TEAM SPOTLIGHT
December 2024
Meet Rachel, our dynamic and adventurous team member who brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and a zest for life to our company!
Hometown Roots & Family: Rachel was born and raised in Conshohocken, PA, a place that holds a special place in her heart. Her mother also grew up in Conshohocken, making it a true family hometown. Recently, Rachel purchased her grandfather’s house and is passionately renovating it, blending family history with her own personal touch.
Educational Journey and Career Beginnings: Rachel attended Lafayette College in Easton, PA, where she earned her degree in Civil Engineering. Her fascination with demolition began at the age of 14 after watching a History Channel special about implosions. Initially drawn to the idea of blowing up buildings, she decided to learn how to build them instead. This led her to internships with PennDOT as a field inspector, where she discovered her love for construction—each day offering something new and tangible results at the end.
Professional Path After graduation: Rachel started her career as a project engineer with a construction company in Fairfield, Connecticut. When the company went under, she took a bold step and spent four months in Australia volunteering with "Willing Workers on Organic Farms." This sabbatical was a refreshing break before she returned to the Philadelphia area.
Back home, Rachel joined Allied as an assistant project manager under Jody Arena. In 2018, when Jody decided to start Caritas, Rachel’s loyalty and trust in him led her to join the new venture. She appreciates Jody’s fairness, support, and respect for his team, which made the transition an easy choice. “Rachel and I started working together in 2015. When we decided to start Caritas, Rachel was immediately on our list to be part of the team because of her skills but more importantly her willingness to do whatever was asked to ensure success. Thankfully she decided to take the leap and be one of the founding Teammates at Caritas" - Jody Arena, President
Current Role and Team Dynamics At Caritas: Once Caritas joined forces with Rendell Associates, Rachel transitioned to Estimating, where she enjoys the consistency and control it offers. She loves the challenge of solving different types of puzzles every day and appreciates the collaborative spirit of the estimating team, especially working closely with Dan McCall.
Life Outside of Work: Outside of her professional life, Rachel is a proud cat mama of two and is currently deeply involved in renovating her grandfather’s house. She enjoys fishing, kayak camping trips, and playing board games. Her adventurous spirit and dedication to her family and work make her an invaluable part of our team.
Rachel’s journey from a demolition enthusiast to a skilled estimator is a testament to her adaptability and passion. We’re thrilled to have her on our team and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next!