PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Vincencia Adusei
Construction Manager / Real Estate Developer
Vincencia Adusei is the President and Founder of VASE Construction, a leading construction management and real estate development firm based in New Haven, Connecticut. With over 16 years of experience in the construction industry, Vincencia has built a reputation for excellence, innovation, and integrity. Under her leadership, VASE, has rehabbed public schools, town halls, senior apartments, offices, and commercial sites - even redeveloped historic properties into modern housing - in over a dozen towns and cities in Connecticut.
As a Construction Manager
Vincencia has led VASE to complete over 2,000 projects, including the renovation of 224 apartment units for the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven. Her portfolio also includes work for prestigious entities such as Yale University, Greenwich Hospital- YNHH, Seymour Housing Authority, Southern Connecticut State University, Achievement First, the Town of Lebanon, the Housing Authority of the City of Ansonia, Operation Hope of Fairfield, the City of Meriden, the City of Milford, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, the Department of Housing, the Hartford Community Loan Fund, and various towns including Bethany, Branford, Fairfield, Farmington, Granby, Groton, and North Branford. Yale University has commended VASE for consistently “delivering multiple projects ahead of schedule and within budget”.
VASE is currently engaged in several significant projects, including Greenwich Hospital- YNHH Enabling Projects, Yale University York Street and College Street Renovations, Oak Grove Learning Center for the Norwalk Housing Authority, Yankee Trails for the Girl Scouts of Connecticut, renovation of 24 houses for the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven and the renovation of 24 houses for Seymour Housing Authority.
As A Real Estate Developer
Vincencia has guided VASE in investing in and developing small apartments and mixed-use properties. Notably, VASE completed the renovation of the depleted 94-96 Edwards St. in 2021, transforming it into five stable apartment units. This success has led the City of Hartford to provide VASE with an adjacent parcel comprising 19,000 square feet and 20 units for further development in partnership with the city. Additionally, Vincencia is planning to build the first condominiums in her hometown in the Ashanti region of Ghana, welcoming worldwide diasporas and those interested in owning property in this vibrant area.
Why Construction
As highlighted in a New Haven Biz article titled "Born to Build: Adusei Has Construction in Her Genes," Vincencia’s reputation as a Black woman running her own construction management company precedes her. In a male-dominated field, she has excelled and established herself as a leader. A native of Ghana, Vincencia grew up in a construction family that built several major roads and highways in Accra and Kumasi. She was raised to believe that one of the best ways to impact life and community is by building and creating jobs. Her family's influence instilled in her a fascination with how development and construction can transform entire communities, fueling her desire to be in business and to be a good leader.
In 2021, Vincencia formed VASE Development because she believes construction and real estate development goes hand in hand. Real estate development is a new territory for Vincencia, as her firm has focused primarily on managing construction projects for government agencies, institutions, private and commercial owners, and large non-profit organizations. Vincencia’s second, more ambitious development on Edwards Street still requires all the necessary financing. If successful, the apartment building will push the boundaries for both VASE and Vincencia, "a Black woman in an industry — real estate development — that is dominated by white men."
According to Kenneth R. Gosselin of the Hartford Courant, a 2023 report from Grove Impact, a social-impact consulting group, found that out of about 112,000 real estate development companies in the United States, about 111,000 are white-owned. What’s more, of the 383 developers at the top of the industry that earn more than $50 million in annual revenue, just one is Latino and none are Black. While Vincencia understands she is the first Black woman running her own construction management and real estate development company in Connecticut as of May 2024, she hopes to bring awareness and encourage other women to enter the industry.
Recognized for her exceptional leadership, Vincencia was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the State Historic Preservation Council (SHPO) within the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). She is ranked fourth in the “Power 25: Real Estate 2021” by New Haven Biz.
Vincencia is passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion within the construction industry. She actively promotes the engagement and development of local, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses through various initiatives and subcontracting efforts. Over the past 16+ years, her community efforts have facilitated more than $100 million in contract awards for over 1,000 businesses, contractors, and Section 3, Minority/Women Business Enterprises. She has received numerous accolades from esteemed organizations such as the Home Builders Association, the National Association of Women in Construction, Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, University of Bridgeport, Smart CEO Corporate Culture Awards, The Workplace, elected officials, business journals, and community-centric institutions for her exceptional contributions.
Vincencia holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Bridgeport.
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