This Women in Construction Month, we celebrate the women who create the spaces where we live and work. Two members of the HF Planners team, Casey Murphy and Ellen Shelly, share their journeys, proudest projects, and advice for others.
Casey Murphy
Director of Projects | 13 years in Commercial Facility Design, 21 years in Interior Design & Architecture
Her Path
Casey’s journey into design wasn’t a straight path, and that’s what makes it compelling.
She started college as a painting major, drawn to creativity and expression. But practicality called. “I panicked that I would not have steady work if I stayed on that path,” she says. When she discovered her school’s Interior Design and Architecture program, which was highly rated and focused on adaptive reuse, she was intrigued enough to make the switch at the end of her freshman year. It was a decision that set everything in motion.
When asked about a mentor or person who shaped her, Casey pointed to her mother.
“My mom always showed me that I should hustle and be able to support myself — so that’s what I strived for. Self-sufficiency and work I could be proud of.”
A Moment She’s Proud Of
Ask Casey which project still excites her, and she immediately says: the EMD’s North American Headquarters.
“EMD’s North American Headquarters is, to this day, the project I’m most proud of. We worked with the president from start to finish, and in the end, it is unique, award-winning, and LEED Silver.”
What made it meaningful wasn’t just the scope or the accolades; it was the fact that it was the largest project she’d ever taken from start to finish, in both scale and complexity. “And I did it all while pregnant,” she adds, with the kind of quiet confidence that says everything.
She credits the project for teaching her to navigate corporate brand identity and the LEED certification process—skills that shape each project she undertakes.
Her Wisdom
“I wish I had known to lean into my strengths, instead of trying to fit a mold or be someone I’m not.”
And if she could say one thing to a young woman thinking about this field? She doesn’t sugarcoat it: “Be prepared for very hard work and being the only woman on a job site.” She says it with the knowing smile of someone who showed up anyway and won.
Her guiding philosophy comes straight from her dad, who used to say: “Get ’er done!” Casey’s translation: “Sometimes, you just have to do something, even if it’s hard.”
In Caroline’s Words
It has been incredibly rewarding to watch Casey Murphy grow and evolve since joining our team in 2013. She takes on every challenge with focus and determination, consistently exceeding expectations and often elevating the work beyond what was originally envisioned. Clients are naturally drawn to Casey’s optimism and positive approach, which helps bring their vision to life. Casey plays a key role on our team and is truly a pleasure to work with
Ellen Shelly
Facilities Integration Specialist | 6 years in facilities management & design
Her Path
For Ellen Shelly, curiosity about the built environment started early. Growing up with Caroline Shelly as a source of inspiration, Ellen developed an instinct for how spaces work and how they could work better. (She rearranged the furniture in her room at least twice a year. Some things are in the blood.)
College brought her into a community of people who pushed her to grow as a designer, and as a member of a field she’d come to love. “I’m lucky to still be connected with them during this phase of my professional career,” she says. That network and those relationships still matter.
A Moment She’s Proud Of
Ellen points to the Acres Land Title project in Shrewsbury as her proudest professional moment.
“Having such a wonderful client and project team with a lot of vision was so exciting as a designer newly coming out of school.”
The project turned out to be one of her last before transitioning into a Workplace Strategy focus, and it went out with a bang. The team won the Build Magazine Design Award for the project, a recognition that feels even more meaningful in hindsight.
Her Wisdom
Ellen wouldn’t change the lessons her journey has taught her, but she would tell her younger self one thing: “It’s okay to lean in from the start.”
To a young woman considering this field, her message is one of perspective and pride: “Like anything worthwhile, there will be challenges and lessons—but that’s the beauty of the journey. Find meaning in details, joy in the process, and pride in contributing to this long-standing profession.”
She leaves us with one of her favorite quotes from an artist who understood that some things can only be expressed through form and space:
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way — things I had no words for.” — Georgia O’Keeffe
In Caroline’s Words
When Ellen graduated in our kitchen in 2020 during the pandemic, her path took an unexpected—but natural—turn in joining HF Planners. While it may not have been her original plan, I’m incredibly proud of the path she’s created for herself here. Over the past four years, she has become a trusted partner to our client, who continually relies on her for support—she even refers to herself as part of their “pit crew.” Ellen’s analytical mindset and insights are valued across the entire firm.
I’m proud to work alongside women like Casey and Ellen, who bring talent, grit, and heart to everything they build.
Happy Women in Construction Month from all of us at HF Planners.