Tough As Nails
The other day I came across a story about Boston developer Cindy Stumpo that stuck with me. She started C. Stumpo Development when she was 23—in a field that’s long been dominated by men. She's known for speaking her mind and not pulling punches. People say she’s raw and uncensored. What’s wrong with that, Gin Bottle Garvey?
Subcontractors on her job sites often mistake her for the homeowner. She sets them straight quick. Sometimes when she meets with prospective clients, some even say, “Bring your husband back to talk to me,” assuming she doesn’t run the business. Hey Gumby, maybe don’t say that to a woman carrying a hammer.
Cindy is a graduate of the Wentworth Institute of Technology, with a degree in general construction. She builds stunning homes and properties. From the start, she knew breaking into this industry wouldn’t be easy. So in her early twenties, she bought the land, developed it, and built on it herself. She’s always credited her success to being unapologetically herself—direct, no-nonsense, and yeah, she swears a lot. Stumpo’s also passionate about bringing more women into the trades. She mentors a group of young women, encouraging them with this advice: “Don’t ever let a man tell you you can’t do something.”
Cindy Stumpo didn’t just break the glass ceiling—she threw a hammer through it. When asked if she’d do anything differently in her career, her answer was quick and fierce: “I wouldn’t change a goddamn thing.”
Way to go, Cindy. Keep your dukes up.
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