Building a new blueprint

By Emma Peterson.

Learn how Erica Reed is redefining leadership and the industry.  

Meet Erica Reed, Elite Contruction Solutions’ incredible VP of multi-family and commercial sales. In this role, Erica oversees all sales strategy for the multi-family and commercial projects. But her story didn’t start with roofing. She recently (February 2025) sat down with Bold Journey Magazine to share her story.

Erica earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice/law enforcement administration in 2003, from Florida A&M University. From there, she worked in law enforcement and investigations. While doing that, she earned her master's degree from the University of South Florida. Looking back at her work and education in law enforcement, Erica credits them for teaching her a lot of the skills she uses today. She shared, “Much like construction, those jobs required confidence, problem-solving and the ability to navigate high-pressure situations. Those experiences shaped my leadership style, teaching me the importance of strategy, discipline and earning respect in spaces where women are often underrepresented.”

And Erica has rightfully earned that respect. In addition to her high-level position at Elite, she has her own business, Intext Designs. She shared, “I founded 'Intext Designs' a residential and commercial painting company in 2017. At Intext Designs, LLC, my focus is on delivering exceptional painting services for both residential and commercial properties. We don’t just apply paint, we transform spaces, elevate property value and bring our clients’ visions to life.”

But getting that respect hasn’t always been easy for Erica, who is a black woman in a field where positions like hers are traditionally filled by white men. She shared some thoughts on that part of her journey, saying, “Being the only woman/Black woman and many times the only person of color in the room in the construction industry has been both a challenge and an opportunity. I’ve learned that my effectiveness and success don’t come from blending in but from standing firm in who I am and what I bring to the table.”  

Her advice to others? Be confident in your expertise, let your results build your credibility, turn doubt into fuel, leverage the fact you bring a unique perspective into the room and lift up others as you climb. She explained, “At the end of the day, I’ve learned that my success isn’t defined by how others perceive me — it’s defined by how I show up, how I execute and how I keep pushing forward no matter what room I walk into... Through it all, my goal remains the same: to build, to lead and to open doors for others.”

Check out Erica’s full interview with Bold Journey to learn more about her and her story!

Original photo source: Bold Journey