A new dawn for construction

Zora is a woman-owned and led construction company.

We balance warmth and strength. We value integrity and trust. We deliver excellence and quality. We want our clients to enjoy the building process and we know that collaboration and communication is critical to a project’s success.

We’re in this together.

 
 

Full-service project management

We deliver results at the intersection of project, people and process. We work with you during all aspects of construction from conception to closing, and every phase in-between.

  • Design

    Our team will work with you to conceptualize your project by defining your design ideas and vision, detailing expectations, and creating clear goals. We will source and onboard a team of designers and consultants to bring your vision to reality and create construction documents to guide the development process.

  • Planning

    As design moves into planning, we will develop clear construction timelines and budgets, assess and plan for site logistics, oversee contract management and administration, and navigate the permitting process. We believe planning to be a crucial step that will contribute monumentally to the overall success of the project.

  • Pre-Construction

    Once the project is cleared for construction, we’ll bid, select, and award quality-and-safety-conscious contractors and vendors. Our process provides you with the assurance of team alignment around your design vision, budget, and construction plan. We’ll use this stage to set realistic project objectives and milestones.

  • Construction

    While construction is underway, we’ll be in lockstep alignment with goals, milestones, and the overall plan. With onsite supervision of all the moving parts, we ensure clear communication around performance, progress, and execution. We’ll monitor and inspect regularly at all stages of construction, holding the team and our partners accountable.

  • Closing

    As your project moves into the closing phase, we’re there to ensure everything is completed as promised - overseeing final permitting, inspections and occupancy; completing turnover documentation and warranties; and doing a final review of the project. We assure you that we’ll not only deliver your vision, but we’ll also make the process enjoyable and efficient. goes here

The Zora Team

  • Cindy Laughrea

    Chief Executive Officer

    Cindy Laughrea has a passion for buying and selling luxury real estate and has more than two decades of combined real estate development, sales, and renovation experience in Florida, California, and Massachusetts. She currently works as a Real Estate Advisor for Engel and Völkers. Cindy owns a family real estate development business with her husband, Bob, and together, they have renovated and restored the beauty to 10 historic properties in Florida and Massachusetts — including their current Mansard Colonial home in West Newton. Zora Builders is a natural extension of her real estate business and it is the culmination of her personal and professional passion for building beautiful properties that serve the needs of her real estate clients.

  • Janet Ceddia

    Janet Ceddia

    Board Member & General Contractor

    Janet B Ceddia is a recognized leader and entrepreneur, known for her ability to build businesses and teams, and optimize their performance. Over her 30+ years in leadership, Janet has advised Fortune 50 companies in the US and abroad, and she has built two award-winning construction businesses that spanned the residential, commercial and federal markets across a broad range of service offerings including interior and exterior renovations, interior fit-outs and new construction builds. She has expertise in specialty trade contracting as well, having grown a residential fence company, launched a commercial perimeter security and access control business, and most recently led acquisition integrations for one of the largest elevator services businesses in the United States. For her work in the public and federal sectors, she was honored as the region’s Small Business Contractor of the Year and Minority Contractor of the Year by the SBA.

    Janet holds an active Unrestricted Construction Supervisors License with the State of Massachusetts. She earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BA with honors from Colby College.

  • Cassandra Laughrea

    Estimator & Assistant Project Manager

    Cassandra Laughrea is a certified OSHA professional with a degree in Real Estate and five years of experience in Construction Management, Site Supervision and Estimating. Joining Shawmut Design & Construction after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2017, Cassandra worked as an APM for the company’s Luxury Residential portfolio and then as an Estimator for Shawmut’s Retail division. She moved to JDL Corporate Interiors as an Assistant Estimator in 2019. Cassandra comes to Zora Builders with strong hands-on construction management experience and a passion for high-end real estate development.