Business Women Awards 2022
Industry Leader Professional Services Theresa D’Orsi, Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc.
Theresa D’Orsi is the vice president of the construction practice group at Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc. in East Providence, where she’s worked for six years.
“My career actually chose me,” she said, recalling how a high school guidance counselor recommended she apply for a file clerk job at an insurance firm. That part-time job became a full-time position after graduation and began a career spanning three decades and counting.
D’Orsi attended Roger Williams University, while continuing to work full time during the day.
“Over the span of a couple different positions, I found my niche in the construction industry,” she said.
In her current role, a typical day can involve working from her office in East Providence or meeting clients at job sites or office buildings around the Northeast. Those clients range from business owners to office workers to safety engineers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, she was away from the office for about 10 weeks.
“But as soon as I could, I came back,” she said, adding that she was soon meeting with clients safely in person. “If they were operating, we were operating, and they wanted to see us.”
To be a woman in this field is a bit rare.
“Women are still very underrepresented in the construction industry,” D’Orsi said, noting the future of this sector still faces many challenges when it comes to being more inclusive.
As a result, over the course of her career, most of her mentors have been men, which she said served her well and helped her through. Still, she would like to see more women in construction insurance.
“Here’s the scoop,” she said, “mentorships can help close the gender gap in construction.”
Starkweather & Shepley is doing its part to bridge this gap, D’Orsi said, noting there are “three other females who work on my team,” all of whom she has taken under her wing as mentees.
And the firm recently implemented a formal mentorship program.
“We’re just starting to get [that] off the ground,” she said, “which I’m really excited about.”
When asked what advice she’d give to women just beginning their careers, or those looking to advance their positions, D’Orsi responded with one word: confidence.
“In our industry, let’s face it, confidence matters,” she said. “In construction, you’re dealing mostly with men, [and] if you don’t have that confidence when you step into the room, they’re going to know it instantly.”
D’Orsi said her confidence and comfortability being in construction spaces may stem from when she was little, being the youngest child and only girl among her siblings.
“Maybe for me, it was easier because that’s all I knew growing up with three older brothers,” she said, describing how her friends would play with Barbie dolls and she “would be digging dirt and riding dirt bikes with my brothers.”
When it comes to working with clients and earning their trust, “Just be honest,” she said. “Whether you’re delivering good news or bad news, just be honest.”
“Theresa is a creative leader who thinks outside of the box to come up with innovative solutions to help clients manage and transfer risk,” Senior Vice President Peter Jacavone said. “She is a skilled relationship builder at increasing her professional reach, as well as forming lasting professional relationships.”
This is not the first time D’Orsi has been recognized for her work – she was previously featured in PBN as a Notable Woman in Construction. She is also an active member of the National Association of Women in Construction, National Utility Contractors Association of Rhode Island, and Associated Builders and Contractors of Rhode Island.
“I’m extremely passionate about what I do,” D’Orsi said. “Construction is unique and complex. My role is so much more than a transaction – it’s about understanding [the construction] industry and meeting them where they’re at.”
