Dominique Perry, business development specialist at Coffman Engineers, has over a decade of experience in marketing, including a number of years in real estate. She entered the construction field just over four years ago — the last two spent with Coffman — and has already made her mark on the industry.

Perry is also a member of the Hawai‘i chapter of Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS Hawaii), and volunteers for the Wahine Build initiative, NAIOP Hawaii, Special Olympics Hawaii and Make-A-Wish Foundation, among other organizations.

QUESTION: What does a typical day look like at Coffman Engineers?

ANSWER: My role focuses on our Pacific Region offices, which include Honolulu and Guam. I support internal and external communications and business development needs, including developing various communications, PR and marketing pieces.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: The mix of collaboration, creativity and problem-solving. As a multidiscipline engineering firm, we collaborate with a mix of clients.

Q: What are your strengths? Where do you strive to improve?

A: Practicing humility and my willingness to support others are some of my strengths. I’m confident in my abilities, but open to receiving feedback. I strive to improve my work balance through delegating.

Q: What project was the most satisfying for you?

A: Our Pacific Region newsletter, “Coffman Waves,” was a new project I got off the ground in 2023.

Our goal is to share information with clients that can help them solve problems, and we’re seeing the positive impact on our partnerships.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?

A: A challenge I faced getting to where I am today was finding a delicate balance between advocating for myself and seeing commitments through. We all want to see our commitments through, but it shouldn’t cost you your integrity. If you know who you are and where you aspire to be, you need to communicate that and have others who value that too.

Q: How do you approach your workload? Any tips?

A: “Never let the urgent crowd out the important.” That is one of my favorite quotes from my father. There will always be someone or something that needs your attention.

Having a handwritten to-do list or a notebook with your priorities is a great way to stay on track. If it’s not on my to-do list or blocked out in my calendars, “it doesn’t exist.”

Blocking out time on my calendar to chip down the priority list helps me accomplish the tasks at hand, identify which items can wait and prepare for tomorrow’s tasks.

Q: What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into your field?

A: My advice to anyone wanting to get into this field is make sure your professional goals complement your personal passions. It’s okay to give yourself permission to pivot through your career path to explore career opportunities that align with your values, goals and beliefs. 

Q: What’s on the horizon that has you most excited?

On the horizon, I am looking forward to becoming the Society for Marketing Professional Services’ Hawaii chapter president in September. Our Coffman team has expanded and outgrown our space, so we now have two floors in Topa Tower and are planning a client open house to celebrate our 45th anniversary this year.

As co-chair of our internal community service committee, we are looking forward to upcoming events supporting organizations like Ho‘okua‘āina, Mālama Loko Ea Fishpond, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Hawaii, Make-A-Wish Hawaii and AccesSurf Hawaii, among others.

Lastly, I’m excited to travel to Bali this summer to spend quality time with my younger sister.