Thank you and Good morning. I am honored to join you for such a momentous occasion. Wentworth has obviously played an important role in your personal and professional development over the past four years. But this institution has also been critical to the development of my company – Suffolk Construction.

Over the years, Wentworth has continuously infused our company with the industry’s most promising talent. It has helped shape our organization. You should all be very proud as you reflect this morning on how far you have come since your first day here at Wentworth.

But as you look back on the past, you must also anticipate where you are heading. And in that spirit this morning of looking towards the future I want to pose my first challenge to all of today’s graduates:

Vigorously pursue your sense of curiosity. Curiosity opens minds. It unleashes potential and allows us to reinvent ourselves. And the level to which curiosity is nurtured and developed, often defines success.

In 1982, I sat at my own graduation ceremony at Bowdoin College. Within weeks, I moved into a roadside motel in Northhampton, MA – and oversaw my first major construction project – the Northhampton County Jail and House of Correction. By the end of the job, I decided I was ready to start my own business – Suffolk Construction.

I was ambitious, passionate and determined. And with that came a muffled - even suppressed - sense of curiosity. Here I was, 23 years old – tirelessly working to gain the respect of my employees and clients. I needed to be the one with the answers, not the questions. So being curious, or exploring the unknown didn’t seem to be an option. Because at the time, I thought it represented weakness.

Now fast forward to today. This year, Suffolk celebrates its 25th anniversary. And much of our success is a direct result of embracing curiosity and seeking the unknown:

• Our expansion into new markets across the country
• The growth of our team -- to almost 1,000 people
• And our climb to the $1.5 billion dollar mark in revenue.

I promise you that as I sat in the second row and listened to my commencement speech at Bowdoin, that managing a company this size never entered my mind.

But not too long after that, curiosity allowed me to conquer the insecurities I had as a college graduate and early entrepreneur. Because I realized that I didn’t know all the answers. And I started to ask the questions that I didn’t dare ask before.

Important questions – about building relationships and a better business. Soon enough, learning new things became addictive.

And it was this healthy curiosity that helped me improve – professionally and personally. This curiosity also helped me to dream. And dream big. Over time, my curiosity and vision for the future helped make Suffolk a successful company.

My dream came true because I never stopped imagining what could be possible. Think about it for a second as you’re sitting there today.

What’s your dream? And how can your curiosity open your mind, and help you achieve it? All of us share a similar passion. We want to design, engineer or construct something that will stand the test of time.

You might imagine yourself at a drafting table – drawing up plans for the city’s new high-rise. Or perhaps you dream about creating a new engineering software that will help others be more efficient and effective.

The opportunities are endless. And the skills and disciplines you have learned at Wentworth prepare you for your future.

But are they enough? I present a second challenge to you now: One that might sound a bit strange.

Don’t be yourself. Now I’m sure most of us here have heard from someone – a parent, a friend, a professor – just the opposite.

“Be yourself - That’s what matters.”

And I’m sure most of you have taken comfort in that. But what does that really do for you?

If you graduated today the same person you were just four years ago, you would have missed opportunities to challenge – to question and pursue your curiosity.

You would have missed the opportunity to open your minds and dream. In fact, you are not the same person you were four years ago.

Hopefully, your education at Wentworth has changed you. Today, it is not enough to simply use your natural talent and the skills you have learned here at Wentworth to set the course for your future.

Look beyond your past successes. Think beyond the blueprints and mathematical equations. Find ways to leverage your curiosity and reinvent yourselves.

So …you’re great with numbers – but not someone who works well with teams?

Then join a team and face the challenge head on!

You’re not comfortable leading others?

Ask to manage a project. Allow your curiosity to take hold …and force you out of your comfort zone. Allow yourself to dream.

So, why accept these challenges I’ve posed here this morning? This industry that you and I share is experiencing one of the most exciting periods in its history. Nationally, we face extraordinary issues that require tremendous questioning and curiosity.

• Technology is redefining our approaches at a staggering pace.
• Momentum around green design forces us to challenge products, services and resources in a new context.

Major US cities are positioned to embark on some of the most significant development periods in history. And Boston is no exception. Last year alone, projects underway represented $3 Billion Dollars! – $3 Billion! And great talent is scarce.

Similar to the 1990’s, we currently face a shortage of ambitious, skilled professionals entering our industry. And there is a fierce demand for people with your knowledge, expertise and drive.

The opportunities before you as you enter the workforce are incredible. It is an exciting, dynamic time. You have the potential to engage in challenges that will set the course for this industry in the next decade and beyond.

But to ride this incredible wave, you must vigorously pursue your sense of curiosity. You must be willing to look at yourselves in a different way and push beyond who you are today.

Celebrate your accomplishments –But don’t be satisfied with your success. Reach higher! And never forget to dream, and dream big.

Anthony Robbins once said, “Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.”

I can assure you that if you never stop questioning, if you never stop dreaming, you will always have opportunities to succeed.

Thank you, and good luck.