A Profile of Empowerment: From Intern to Assistant Controller
PORTAGE, In. (March 7, 2025) — When Sarah Lewis joined Superior Construction as an accounting intern in May 2018, she didn’t realize that role would lead to a potentially lifelong career. She now serves as an Assistant Controller after earning her MBA from Purdue University Global while working at Superior. Sarah’s path is a prime example of the company’s Core Value of Empowerment, which encourages employees to reach their full potential.
“I started as an intern during my last semester of undergrad,” Sarah recalls. “Since then, Superior has supported my growth every step of the way — from developing my professional skills to pursuing advanced education and starting a family.”
That support was especially valuable to Sarah when she decided to pursue her Master’s in Business Administration.
“Superior empowered me both financially and mentally throughout my graduate studies,” she says. “My coworkers would regularly check in, offering encouragement and support to keep me going.”
Sarah says her journey at Superior has had a few bumps in the road. After unwittingly providing incorrect information during a meeting early in her career, Sarah reached out to CEO Nick Largura to apologize. His response demonstrated how Superior puts its Empowerment value into practice.
“Nick made sure to let me know it was okay and I didn’t need to apologize,” Sarah remembers. “He appreciated my efforts and the fact that I was trying my best and caring about the work I was doing. That experience taught me it’s okay not to know everything immediately. As long as you care about your work, are honest with yourself, and ask for help when needed, no one will fault you.”
Sarah continues to grow into new responsibilities as an Assistant Controller while maintaining work-life balance. Having just finished maternity leave with her third child since joining the company, she appreciates how Superior encourages employees to prioritize family.
“Each time, they’ve supported my choice to take time to be with my baby,” she says. “They’ve been very flexible, allowing me to prepare for leave and return to work on my own timeline without feeling rushed or stressed.”
Sarah has found additional support through the professional development program Superior Women in Construction (SWiC) LEAD, which brings together women working throughout the company.
“SWiC LEAD has connected me with executives and other women at Superior whom I might never have known beyond an email,” she explains. “These amazing women have been a wonderful support group and helped me feel less alone while working toward my goals.”
While navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry presents unique challenges, Sarah credits Superior’s culture of empowerment for transforming these potential obstacles into opportunities for growth. She points to how the company actively supports women in leadership roles and creates an environment where diverse perspectives drive innovation.
“Being a mom has made me better at my job – I’ve gotten really good at juggling different priorities and connecting with people,” Sarah reflects. “Superior gets that. They don’t just talk about empowerment – they live it. They support me as a whole person, not just as an employee.”