About

About Colleen Calandra

Colleen Calandra grew up in Helena, Montana, where she carved out a rich, fulfilling career and life. You could say she is a pioneer as a woman who entered and succeeded in the construction industry. Following in her father’s footsteps, who was a carpenter, she took over his construction firm and expanded it to include both commercial and residential construction. As a general contractor/construction manager, Colleen oversees new builds and renovations throughout Helena and the surrounding areas. 

When she is not working on a project, you can find Colleen playing bass guitar with her band in local gigs around the city. She has made quite a name for herself in the local music scene. 

Colleen’s Early Life and Education

Born in Helena, Colleen grew up around job sites as her father took her on his projects. She watched him bring new homes to life, constructing and installing building frameworks, including walls, floors, and doorframes. She also saw him turn an old kitchen into a work of art with custom cabinetry. What inspired her the most was watching the satisfaction and joy her father brought to his customers once the work was completed. Colleen thought, “I want to do this, too.” 

After high school, Colleen decided to major in Civil Engineering at Montana State University (MSU), where she received a solid foundation in the principles of construction, project management, and environmental sustainability.

Hard Hat in Hand: Colleen’s Construction Career

Upon earning her degree from MSU, Colleen joined a construction firm in Helena as a project manager, where she oversaw all phases of the building process, ensuring projects were completed on time and within scope and budget. She collaborated with contractors and the architect and engineer on the project. The construction firm recognized her leadership, interpersonal, and technical skills, and Colleen, during her tenure with the company, was rewarded with increasingly larger projects to manage.

After several years working for others, Colleen decided to go out on her own and works as a construction manager on various types of projects in Helena and Bozeman, Montana, including commercial office buildings, medical centers, banking facilities, historical renovations, ranch infrastructure, residential projects (both new builds and renovations), and retail projects. She loves going to job sites, the planning and budgeting process, evaluating progress, and seeing the final results (just as she did when she was a young girl visiting her dad’s job sites). 

Colleen also enjoys the diversity of her position as a construction manager and the various aspects she is responsible for – from screening and hiring contractors to assessing safety protocols and risk management measures to meeting with clients. 

A Stellar Reputation

Colleen has established an impeccable reputation not only with her clients but also within an industry traditionally dominated by men. According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), women make up nearly 11% of the industry in the United States. In the last fifteen years, Colleen has gained the respect of her peers and has been an example to other women looking to break into the construction industry. 

The Bass Guitarist

While Colleen Calandra’s professional life is deeply rooted in the construction industry, she also has another passion: music. She learned to play bass guitar in her early teens, inspired by her older brother, who loved classic rock, including Pink Floyd’s “Money,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who, and “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. Colleen put the same dedication and practice in learning the bass guitar as she did in her professional career, taking weekly lessons and playing 60 to 90 minutes daily for years. 

Colleen formed a band with some friends at university and began performing at local bars and college functions. Her passion for playing inspired her to hone her talents as a bassist, learning to play various genres, including rock, blues, and country music. The pleasure of performing live, the camaraderie with her bandmates, and the connection with the audience are integral parts of her life.

Community Involvement

Colleen Calandra is also committed to giving back to her community, volunteering with local organizations that promote STEM education for young girls and inspire the next generation of women in fields such as construction, engineering, and computer science. According to research by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), two of the most lucrative STEM Fields—engineering and computer science—remain heavily male-dominated. Only 21% of engineering and 19% of computer science majors are women. 

Colleen also supports local music programs, believing in the power of music to bring people together and enrich lives. 

Looking ahead, Colleen continues to take on larger projects that make a lasting impact on Montana’s communities. On the musical front, she would like to record an album someday and perhaps even go on tour. For Colleen, the sky’s the limit—whether she’s building dreams or making music.