Emmalee Legler, 33

Originally, Emmalee Legler was hired to focus on marketing, communications and business development for Sarasota-based Jon F. Swift Construction. But since Legler started with the commercial contractor in 2015, her role has evolved.

Legler saw an opportunity on the operations side of the business, so she seized it, asking if she could split her time between business development and operations. Now she’s the firm’s director of marketing and operations. “One of the best ways I describe my job is I do everything I can to support my team to build the buildings,” she says.

Legler’s role includes putting together request for proposal responses, developing a marketing strategy and guiding strategic planning. “Ultimately, in my experience, if you are doing marketing, business development and communications, and you are taking darts and throwing them at a dart board, you’re not going to be nearly as successful as if you had a plan to get the dart to the center of the board,” she says. “The goals have to be measurable and have a timetable on them. We meet monthly to say, ‘How are we doing associated with our goals?’”