Mary Tappouni Honored in Jacksonville Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Mary Tappouni is a groundbreaker. Not only did Breaking Ground Contracting Co. increase  sales dramatically in the past two years, but she's also planning to take her company into new territory. "We grew 40 percent last year and we're looking to achieve that again this year," said Tappouni, 35, president and owner. "Along with that, we want to manage growth in a responsible manner that really maintains the quality that is expected by our clients, me and the employees." Tappouni is striving to make Breaking Ground a leader in sustainable construction in Northeast Florida. "That encompasses a lot of things: energy use, resource use and reuse, green building materials. "It's a whole new approach for construction and we're looking forward to working with the owners, architects and design team to achieve those goals." Breaking Ground is known for quality work and for its commitment to exceeding client expectations. "The thing that impresses me about her, even though she's ambitious and is growing the company, is she's grounded," said her sister, Michelle Tappouni, the company's general manager. "She's a real person and she doesn't let her ambition for the company get in the way of what's good for the employees or change her sense of community. That's what makes her special."