As a Career Counselor, one of the projects of focus is the non-traditional career for women with one being construction. These are the seats that we are working to fill in many of these programs. But, before I jump into what you can expect from women in the construction industry, you may want to check out some other career paths that are posted here.
Now, let’s take a look at one of the industries that has stayed the domain of men for a long time, the construction and building industry. The concrete ceiling remains stubbornly in place, from contractors to desk workers at giant corporates, planners, surveyors, supervisors, architects, designers, and more.
But as with most things of late, there are a few pioneering women who are determined to see that change, and when you know who they are and what they’re achieving, you may want to think about a career path that you might not have considered prior.
CTI Environmental
When it comes to fulfilling the demand of this post’s ethos of “pioneer,” not many women can compete with multiple award-winning Business Woman and Chemical Engineer, Robin Thorne. She is the founder and CEO of CTI Environmental, a California company specializing in hazardous material assessments for regulatory compliance and construction management.
Want to know a noteworthy favorite thing about her? Sure you do. Not only is she a pioneering woman per se, but she is also an African-American woman who is not only an entrepreneur and community leader, but she has grown her company to start hitting the ranks of the “multi-million dollar” earners. She also recently founded Demo Chicks, a non-profit company that employs and empowers young black women to enter the construction and engineering industries.
How inspiring! You can connect with Robin on social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn.
Marker Construction Group
With over an (astonishing) 30 years of existence, Peggy Hogan Marker, President, and CEO is more than a worthy contender for the pioneering role. Her focus is on business development. In fact, she oversees all marketing and community development for her group, based out of Florida.
She is also a part-owner of the real estate development company that her family owns, which
enjoys commercial, multi-family, and residential holdings in New York and Florida.
What to know a little more? Did you know that she was recently recognized as one of the 20 top female leaders in construction that you need to know by Construction Business Owner Magazine. That’s right!
Cahill Contractors
So, you want to talk about money? How does an annual revenue of $300 million sound to you? Kathryn Cahill Thompson is the fourth generation of her family to work in construction. She earned her degree in engineering sciences from no less than Dartmouth and an MBA from Stanford. She joined the family business as a project engineer in 2007 and rose to CEO in 2016.
Want to know what stands out to me? She employs over 300 permanent staff.
Final Thoughts
While these were just three women that I wanted to highlight in the construction industry, there are many more. So, if you’re thinking about one of the many exciting careers in the industry, or you think you may want to make a go of it on your own, get started doing the research now to see what it takes to create a path that aligns with your skillset. For example, will you need to get your construction supervisor license or a different certification? Do your research and check it out!
