve tackled everything from complex athletic facilities to large‑scale residence halls. Their work on the multi‑phase Center for Athletic Performance project stands as a testament to their communication, coordination and shared resilience — all while construction took place inside one of the most heavily occupied buildings on campus.
Most recently, their partnership has been central to the new Stadium Hall residence hall project, a build with ambitious design features and an aggressive schedule. Budget challenges, unforeseen conditions, material shifts and difficult weather have all tested the team. But through open communication and teamwork, they were able to value‑engineer the project and keep the shared goal in sight: providing a residence hall that enhances the student experience.
“Taylor and I both have ‘can do’ attitudes and we will do whatever it takes to ensure a project is completed on time and on budget to ensure FSU students, faculty, and staff are able to use the facility when promised,” explained Kara.
One thing became the clear cornerstone of this collaborative effort: Trust.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Kara. She’s been in the industry longer than I have and has helped me grow, especially in navigating construction as a woman,” said Taylor. “We both tend to put our heads down and get the work done, which is probably why we can handle large-scale projects together. More importantly, we’ve built a relationship based on trust, honesty, and transparency. I would rather bring challenges to her early than try to solve them alone and risk them becoming bigger issues. We aren’t afraid to help each other or give honest feedback when needed. Humility, honesty, and respect go a long way.”
Brad sees their partnership the same way: “Candor + Transparency = Trust. Kara and Taylor have worked through countless project challenges together, and even through the toughest issues, they both trust each other to work through it fairly and in the best interest of FSU. It certainly helps they are both collaborative people at heart, so they embrace all the resources around them.”
As leaders and as women in construction, Taylor and Kara are setting an example for what’s possible when authenticity, excellence and collaboration guide the work. Their relationship shows what strong owner–contractor partnerships can achieve, especially within higher education, where each project influences generations of students to come.
