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MVT Celebrates Women’s History Month with Spotlight on Tessa Hall Founder of No. 07 Consultants & MVT CID Board Vice Chair

Thursday March 5, 2026

Women’s History Month began Friday, March 1 and throughout the month we’ll spotlight a group of incredible female leaders for their contributions to our Mount Vernon Triangle community. First up, we’re featuring MVT CID Vice Chair Tessa Hall.

Tessa is the Founder of No.07 Consultants, a boutique construction management and design consulting firm known for a high-touch, detail-driven, and transparent approach. With more than 20 years of experience in construction, she supports clients through preconstruction planning, permitting coordination, schedule and quality oversight, and construction execution, with a focus on protecting design intent and long-term durability. Prior to launching No.07 Consultants in 2021, Tessa served as SVP of Design and Construction at Dantes Partners where she worked on the construction of Capitol Vista Apartments in Mount Vernon Triangle. She works primarily across Washington, DC and New York on multifamily and mixed-use projects, as well as select retail work.

We sat down with Tessa to learn more about how she rose to success and continues to navigate a male-dominated industry. Read on to learn her best advice for people looking to enter project management and her favorite parts of the MVT community:

MVT CID: How did you get involved in your industry?

Tessa: I earned my Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University and have spent 20+ years in construction, with 10 of those years heavily focused on multifamily construction. I worked for several major general contractors, then for a Developer as SVP of Design and Construction for several years before founding No.07 Consultants in 2021.

Each role taught me something different. The general contractor work gave me deep operational knowledge. Moving to the developer side showed me the bigger picture of how projects come together from vision to completion. Founding my own practice let me apply everything I’d learned in a way that felt true to how I wanted to work: tailored, transparent, and client-focused.

MVT CID: Did any women inspire or assist you early in your career?

Tessa: I didn’t have formal mentors early on, which I think would have been extremely helpful. What I did have were industry peers who helped me stick it out while I was in the thick of it. Hearing their stories helped me persevere through the difficult moments.

Those peer relationships were crucial. They normalized the struggle and showed me I wasn’t alone in navigating a male-dominated industry. But I also recognized the gap. Having mentors who could show me the way forward, who had already walked the path and could guide my decisions, would have accelerated my growth and given me more confidence in my trajectory.

That’s why I’m committed to being that mentor for women coming up now. The industry needs more of us showing up in those roles.

MVT CID: How do you think your industry could benefit from having more women in positions of leadership?

Tessa: When I first entered the industry, there weren’t many women in leadership positions. That absence made it difficult to see a clear trajectory for long-term success in construction. That’s why I believe it’s imperative to have more women in senior leadership roles who can show what real growth in this industry looks like.

It’s also imperative to have women’s input in a heavily male-dominated industry because we are end users as well. We live, play, and work in these built environments. We experience how spaces function day to day, what feels safe, what supports real life, and what simply does not work. That perspective matters, and it adds value at every stage, from planning and design to construction and long-term performance.

When women are visible at the top, it changes everything. It creates a roadmap for the next generation. They can see themselves in those roles, understand what’s possible, and learn what the path actually requires. That kind of visibility is transformative.

MVT CID: What advice can you offer to women looking to break into your industry?

Tessa: Build deep expertise and stay curious. The construction industry rewards knowledge and problem-solving. Master your craft, whether that’s design, project management, permitting, or another discipline. Get comfortable being direct and transparent; it builds trust faster than anything else.

Network intentionally. Some of my most valuable relationships came through intentional networking and showing up consistently. Show up, be genuine, and invest in people, not transactionally, but authentically. The relationships matter as much as the deals.
Don’t apologize for having high standards. I’ve built my practice on delivering exactly what each client needs, not settling for one-size-fits-all solutions. That specificity and attention to detail is a strength, not a liability.

Finally, find your people: mentors, peers, accountability partners who get it. This industry can be isolating, especially early on. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and challenge you to grow makes all the difference.

MVT CID: What is your favorite part about the Mount Vernon Triangle community?

Tessa: My favorite part of Mount Vernon Triangle is the integrated art and what feels like well-executed placemaking with a high-density mix of multifamily, office space, and retail. I’ve been frequenting MVT for over 10 years. I started coming because I worked in neighboring communities, but I kept coming back for A Baked Joint, that became my regular stop. There’s something about a place where you can grab a sandwich, see art on the walls, live above a coffee shop, and work nearby. It doesn’t feel forced or overly curated. It just feels right.

As Vice Chair of the Mount Vernon Triangle CID, I’m committed to preserving and strengthening that balance. It’s the intersection of intentional urban design and genuine community that drives my work, whether it’s on the board or in the projects I take on at No.07 Consultants. That’s the kind of place I want to help build.

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