FieldAR2023OnlineAll11.13 - Magazine - Page 23
ALUMNI
Making
a
Dif f erence
A Divergent Path
Bella McCann ’12
Overcoming obstacles and not conforming to expectations or limitations is what sets Bella McCann ‘12 apart.
When someone tells Bella that she can’t do something, her immediate response is, “watch me.” This sense of
determination, combined with an early understanding of the value of community, has driven Bella to build her
construction company, Cann Construction. She credits Field with helping her see how important it is to take
risks, and even fail, in order to grow. At only 23 years old, Bella decided she wanted to start her own business.
Having the confidence to take what she describes as a “non-traditional path” was supported by her education
at Field, and her time in a community that encouraged those risks, and provided the support to see value in
the failures. She pursued internships that allowed her to get early experience with small businesses and honed
her abilities to work with people similar to, and different from, herself.
Bella began her college studies at Northeastern University. Following her first year, she went abroad to continue
her studies at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom where her family was living. She pursued a degree
in civil engineering with a concentration in architecture. She fell in love with “mega-infrastructure,” thinking
about highways and railways, and worked in investment banking, helping infrastructure
deals go through. When Bella came back to DC during a vacation, she realized
the lifestyle of investment banking was not what she wanted. Her mom was
renovating her childhood home, and Bella fell in love with that type of project.
In 2019, Bella started her own business, Domestic Engineering. Along the
way, she was discouraged from becoming a contractor; friends and mentors
told her that it would be a very challenging business to enter as a woman.
But that spirit of “watch me” propelled Bella to dive in, and embrace the
perspective she brought to the table. After a few years, and a few thousand
square feet of construction, Bella rebranded her company, now Cann
Construction.
“I am very much here today because of Field. It took me a long time to understand that.
But this education, this experience, and the people are what got me here.”
~Bella McCann ‘12, Principal, Cann Construction
With 100,000 square feet of construction now under her belt, having doubled the size of her employee base
each year for the past two years, and having been featured in Architectural Digest and Washingtonian
Magazine, Bella continues to set her sights even higher. While construction is a male-dominated industry, Bella
understands that home projects and remodels are often driven by women. Her identity as a female contractor
has opened doors with her clients time and time again. Bella remains focused on the value of giving back to
her communities; a value she credits Field for instilling in her so many years ago. “I am very much here today
because of Field. It took me a long time to understand that. But this education, this experience, and the people
are what got me here.”