Victoria Cerami

WomenWhoBuild, Meet Victoria Cerami!

Victoria is the Chief Executive Officer of Cerami & Associates, a firm which has pioneered acoustical engineering since its start in 1965. Taking over the company at a young age of 27, Victoria has developed Cerami & Associates into the largest women-owned firm working on global multidiscipline design projects. Under Victoria’s leadership Cerami & Associates has worked on a number of incredible projects such as the Barclay Center, the TWA Hotel, Hudson Yards, and the expansion of the Museum of Modern Art, just to name a few.

Tell us a little about yourself and your journey in acoustic design? 

It’s not where we’ve been, but where we are going. We’ve bridged acoustic engineering with technology consulting, growing Cerami into the largest woman-owned firm working on multidiscipline design projects globally.  In the last few years, we’ve invested heavily in our Immersive Studio, and branded our Site Assessments team dedicated to providing expert on-call noise and vibration solutions.  It’s important to me that the work ethic my father founded his company on lives on, and that we continue to build upon those qualities and drive the industry forward. 

What was your first introduction to the field?

I took over the business at 27 years old, owing to my father’s passing. I didn’t know anything about running a business, but I knew when to admit that I didn’t know something, and I knew how to find answers. My first mission was to convince businessmen 20 years my senior, that I was the right person to carry on my father’s legacy at Cerami. 

What about the industry enticed you to make it your career? 

I had no doubt engineering was my calling. I grew up admiring my father’s ability to create innovative solutions to the acoustic issues of architecture - I wanted to be just like him. 

What was it like taking over such a high leadership role within your family business as such a young age? 

Every client that had a relationship with my dad opened the door an inch for me, and I worked very hard to push that door farther open and make a name for myself.  When I started in the industry, I didn’t have a first name, I was just Vito’s daughter.  Then, gradually, I became, Victoria, Vito’s daughter.  Now, no less my father’s daughter, I am known as Victoria Cerami. 

What has been your biggest challenge in your career? 

Making acoustics essential in the built environment- as acousticians, we don’t make a lot of noise.

How do you approach each project? 

Sometimes I can look at a blueprint and hear what the space should sound like and then we create the acoustics accordingly.  Other times it’s about matching the right people to the right projects – not just based on their experience, but also on their passions. We most recently designed the AV and Acoustics for the Genesis NYC showroom and knew that Justin, our resident car geek, would be the best for this project. 

What is one piece of advice you have for women entering the field?

You’ll probably stand out, so stand taller, be above reproach, and mentor other women.