TARA GANKIEWICZ
Senior Project Manager
Tara Gankiewicz is a Senior Project Manager with 20 years of experience in managing and documenting construction projects and budgets. Throughout her career, she has successfully navigated prestigious and complex projects in pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing, commercial office spaces, and general building fit-outs. Tara excels in budget planning, change management, schedule management, and logistics, which complement her skills in procurement and communication.
Her meticulous and thorough approach ensures exceptional results in planning, budgeting, execution, and project close-out. With a solid foundation as a project manager for several major pharmaceutical companies, Tara brings a wealth of expertise in budget and change controls, reinforcing her capability to steer projects of any size from conception to completion.
In her words, “In my experience, there is no such thing as a typical day,” and this unpredictability is part of what she loves about the industry. While her daily tasks can vary, Tara prioritizes client needs by placing quality control and safety at the forefront. She believes that if safety isn't guaranteed, the project isn't worth pursuing, adhering to the principle that “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.”
Tara was drawn to Halyard after meeting Barrett while managing a large parking lot expansion project. She appreciated his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to navigate tough conversations while ensuring that all parties were satisfied with the final product. This focus on customer service and trust through transparency resonated with Tara, solidifying her decision to join the Halyard team.
Her passion lies in managing life sciences and healthcare projects, particularly within pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing. She finds fulfillment in knowing that her work ultimately benefits patients—those who rely on the facilities and medications that come from her projects. “It feels good knowing the work you do is helping other people feel better and live healthier,” she reflects.
What she loves most about her role is the dynamic nature of the job; no two days are the same, and the work is both creative and tangible. She thrives on the challenges that require critical thinking, taking pride in being able to see the direct results of her efforts.
Tara's secret to staying organized stems from her belief that an organized environment fosters an organized mind, a principle she attributes to her engineering background and her Virgo nature. Her father’s advice, “Anything worth doing is worth doing well,” has always stuck with her, even as he jokes about her habit of organizing soup cans by brand and flavor.
After work, Tara enjoys reading and watching documentaries, with a particular obsession for figures like Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra. She highly recommends the Nat Geo series Lost Treasure of Egypt and loves visiting museums, especially the Victoria & Albert in London. Recently, she’s gotten into Peloton and has plans to return to skiing after a ten-year hiatus.
