Happy Women in Construction Week, and International Women’s Day!
I started my career in construction in 2003 when I took a position as Controller for a mechanical and electrical contractor in the Indianapolis area. At the time, I only knew a little about the Construction Industry. I had recently graduated from Purdue University and was just learning about construction accounting, but the last 20+ years have been extremely rewarding. I have learned from some of the hardest-working people I have ever known. I’ve learned a lot about building, about leadership, and I’ve learned a lot about myself. For that, I will always be grateful.
This journey has not always been easy; there weren’t a lot of other women in the construction industry when I first started.
There weren’t opportunities to have a female mentor or to see other women in senior-level roles. I didn’t work with many who understood the challenges of navigating a male-dominated industry. Over the years, though, the number of women in construction has grown. Women are taking more roles throughout organizations – from administrative to project managers, from field leadership to executives. I am so excited to see more and more talented, hard-working women join this incredible industry.
What I am most excited about today is that we have ways to acknowledge the achievements of women in this industry through things like Women in Construction Week. We now have professional organizations that bring our community together, and there’s an intentional focus on bringing women into the industry. Finally, women have learned to lift each other up every day, becoming mentors and support for one another.
As we celebrate Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day, remember, that you can be an inspiration to the next generation of women interested in construction.
I’m so thankful to be part of this industry and call you all colleagues.
