Skylar Mahaffey ’19 did not expect to end up in construction. She studied finance, imagined a future in banking or financial planning, and spent her college years moving between Florida, Wisconsin, and remote coursework during the upheaval of the pandemic.

Today, however, she manages projects for Richard E. McCue, Inc., a high-end custom home builder in Connecticut, helping oversee everything from multimillion-dollar estates to small-scale renovations. In many ways, the work feels surprisingly aligned with the education she received at Millbrook.

What she enjoys most is watching a project evolve from concept to completion. That appreciation for process—and for doing things thoughtfully—was shaped in part by her Millbrook experience. Skylar arrived at Millbrook as a IVth former after attending public school locally. She quickly recognized the difference in the academic environment. Today she looks back proudly at her Millbrook education, including the variety of classes, the teachers, and the expectations, all which prepared her well for college. She remembers entering college-level writing courses and realizing how much more prepared she felt than many of her peers.

Skylar attended the University of Tampa before COVID disrupted campus life. After struggling with overcrowded classes and shifting learning environments, she transferred into Penn State’s online World Campus program. She graduated with a finance degree, initially imagining a future in banking, accounting, or financial planning. But after an internship in cybersecurity sales left her feeling unfulfilled, she reconsidered her path. Unable to find the right post-graduation role during a difficult job market, she spoke with her grandfather, who owns the construction company where she now works. Going to work with him was meant to be a short-term Plan B; instead, it became her future.

Now, going on three years into the role, Skylar oversees projects, manages clients, coordinates subcontractors, and helps modernize systems and workflows within the company. For someone who once imagined an entirely different career path, Skylar has found herself designing something perhaps even more meaningful than she expected: not simply homes, but a life and career built around creativity, trust, craftsmanship, and connection.