Melissa Drew

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InSite BUILD

Melissa Drew is the founder and president of InSite BUILD, a commercial construction management firm located in Salisbury. As a woman-owned company, InSite BUILD is certified as an MDOT Minority Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firm.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Stanford University, Drew built her career in construction management. She worked at Holder Construction Co. for more than 20 years, eventually becoming a senior project manager. She later served as a project executive at Gilbane Building Co. before returning to Holder as senior quality manager.

“There is no doubt that my most significant professional accomplishment has been taking the leap to start my own business,” Drew said. “Being a woman in a male-dominated industry like construction is challenging.”

Drew founded InSite BUILD in 2022 and has grown it to an eight-person team specializing in large-scale, state-procured contracts on the Eastern Shore. The company manages the $53 million renovations at Eastern Correctional Institution and serves as an MBE managing partner on the $26 million renovations of the Delmarva Shorebirds stadium.

An accomplished athlete, Drew has completed eight Ironman-distance triathlons. She is also deeply involved in her community, serving on the Leadership Maryland Programming Committee and with the Greater Salisbury Committee. Her volunteer work includes mentoring for the Special Olympics of Maryland’s Athlete Leadership Council and serving as a founding member of the ACE Mentor Program’s Salisbury chapter.

“Starting InSite BUILD was the best decision I have ever made,” Drew said. The Daily Record has recognized her achievements by naming her among Maryland’s Top 100 Women and honoring InSite BUILD among the Best Women-Owned Businesses.

This is an honoree profile from The Daily Record's Top 100 Women awards. Information for this profile was sourced from the honoree's application for the award. The honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record's editorial staff.