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2021 Women in Real Estate
Chicago & Midwest
Sandya Dandamudi
Second-generation female owner in the male-dominated stone fabrication and installation industry
Portfolio of projects includes residential, office, healthcare and hotel buildings
Clients include Related Midwest, JDL Development, Magellan Development Group, Parkside Realty and Hines
As president of Chicago-based GI Stone, Sandya Dandamudi is a second-generation female owner in the male-dominated stone fabrication and installation industry. GI Stone employs 28 permanent, salaried employees and 20 stone tradespeople. Her deep knowledge of stone and her “get it done” attitude has propelled GI Stone to its position as one of the most reliable and in-demand subcontractors in Chicago, working with Related Midwest, JDL Development, Magellan Development Group, Parkside Realty, Hines, and many more.
Dandamudi’s portfolio of projects includes residential, office, healthcare and hotel buildings such as No.9 Walton, One Bennett Park, Fulton East, The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons Chicago, St. Regis Chicago, Viceroy Hotel Chicago, Wolf Pointe and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, among others. She stands out from her counterparts for her ability to quickly assess and understand a developer’s vision; and to select, source and fabricate custom products for luxury designs, all while helping her clients stay on budget. She has strengthened her reputation as an empathic and innovative leader during the pandemic, as she quickly implemented CDC guidelines last year to keep her employees safe while continuing operations
Recently, to tackle the stone industry’s union labor shortage and create jobs, she initiated conversations and outreach with Chicago’s Saint Paul Church of God in Christ community (SPCDM), which has a three-month pre-apprentice program to increase the number and diversity of workers entering the trades. By working with the SPCDM, Dandamudi hopes to create a sustainable pipeline for training new stone workers, and she is preparing to take on potential apprentices and teach them the craft within her own company.
These are just a few of the reasons we chose Dandamudi as one of the Chicago 2021 Women in Real Estate Award winners. Connect CRE’s Women in Real Estate Awards honor the achievements and inspirational stories of women who have reached respected positions of leadership and play key mentorship roles for others.