Building Success: At Last, Women Are Getting Noticed For Making An Impact In The Construction Industry
Building a name for ourselves in this fast-paced industry, we wouldn’t be where we are today without all the hard work and dedication of our leading ladies. In honor of Women in Construction Week, March 5 – 11, we wanted to thank the women in our industry for the impact that they make.
Along with WIC, International Women’s Day is two days away (March 8, 2018), making it the perfect time to consider the increasingly diverse range of roles for women in the construction industry. It’s no secret, our industry is dominated by men, but don’t be fooled, women are building very successful careers for themselves. To let a secret slip, the industry is just getting started in terms of its innovative potential, especially for women.
Research by management consultants McKinsey showed that diversity is a key driver of innovation, and there’s a high correlation between diversity and success. McKinsey’s 2015 report “Why Diversity Matters” shows that gender diverse companies are 14% more likely to perform better than those that are not gender diverse.
As a leader in innovation, Welty is focused on the future. To continue our success, our future initiatives are designed to expand diversity and equally empower all our employees. Women in Construction Week gives us the chance to show how we do this for our female folks.
Expanding technology has made it more common to utilize women on a construction site. Technological tools like BIM, Lean, and modern methods of construction are creating a greater diversity of jobs and a higher demand for women to fill these roles. As we grow at Welty, more and more women join our ranks. Each year we are putting more boots on the ground sized with ‘W’ on the tag. That ‘W‘ stands for the women of Welty who advance our industry. Currently, in the United States, 9.2 percent of all construction workers are women*. That’s the highest percentage EVER.
Women in our industry are also known to receive equal pay. Construction in the U.S. is one of the top fields where women are equally paid compared to their male counterparts. On average, women in the U.S. make 80 cents for every dollar men make. In construction, it’s 97 cents for every dollar.
With advancing technology and desirable pay, now is the perfect time to join construction, whether you are a man or a woman. The industry is in high demand of skilled workers, so if you have transferable experience and are good at problem-solving, retaining information and multi-tasking, construction could be a great place for you.
To mark Women in Construction Week, we interviewed several of our female leaders who are helping shape the future of Welty. These women — and many others — are taking active steps to help propel the industry forward. Read on to see how these women are leading the charge on improving diversity within their teams, companies and the industry, and how their actions are paving the way for a new era of construction.
Roxanne
Lean Innovation Leader
1. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?
I was eager to apply my Lean knowledge in Construction as this is relatively new to this field,
while also learning about this industry myself.
2. WHY DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO?
I love helping people learn new concepts and tools, and when they have that “a-ha!”. That is where my heart is.
3. WHAT DO YOU HOPE WILL BE YOUR LEGACY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?
Helping Welty break new ground with applying Lean not only in Construction, but carrying that further into work with our Energy and utility companies. Taking pride in accomplishing all of our projects and leaving a legacy of pride for Welty employees and respect from Welty customers.
4. WHAT PROBLEMS DO YOU ENJOY SOLVING?
Any of them! Helping others get to the root cause(s) of complex problems and teaching others tools so they can solve their own problems.
5. WHERE DO YOU COME UP WITH YOUR BEST IDEAS?
In my sleep and walking in nature. I keep a notebook by my bed to be sure I capture those ideas. And on walks, it is amazing what the wonders in nature can inspire in us, and how we can learn from all that is around us.
6. WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST INDUSTRY MEMORY?
Coming on board with Welty will always be a fond memory. I loved getting into an industry other than Manufacturing. I am so proud to be part of the Welty family.
7. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
The world around us, the wonder of those open to always learning something new.
8. HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY?
Mentoring in several organizations, include Women in Engineering, where I do events with middle school, high school, and college students. I benefited from that organization when I was in high school and I respect the impact that can make on young minds. We always need more examples of what is possible so others can continue to imagine the seemingly impossible.
9. HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TO THE INDUSTRY?
Working and mentoring with young engineers.
Krista
Sr. Project Engineer
1. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?
My dad is a union plumber and I grew up helping him with projects around the house. When I was 17, I started working part time with his company and loved it. I declared a major in Construction Management soon after.
2. WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST INDUSTRY MEMORY?
When I was 10 I was allowed to go to a site for first time on a Father-Daughter work day. My Dad got me a special pink hard hat and showed me what his days looked like. To commemorate that memory he got me a new pink hard hat on my graduation day.