Our Story
After a successful 25-year career in New York City’s traditional high-rise construction market, Susan was drawn to creating an organization that could help iconic construction and real estate firms grow to new heights, navigate all market cycles, and thrive in the most pivotal moments of their business journey.
Susan Hayes Enterprises features a dynamic team, pairing seasoned experts who have truly seen it all with a new generation committed to introducing innovative technology and new tools.
Having sat in your seat, we understand what it means to operate a business in the most dynamic and competitive market in the world. Wherever you are in your lifecycle, we've been there and know what it takes to be successful. Susan Hayes Enterprises exists to help you realize your vision.
Get in touch
We know that leaders face opportunities and challenges they can't always share with others. We're here to listen to your thoughts and share the unbiased perspective of someone who has sat in your seat.
susan@susanhayesenterprises.com
(917)710-0909
Our Team
Susan Hayes, Founder & CEO
Susan is CEO of Susan Hayes Enterprises. She spent a generation creating, developing, leading and transitioning successful businesses and business leaders. Susan’s team approach, business philosophy and processes for bottom line accountability have enabled numerous companies to achieve and sustain, best in class status and performance.
Most recently, Susan served as President of FC Modular, the first hi-rise modular construction plant in the country, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, a publicly traded REIT. Here she transformed the operation from an indoor construction project to a manufacturing plant, increased the asset value, and executed a near-term exit strategy for the parent company. Prior, Susan served as President and CEO of Cauldwell Wingate where, she provided leadership and management over a period of two decades, rooted in driving growth and profitability, achieving market leadership and mitigating through two major economic downturns.. During this period, the firm built some of New York City's most prestigious construction projects in healthcare, financial services, residential and institutional market sectors with innovation, professionalism and vision.
Prior, Susan was responsible for the merger and acquisitions of a number of closely held firms in the Project Managment, Trade Contracting and Consulting sectors in our industry. Susan has served on a number of industry, bank and corporate boards.
Her passion and dedication has been in advocating for the advancement of women in leadership roles in the board room and union jobs in the boiler room.
Patricia Lancaster, Senior Advisor
Patricia Lancaster is a registered Architect and licensed Real Estate Broker with over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Currently, she is serving as a Senior Advisor to Susan Hayes Enterprises, and is a Clinical Professor at New York University in the Master’s Program in Real Estate. She is well versed in navigating adeptly through the regulatory framework, having been Commissioner of the NYC Department of Buildings and Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Design and Construction Services. In both agencies, she completely re-structured along client service lines, and at the Buildings Department was responsible for writing and passing a new Building Code – the first in forty years. She has supervised design and construction for over three billion dollars worth of educational, institutional, commercial and residential facilities.
Patricia Lancaster is the author of Construction in Cities: Social, Environmental, Political and Economic Concerns. She earned her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and her Bachelor of Arts in Art and Theology from Linfield College in Portland, Oregon. In addition to being a Registered Architect, Lancaster is a licensed real estate broker and a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Construction, and the American Institute of Architects.
Deborah Razzano, Senior Advisor
Deborah has a long established track record in the construction industry as a financial professional. Her deep understanding of operations and the corresponding role of accounting and finance enables Deborah to support the valuation process in transition and succession planning, as well as scenario planning for a variety of strategic outcomes. Armed with a practical side to de-mystify the process, she interfaces easily among accounting and operations team members in support of executive leaderships initiatives. Her stealth assessment and results of budgets, profitability, cashflow management, balance sheets, P&L statements and earnings are delivered by a a construction industry veteran.
Deborah has worked with Susan Hayes for the last fifteen years in the construction management industry as well as most recently in the high rise modular business. During this time, Deborah managed the financial aspects of growth and profitability of mature companies, established business plans and pro-forma for new business’ and most recently supported the transient of the modular business to a new owner, Earlier in her career, Deborah enjoyed a successful profession in the banking industry. She rose to the position of Senior Vice President, Controller for an international bank.
Project Consultants
Chris Carey, Project Consultant
Chris Carey Advisors partners with Susan Hayes Enterprises on projects bringing turnaround and positioning expertise in improving business performance. The team works together to understand the business value proposition and works to leverage that differentiation into accelerating sales and profit. CCA is experienced in understanding and forecasting the capital requirements for a business and then leveraging business assets and cash flow into efficient forms of working capital lines. With the experience as entrepreneurs, the team can effectively assist owners and leaders into maximizing the value of their enterprise.