Sister Act: Kelly and Janelle
Kelly Boston fondly recalls the excitement from her and her sister Janelle Boston Fanning when their father built them the clubhouse they’d been begging for as children.
“He also constructed several sheds around the house for farm equipment and tools, and he built our brick family home in 1986,” Kelly says. “My dad is a very self-taught man when it comes to construction, and he is very particular about the construction process every inch of the way. Even though he didn’t make a living in the construction industry, I could tell it was something he was passionate about.”
Kelly and Janelle grew up on a farm near Girard with two other siblings and their father, a farmer, and their mother, a nurse. Now the two sisters work at O’Shea Builders, coordinating projects together every day and carrying on the love of construction instilled in them by their dad.
Janelle was first on staff, joining O’Shea in 2009 after she moved from Chicago. Though the economy was struggling, O’Shea was building Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital at the time and had an opening for Project Engineer.
Today her role has shifted to Project Manager, and she coordinates budgets, schedules and teams of people for many major projects.
“Leading a group of construction professionals from different backgrounds, we work together as a team toward a common goal,” Janelle says. “The challenging aspects of accomplishing this are also the most rewarding: overcoming the hurdles, solving problems, seeing it all come together to help the client make their vision a reality.
“Every project, no matter how small, impacts so many people far beyond the project team,” she adds. “A church, museum or ballfield will touch individuals and families for decades after we bring it out of the ground.”
In 2013, Janelle informed Kelly that O’Shea had an opening for Project Coordinator (now called Construction Administrator), hoping that her sister might also get to experience the positive work environment that O’Shea has become known for. Kelly was hired.
“The culture at O’Shea is nothing like any other organization I have worked for,” Kelly shares. “If an outside guest comes into O’Shea’s facilities, I think they would immediately see how much O’Shea values and takes care of their employees.
“Continuous improvement and continuing education is encouraged for every O’Shea employee. They want us to be the best we can be, not only for the company, but also for ourselves.”
“I think we are fortunate to work for O’Shea,” Janelle agrees. “This is a company that makes you want to work hard for them. O’Shea also values our families; I have two young children and there is never a question if I need to leave to take care of them. I am grateful for a company that allows me to care for and provide for my family like O’Shea does.”
Speaking of family, what’s it like to work with your sibling?
“I think we manage it well. I can’t say the same for when we were younger and fighting over who was going to clean the bedroom or who stole whose shirt and secretly wore it to school without asking the other!” Kelly jokes.
“We’ve always been pretty close as adults,” she adds. “Janelle has been with O’Shea a couple years longer than I have, so it’s nice having her here as a resource and mentor.”
Kelly and Janelle look forward to being together in their “other family” – O’Shea Builders.
“We’re proud to be a part of O’Shea,” Janelle says.