Lynette Sutton, co-founder of Girl Concrete Inc. is affectionately known as the “Girl that Pours.” She beams when she shares that her flourishing concrete business is only around two years old. "Girl Concrete is a baby,” she jokingly said.
But in her company's short lifespan, this TD Bank customer leveled up to working on a major $4.6 million job in Philadelphia. While her company is young, it’s far from the beginning of Lynette’s career. She’s been in construction for 18 years.
In 2022, her other entity “Girl Contracting” (performing residential and light commercial construction) saw the opportunities that the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law could generate for a woman in construction, so Girl Concrete was born. But Lynette didn’t want just any workforce on her team to develop the city of Philadelphia. She wanted an inclusive workforce that would inspire future generations. She wanted local and diverse talent, union tradesmen and women who were dedicated to building a foundation for their own city quite literally from the ground up.
Lynette was born and raised in The Bronx, New York, and her family has roots in Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Executive Management Program and co-founded Girl Concrete with her husband, Malhon Sutton, a life-long resident of Philadelphia and licensed master electrician. He is also the owner of an electrical contracting business, Electrical Hazards, Inc. He has over 15 years of experience in Pennsylvania’s construction landscape. Together, they formed Girl Concrete, a Minority Business Enterprise concrete contracting company, whose diversity extends beyond its leadership.
“We are committed to employing people from the communities that actually surround the build. No one should be skilled in the trades and watch a build in their community from the opposite side of the construction fence. We pride ourselves in cultivating local, diverse, and young talent, i.e., apprentices. It’s very deliberate for us. Most of our workforce are local Philadelphia union members, 77% are people of color, and 26% are women,” Lynette said. “Attracting talent that is local and giving opportunities to apprentices matters. It means you’re reinvesting in the community and future pipeline of the trades."
Girl Concrete required some initial financial support, which can often be a difficult process without a good partner. Lynette remembers trying multiple banks, where she’d always have to talk to someone different and had trouble finding a way to collaborate within her challenging work schedule, which sometimes began with a 3 a.m. concrete pour.
“We’re early. We’re having lunch at 9 a.m. As far as boots on the ground, having a bank come to you saying we understand your industry matters a lot,” Lynette said.
When she was connected to Gabriela Santoferraro, a TD Bank Relationship Manager based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Lynette was able to obtain a line of credit to launch her business to the next level.
"TD Bank is committed to supporting female entrepreneurs by equipping them with the tools and resources they need to thrive," said Gabriela Santoferraro, TD Bank, Small Business Relationship Manager. "It’s both an honor and a privilege to work with Girl Concrete. Their passion, drive, and dedication are truly inspiring, and I’m proud to play a role in helping them build their dream."
Big plans became a reality
Lynette saw great opportunities in Philadelphia for her young concrete company.
“Right out the gate, we were awarded a $2.5 million contract by the School District of Philadelphia and Perryman-Shoemaker Construction,” she said. " How? By highlighting their full understanding of the concrete scope and what sets Girl Concrete apart. “We did our diligence. We asked them to give us a shot. And they did.”
Next, Lynette had her eye on the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, an Amtrak station that serves as a major transportation hub in Philadelphia. She secured the project through Gilbane Building Company, and soon after, their project size doubled, when they were awarded a $4.6 million structural concrete scope, by Clayco at The Bellwether District. “Once again, we said, 'not only can we meet your goals, we can exceed them.” They’ll wrap up that opportunity this month, Lynette shares proudly.
“As our business continues to grow at the rate we’re going, we are trying to not only look at the banking products available, but also our own business needs, like real estate — we no longer fit in this garage, so we need to buy a larger one. TD is a one-stop shop in that sense, with the whole team orchestrated to work synergistically,” Lynette said.
In June, Lynette’s vision expanded again when the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a working capital promise of $5 million, which their release calls a “significant expansion of the SBA’s loan programs by adding a line of credit product with an innovative fee structure engineered to increase flexibility for small businesses and lenders, providing more options when structuring a line of credit to meet businesses’ specific needs.”
TD is helping Lynette work on that opportunity now, which she plans to use to enhance back-office support and cybersecurity, improve their BIM/VR integration and increase cash flow in overlapping jobs (as the construction industry often uses 45-60 day payment terms and a 10% retainage structure).
A relationship not a transaction
Lynette emphasized the importance of having Gabriella as not just a relationship manager, but an advocate—especially one who is a woman of color. “It was very sincere,” Lynette said. “She genuinely felt it. She shared authentically with the underwriter, showing she knew much more than just our banking statements.”
Gabriela had visited the site, could vouch for the work ethic, and defend why Lynette deserved the loan. It was more than just signing papers; it was true advocacy. With everyone watching Lynette’s business, this support was exactly what she needed.
“Because we were able to get sizable opportunities right out the gate, the local construction world was watching — how would we do; would we actually perform?” she said. “When we performed well, it opened the door for more.” Nevertheless, Lynette says they have and will continue to face systemic challenges in her industry. “The way we create economic stability in our workforce is completely tied to our ability to secure consistent opportunities.” This is why doing what she said she’d do isn’t just about trust and promise, but a pipeline to preserve her workforce and organizational integrity. “We constantly push for more opportunities/contracts so we can secure the livelihoods of the people that are in the trenches, working for us.”
Her future goals are even bigger than her already massive success. “Our eye is also very much focused on reducing the carbon footprint and green efforts,” she says. “Girl Concrete is committed to doing their part to support environmental and economic sustainability and ultimately a net-zero future.”
From sustainability goals to becoming the top name in construction in their tri-state area, all eyes will be on the “girl that pours.”
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We hope you found this helpful. This article is for informational purposes only and is based on information available as of October 2024 and is subject to change. This content is not intended to be used or acted upon with respect to any client's specific circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with your qualified professionals.