At one point in time, it was socially unacceptable to have a woman performing a tradesmen job. To avoid these issues, women laborers were often left off official records or noted only by gender without specifying a proper name or work role. But as time went on and our world evolved so did the concept of women getting their hands dirty and successfully working in a “man’s world” – heavy labor and all. The journey has been long, and adversities do remain. There is a constant need to overcome the conscience and unconscious biases and be validated by our work performance, not the shade of our lipstick. But times are ever-changing, and women are bridging the performance gap in the construction industry, bringing needed perspectives and talent to teams across the trade.
We are extremely proud of our women employee owners who continue to add value to our divisions across the country. Let’s hear from some of them below. How they came into the industry, challenges they’ve overcome and what excites them for the future for Women in Construction!
- “I started at IT Landes as a customer service rep, with little knowledge in the industry. My career evolved from there!” – Hanna LaCava, IT Landes – Preconstruction Administrator
- “2012 I worked for a small Mechanical (HVAC) company, started as a Service Dispatch worked my way up to managing that Service Department with working with 3 technician’s and a Service Manger.” – Michelle Mancilla, Spectrum- Project Coordinator
- “I was in the hospitality industry and felt that it wasn’t for me. It became stale and I didn’t feel I was getting anywhere personally. My mentor, Laura, at the time would tell me, “Do what you love.” Well at 22-24, do you know what you love to do? Because I surly DID NOT. So on a whim, a friend proposed a position to me and I applied for it. And that was 10 years ago.” – Nikki Lockard, BBEC- Project Manager Assistant
- “It’s important for women to consider a career in the trades to show that women too can be just as helpful and resourceful to the industry as men. Women have fought hard to be treated equally for many years and I think we are making strides towards proving we are an asset.” Denise Marshall, HB McClure- Warranties/Returns Processor
- “The trades offer steady employment, a variety of positions and room for growth.” Wendy Zook, IT Landes- Administration Manager
- “I would not relegate women to a singular career within construction trades. Rather, I would recommend a career in architecture and/or engineering paired with a branch of the industry that ignites one’s curiosity – combine your best skills from the opposite end of the spectrum with the trade you are learning.” Maria Frassetto, William R. Nash- Assistant Project Manager
- “At times, women are perceived as less knowledgeable. I eventually earn their trust through lots of validated work and guidance from me to them.” – Tabitha Bailey, NashPM – Assistant Project Manager
- “I have faced multiple challenges in this industry, unfortunately most of them by managers/men who didn’t know how to handle having a female employee in this industry. I overcame the demeaning comments by not letting it get to me, I had my days of anger & doubt. I wanted to quit for days, months, years but if I had I wouldn’t be where I am now. I also wouldn’t have learned how to stick up for myself. It’s unfortunate that I had to learn that way but it’s a skill that has come in handy when once again, men thought that they could talk to me in demeaning fashion.” – Breanna Stahlnecker, Spectrum- Project Coordinator
- “It is a challenge to promote our value as women. In some situations, women’s opinions are not held in high regard as a man’s opinions due to the illusion that we have a lack of knowledge. At times, I feel it’s a challenge to be heard. Being too expressive and assertive as a woman is often looked down upon. ” – Kristie Berzins, IT Landes- HR Generalist
- “Don’t listen to the people who don’t think you can succeed or are demeaning. The biggest mistake you can make is giving up, learn as much as you can; then let your knowledge & hard work speak for itself.”- Breanna Stahlnecker, Spectrum- Project Coordinator
- “Mistakes are not failures. They are opportunities to learn. Everyone makes mistakes and has a learning curve. Everyone had their first day in construction, even the men who have been here 40 years. Keep pushing to learn and if you stumble, learn from it and keep going!”- Allison Ward, William R. Nash- Project Manager
- “Set goals, stay motivated, determined and focused. Success is earned not given. Do not give up. Hard work does not come easy. You will get there eventually. Everyone always starts at the bottom of the ladder. Do not step on anyone’s head climbing up that ladder.” – Jennifer Luskin, IT Landes- PM Assistant
- “There is a continuous need to move the trades forward and there is job security. It is good if you enjoy constistent learning and being challenged. It’s a casual environment that doesn’t require an expensive wardrobe!” – Jennifer Ditzler, IT Landes- Commercial Dispatcher
- “Talk about it. I never really heard about the trades growing up or even saw/heard of women being apart of it. Not only do we need to have more women talking about it, but men as well. Start from “the bottom” & then go up. Field personnel & office personnel, talk about the different possible jobs that are available.”- Breanna Stahlnecker, Spectrum- Project Coordinator
- “Joining the trades helps break down stereotypes and can set the stage for new and exciting prospects for young women looking for career choices. How great is it to have an opportunity to be a role model and create excitement for future generations!” Stacey Evans– IT Landes, HR Director
- “The relationships I’ve built. 10 years in the industry, you tend to build unforgettable relationships that contain trust, growth and teamwork.” – Nikki Lockard, BBEC- PM Assistant
- “The most rewarding part of my job is a sense of accomplishment when a project is complete. Knowing that you and your fellow coworkers were able to work together to build something is a great feeling.” – Cynthia Yates, NashPM- Assistant PM/QC
- “The stigma of our role in the industry has changed and I love sharing my knowledge of Commercial, Residential, Land Development and Mechanical.” – Shirley Jay, Spectrum-Sr. Project Coordinator
- “When I am able to do something on my own and I realize that not only have I learned something new, but I am now able to approve on efficiency. I love learning and I learn something new every single day. ” – Allison Ward– William R. Nash- Assistant PM