A New York firm was awarded the contract and the water lines were laid by the following summer.

"They're still getting used to the idea that some big New York firm isn't going to pursue them," she said.

"How come you aren't in a big corporate New York firm?"

This is not the stuff New York firms are made of.

Large New York firms spend $300,000 to $500,000 each on the annual recruitment process.

It was a "leading New York firm" in the early 1900s.

Since then, she has worked as a temp at two New York firms.

"Two years ago, you would never see a New York firm on anything under $50 million; that was a regional food fight," he said.

These days, she is a partner in a New York firm.

Only eight of the 21 components rose, the New York firm said.