CEA's Panel of Women in Construction: Bringing More Women into the Sisterhood

By Montrie Rucker Adams, APR

Women’s History Month is never without its observances and celebrations. Rightly so. Women around the world are deserving as they are lauded, recognized and afforded accolades for their numerous worldwide contributions.

The Construction Employer’s Association (CEA) partnered with The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) when they presented it's second Woment in Construction Panel Discussion and Reception on March 5 at Tri-C’s Manufacturing Technology Center. The event was an opportunity for women to hear the positive changes and challenges women can face in this male-dominated career, network and share positive messages. 

Glen Shumate, CEA’s Executive Vice President, was the first to approach the podium to welcome attendees and set the event’s tone and stress the important role that women have in the construction industry. Glen shared CEA support in continuing to advance opportunties for women currently in and those interestred in the construction industry. He invited Ashley Tiano, president of NAWIC’s Cleveland Chapter to explain NAWIC’s purpose and goals. For WIC Week, NAWIC held seminars, awareness projects, panel discussions, social events, and a College Blitz with a mission to enhance the success of women in the construction industry.

Five women panelists and a moderator, discussed their career paths, challenges, skills needed and plans to add more women to their construction industry “sisterhood.”

There Is No Straight Line

Each panelist had a unique career path and journey through the world of construction. Moderated by Margaret Hewitt, president of The Construction Green Team, they shared their experiences and hopes for one day growing the numbers of women in the field.

The panelists ranged from “newbies” to those who have worked in the industry more than 40 years. “You can see your designs come to life,” shared recent college graduate Imani Young, recent Regency Construction intern and who is looking forward to graduate school this fall. “I can see how a drawing on paper relates to the real world.”

Michelle Crawford, a Capital, Construction & Facilities Project Manager at Tri-C, explained that her not-so-straight career path. She initially wanted to design cars, obtaining a Master of Architecture from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She mentioned that her volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and her first job building houses helped her foster a love for construction. Her path then led her to work for Robert P. Madison, the first African-American architectural firm in the state of Ohio. “Design is a part of construction,” she said.

Loving It and Paying It Forward

“It’s important to know that you have as much right to be in construction as anyone. You may have to work harder than a lot of them [men]. I suggest you get involved in associations, boards, network and know your competitors,” said Cindy Friedmann, owner of The Dependable Painting Company, a family business founded in 1928. “The most important thing is to get involved and to give back to your community. So many of your skills are skills that people need that don’t have them. Give back. It’s important,” she said when asked how professional networking has helped her in the construction industry.

As a Construction Area Engineer at The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Julie Meyer has worked in construction almost 20 years. After interning and working on a multi-year three lane widening project, “I saw the project from start to finish. I loved the daily challenges, the different occurrences and interactions with the project engineers and contractors. I felt engaged and felt that was where I belonged, she said.

Jackie Jacob, President of the CEA Future Executives Committee, remarked “One of the things I love about the industry is that things are always changing,” said Jacob. “There is not one job I’ve been on where the project has been boring. There is something new to see and do every day and at the end of the job you get to see a final product that you were a part of.” Jacob has been in construction 10 years, spending the first two as an intern and the rest at Great Lakes Construction

There Will Be Challenges

Jokingly stating that she had to adapt her temperament while working in trailers on construction sites, Hewitt explained that she was initially even tempered. “I had to learn to become a “hot head” in the field,” she said.  “As a young 28-year-old Project Manager, I was told that documenting information and doing things the “professional way” was not going to work in trailers. The rambunctious side of me had to come out. It worked in the construction trailer. I had to go from professional, pristine and lady-like to someone telling me that I can make a grown man cry. This industry will teach you about your temperament, how to use that temperament, then come back to the office and be professional. I had to learn that,’’ shared Hewitt.

When asked about her challenges, Fatima Ware, owner of Ware’s the Dirt an HVAC company, shared a movie she’d recently seen called Sister in the Brotherhood. It mimicked her story and encapsulated her experiences. Explaining her apprenticeship, “I was the only female on the job. No one wanted to teach me how to it,” she said. “It was mostly white males and me. Sometimes I would listen, eavesdrop and do whatever I had to do to learn. They had a problem with me. I didn’t know if they didn’t want me on the job because I’m a woman or a minority and a woman. They would yell at me, call me stupid and try to tear me down. They said I would never complete the training, that I wouldn’t make it and would eventually quit. Yet, I graduated at the top of my class. I used their animosity as my motivation not to quit,” Ware shared.  

Ware further explained that the hazing and harassing stopped when she became “one of them.” There was a 360-degree turn. Her co-workers are now very helpful and supportive. Her Union (Local 33) supports everything she does and tries to help where they can. “As a business owner, they help me with my business and try to send me new clients. I am thankful and grateful to be where I am and to have gone through that because I think ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’” she said.

Jacob’s biggest challenge coming into the industry was that she didn’t have a background in construction or engineering. “I’m sure there were some [people] that weren’t sure I could do it in the beginning. I know the first impression of me does not always scream “Civil Engineer” or “construction,” but I always made an effort,” said Jacob.  “I am usually a friendly and talkative person so I made sure to ask questions if I didn’t know something so that I could learn a lot in the beginning and people were usually happy to help. I always looked to take on more when I could, and I think being able to diversify myself in the types of work I got involved in also made a difference. Looking back, it was less of a challenge than I initially thought it would be. Work hard and it will be recognized no matter who you are.”

The Future for Women

Reaching back and introducing young girls to the industry is one way to fill the pipeline as nine years ago, the average age in construction was 40.4 years, according to an article in Occupational Health & Safety. More than 40 percent of construction workers are "baby boomers," born between 1946 and 1964. The pipeline needs to fill up again. This time with more women.

Ware believes that you have to, “talk to the girls and explain to them that women in construction don’t just stand outside and hold a flag. Go in the schools and show them that everything they see had a beginning,” she said when asked about how to make more women aware of the construction opportunities for them.

Natalie Beasley wishes she were that young girl thirty years ago. “I wish that when I was young, that I’d met a woman that was strong enough and confident enough to say, “Hey, you know what, you like playing in the dirt. You like painting and getting messy. Let me show you how to have a career in this.’ I am just now finding out about you guys (NAWIC). I’m 41. I want to learn. I want to grow. I have 20-25 more years. I want to spend the next 20-25 years doing something that I love, that gives me joy and gives me passion,” she said.

Staying in the Game

“What’s important is persistence and perseverance,” mentioned Hewitt. “You must have an ‘I’m not going anywhere mindset.’ It is not going to be easy, but you have to know that you will hang in there,” she told the women.

“My advice to women who want to enter the industry is to have an open mind and give it a chance. Be confident in what you say and do, while still being able to take advice and constructive criticism well. Women definitely have a place in this industry and the opportunities continue to grow. Be yourself. Don’t be afraid to meet new people and keep a teamwork attitude,” offered Jacob.

The session closed with questions. Beasley offered the best, exclaiming, “My God, where have you ladies been all my life?!”