In Her Boots: Karri Novak

Through Q&A articles and Instagram/Facebook Takeovers, our "In Her Boots" series is designed to showcase and provide an inside look at what a day in the life looks like in the shoes (or boots) for some of the exceptional women at Clark. 

Today we’re highlighting Karri Novak. Karri, a vice president at Clark, serves as the education market lead in Clark's Western Region. 

What was your first role at Clark? 

I started my career as a field engineer at Atkinson Construction, a subsidiary of Clark. One of my first assignments was doing field layout on a seismic bridge retrofit in San Francisco.

Early in the morning, before trades started their work, I was in the trenches spray painting the drill and dowel locations in the bridge’s foundation.

Fun Fact: I overcame my fear of heights by taking the scissor lift 80 feet in the air to the bridge’s underside and crawling through the access hatch in order to layout the core drill locations! 

What drew you to a career in the construction industry? 

My dad’s career as a firefighter allowed him to have a small construction company as side business. I felt like it was a business that I understood – from winning work and estimating a project to client delivery and keeping the jobsite safe and tidy. I was attracted to the teamwork aspect of the business and the satisfaction of a completed project. 

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?  

This is a tough question because I think it’s changed at different stages of my career. Early on in my career, the advice of “gain all the experience possible”, “don’t compare yourself to others”, and “build your skills so you become invaluable to the organization” were very impactful.

Currently, the piece of advice I appreciate most is “get enough sleep”. It’s difficult to show up for others and be your best self when you are exhausted. Being well rested makes everything a little easier. 

What is the most memorable project you have ever worked on and why?  

Genentech Hall at UC San Francisco’s Mission Bay campus. It was my first leadership role with Clark and I had the opportunity to serve on the Project Management Steering Committee. 

We had a great team and I continue to work with many of the people from that project and the steering committee nearly 20 years later!

What is your proudest professional achievement?  

I’m very proud of the portfolio of work Clark has delivered and has been awarded in the Western Region’s higher education market sector.

Clark has a strong resume of projects completed, projects currently underway, and a backlog of future work. 

Who has had the greatest influence on you and why? 

My kids! They have taught me patience and perseverance. Being a mom requires you to set clear expectations, hold individuals accountable, reward achievements, distribute consequences if they disappoint, and love something unconditionally through the messiness of everyday life. They challenge me emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. My children have taught me great lessons that I can bring to my role at Clark.    

What advice do you have for a young woman looking to enter the industry?  

Whatever industry you pursue, it should be one you feel passionate about. Be authentic and fearless. Speak your mind and share your opinion without apologizing. 

Check out our Instagram Story as Karri shows us what a day in the life is like in her boots.