Women Who Build

Turning Setbacks Into Industry Leadership

Jessica Azarelo transformed a career disruption into the launch of Attic Queen, a growing insulation and building performance company.

By John Wyatt, Editor, Tanja Kern, Strategic Content Editor

Women Who Build — Image composition: James Hohner

Jessica Azarelo
Founder and CEO, Attic Queen

Jessica Azarelo founded Attic Queen in 2021 after a 16-year career in corporate sales and management in mortgage and banking. Seeking greater purpose focused on health and happiness, she transitioned to insulation, starting at the bottom and quickly rising to manage sales and operations before founding her own company.

A local insulation company in Tampa recruited her. She started at the very bottom, learning, observing and rolling up her sleeves. By the end of her first year, she was managing both sales and operations. Then came a turning point: she was fired for attending a training that would transform her perspective and solidify her mission.

Rather than seeing this as a setback, she saw it as an opportunity. Four months later, in 2021, she founded Attic Queen, a company born out of purpose, passion, and the desire to make a real difference.

Today, Attic Queen is a Certified Woman-Owned Business, trademarked, and widely respected in the industry. She is a BPI Certified Building Analyst and Total Building Performance Specialist, a Florida Certified Mold Remediator, and an advocate who helped push a $9 billion bill through Congress.

She sees the wall and ceiling industry evolving toward higher professional standards, technical expertise, and science-based practices. She’s particularly proud of the cultural shift welcoming more women into the field: her own story is proof that success isn’t about fitting a mold; it’s about redefining it. Every day on the job is a new adventure, making a difference for people and the planet alike.

Her advice for women climbing the career ladder? “Learn everything, stay a step ahead, own your mistakes and always find a plan to fix them,” she says.

Her journey is a reminder that courage, curiosity, and resilience can turn life’s detours into a legacy of leadership and transformation.

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John Wyatt is editor of Walls & Ceilings magazine, bringing more than two decades of experience with BNP Media. He joined the company in 2000 as an associate editor, contributing to both Walls & Ceilings and Roofing Contractor before assuming the role of editor in 2008. In addition to his work with the brand, Wyatt collaborates across BNP’s architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) portfolio, supporting related publications and initiatives. He can be reached at 248-205-6659 or wyattj@bnpmedia.com.

Tanja Kern covers economic trends and the intersection of architecture, design, and construction for Walls & Ceilings, with an emphasis on the forces reshaping the industry. She develops and amplifies content that connects construction professionals with the intelligence they need to compete and grow.

With more than 20 years of experience, Tanja has written for national business, consumer and trade publications. She holds a Master of Science in magazine publishing from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She can be reached at kernt@bnpmedia.com.