Member Spotlight | Valerie Moran

Who has been the most influential person in your career?

Over my 20 years in construction I have been very fortunate to learn from mentors, but, My father, Don Burtis Sr., has been the most influential person in my career. Growing up in the '90s, I would spend summers working with him at Turtle and Hughes. I’m pretty sure he pioneered "bring your kid to work day" before it even existed. He would take me along to job sites and even taught me to drive on our commutes into NYC when I was 16. I had the chance to meet people in every department—Accounts Payable, Lighting, and the newly added Switchgear Department—gaining insight into the entire business.

When I entered college in 2000, I continued working for him every summer, jumping in to help the sales team by assembling bid sets, organizing drawings, preparing billing spreadsheets, and taking on any other tasks they needed.

Turtle is a WMBE, and at that time, it was owned and operated by Sue Millard, whose family founded the company. Mrs. Millard would often share stories about the business, its growth, and, of course, her admiration for my father and the Switchgear Department he had built. She valued his hard work and dedication, and it was clear in the way she spoke of him. He made the Millard’s proud by growing the Switchgear Group into a thriving team of talented, seasoned industry professionals and fostering an incredible culture. The camaraderie he cultivated was remarkable—everyone genuinely enjoyed coming to work, and the environment was fun and supportive.

His team was like a family to him. He cared for each of them, regardless of age or experience, as if they were his own. While he wasn’t always pleased with everyone’s performance (what father is always happy with their kids?), the team’s respect and commitment to him never wavered. They worked hard, not just for the business, but to make him proud.

Today, at JDC Energy, I strive to embody that same culture with my team, fostering an environment of respect, growth, and a genuine love for what we do for our clients—values my father instilled in me.

What advice would you give to someone looking to become involved in the construction industry?

I first became involved with PWC NY in 2004, shortly after graduating from West Virginia University, thanks to Mrs. Millard, who arranged a lunch for me with PWC founder Lenore Janis. I knew I wanted a career in the construction, service, and sales industry, working directly with clients, but I hadn’t yet defined a clear path. Over the course of several meetings, Lenore shared invaluable life lessons, emphasizing just how challenging it is for women to succeed in a male-dominated industry. “You will always have to prove yourself,” she told me. “Nine times out of ten, you’ll be one of the very few—if not the only—woman in the room at industry events. Men may exclude you, try to limit your growth, and judge you more harshly. Don’t let their negativity hold you back.”

Sadly, this advice still resonates today. Despite the progress women have made, disparities persist in salary, growth opportunities, and constructive feedback. According to a Fortune magazine article published on October 8, 2024, approximately 76% of high-performing women receive negative feedback compared to just 2% of men, with men typically receiving feedback on their work while women are critiqued on their attitude. This persistent bias, even 24 years after my first meeting with Lenore, underscores why PWC is so important to me. It’s a space where qualified, knowledgeable women can support each other’s growth and success in the field.

Throughout my 24-year career in construction, service, and sales, I’ve faced countless instances of being overlooked, passed over, or told I wasn’t good enough—even at times by other women. PWC NY and NJ has given me the opportunity to mentor women who, like me, are eager to learn and advance. Being mentored, listening, and learning from others—many far wiser than I—has been instrumental to my success. And for that, I am deeply grateful to PWC.