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Salem, MA – Jones Architecture Project Designer Silvia Colpani and Associate Alya Staber have been named recipients of the 2026 New England Women in Construction Trailblazer Award, recognizing their work to address one of the architecture, engineering and construction industry’ s persistent workforce challenges: supporting professionals who are balancing careers with caregiving responsibilities.

Colpani and Staber were honored for developing the It Takes a Village Framework, a research-backed model designed to help A / E / C organizations create more supportive and sustainable workplaces for caregivers.

The initiative began with a simple but consequential question: What would it take to create an A / E / C workplace where caregiving and career growth can coexist?

With support from an AIA Future

Staber Forward Grant, Colpani and Staber embarked on a year-long research effort examining the experiences of caregivers across the profession. Their work translated that research into a practical toolkit organizations can use to better support employees, strengthen teams,

Colpani improve retention and build workplace cultures that recognize the realities of caregiving.

“ Silvia and Alya saw an issue that affects people throughout our profession and decided to do something meaningful about it,” said Rick Jones, AIA, principal

October 2026

of Jones Architecture.“ What makes their work so powerful is that they moved beyond identifying the challenge. They did what architects do: researched, listened to people’ s experiences and designed a framework that firms can actually put into practice.”

The It Takes a Village Framework has already earned industry recognition and is now moving from research into implementation, creating an opportunity for firms throughout the A / E / C community to rethink how workplace policies, culture and leadership can better support caregivers throughout their careers.

Colpani and Staber were honored alongside fellow Trailblazer Award recipients at New England Women in Construction 2026 on Sept. 24 at the Farmington Polo Club in Farmington, Conn.

Wilton, CT – Altieri has been named a Connecticut Top Workplace for the seventh consecutive year in the annual Hearst CT Media and Energage Employee Engagement Survey.

The award reflects Altieri’ s continued commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel supported, valued and empowered. Particularly meaningful is that the Top Workplaces recognition comes from employees and is an important reflection of the firm’ s culture and opportunities for continued growth.

“ This recognition is something we’ re proud of – especially because it’ s based on the feedback employees have provided,” said Ken Wieber, PE, managing director.“ I appreciate hearing different perspectives on how we can improve and the effort everyone puts in every day to make positive changes happen.”

Altieri credits its employees and their commitment to one another and the firm. Their willingness to share ideas, collaborate and contribute to meaningful change continues to strengthen Altieri’ s workplace and shape its culture. This commitment is at the root of Altieri’ s Best of Practice 2026 honor awarded by The Architect’ s Newspaper. The award highlights the firm’ s dedicated efforts to transform people practices and foster a more inclusive workplace.

Seven consecutive years as a Connecticut Top Workplace reflects Altieri’ s commitment to continually building a strong, connected workplace, and reinforces the value of this priority to the firm’ s success.

Altieri workplace group / Photo courtesy of Altieri www. high-profile. com