Early Morning Panel “Candid Conversation with the C-Suite” Speakers

Patricia Filippone, Executive Director, University of Massachusetts Building Authority
Patricia Filippone has been executive director of the University of Massachusetts Building Authority (UMBA) since February 2014. As executive director, Filippone oversees an ambitious $3.1 billion growth plan that includes the building and renovation of academic and research buildings, dormitories, and athletic facilities on all five UMass campuses. UMBA is currently managing more than 40 construction projects that will significantly improve teaching, learning and student life at the UMass at Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester. Filippone joined UMBA in 2012 as CFO and assistant secretary-treasurer. As CFO, she managed all aspects of finance, including controller, treasury, risk management, business systems, and capital planning. 

Prior to joining UMBA, she served in various positions at The Broad Institute, including CFO and assistant treasurer, senior financial officer and controller. Previously, she was director of Allston Finance at Harvard University and 12 years at the Mass. Water Resources Authority. Filippone is a member of the Mass. Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Treasurer’s Club of Boston, Financial Executives International, Boston Women in Public Finance and Babson College BASE. 

Frank Hayes, Chief Operating Officer/Building Division President, BOND Brothers, Inc.
As chief operating officer and building division president, Frank Hayes is responsible for driving profitable growth and enabling operational excellence for BOND. With over 25 years of construction experience, he brings strong leadership and management expertise in planning, pre-construction and project delivery. He has led numerous corporate initiatives, including the development of people strategies, plans for continued regional expansion, best-in-class project delivery, and state-of-the-art technology platforms. 

Prior to working with BOND, Frank held leadership positions in both construction and institutional settings and formerly served as the chief of operations for Harvard Business School. 

He has served on many industry committees including the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Massachusetts, Associated General Contractors (AGC), Department of Community & Housing Development, Fenway Alliance, Rebuilding Together Boston and Society of College and University Planning. 

Laura Cruickshank, Associate Vice President, Master Planner & Chief Architect, University of Connecticut
Laura Cruickshank, FAIA, the University of Connecticut’s master planner and chief architect and associate vice president for university planning, design & construction, is responsible for the immediate and long-range planning, design and construction of UConn’s $2 billion capital plan for Storrs, the Regional Campuses and Law School. 

Prior to UConn, Cruickshank was the Yale University planner and directed planning and design on the Yale central campus; and led Yale planning, design and construction for the Yale-NUS College in Singapore. Prior to Yale, she was in private practice for over twenty years. 

Cruickshank received a bachelor of arts from Mount Holyoke College and Master of Architecture from the University of New Mexico School of Architecture & Planning. She holds architectural registration in Connecticut and is an elected member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, the Society for College and University Planning, the Association of University Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects. 

Kevin Grigg, President and CEO, Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.
When Kevin Grigg joined Fuss & O’Neill as COO in 2012, he brought with him a fresh perspective on how to manage the company. He had many years of experience running regional operations of national and multinational firms, and while he liked this kind of work, he wanted to be involved in a firm where he could really get to know people and have a positive impact on the company as a whole. Grigg was named president and CEO on July 1, 2018.

 Over the past few years, Grigg has worked closely with senior leaders, project managers, and corporate services to help ensure healthy and sustainable profitability and cash-flow. Taking a closer look at the way Fuss & O’Neill historically operated, he has been integral in improving management practices, setting goals, and developing processes that will allow the company to meet those goals. He is also reconfiguring Fuss & O’Neill’s business development program to help the company position itself more effectively externally, understanding that building client relationships is essential to long term success.

Grigg’s favorite part of his job is when he is able to walk around to say hello to employees. He genuinely enjoys getting to know the staff and clients as he works to make a great firm even better.