Women in Construction: Chelsea Maldonado

Chelsea Maldonado
Adrian Maldonado & Associates
Project Engineer
3 years in the industry

Chelsea Maldonado is a 24-year-old project engineer for Adrian Maldonado & Associates. She attended Ohio University and earned a Bachelor of Communication Studies in 2017. Go Bobcats! Maldonado has been working for AMA for 3 years. She’s worked with Panzica on two Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority Station projects, and is currently a PE monitoring the diversity and inclusion on The MetroHealth Campus Transformation Project with Turner Construction Company.

What brought or attracted you to the construction industry?

For me, the construction industry was a new challenge because I did not have formal education on the topic. I quickly began to like the challenge of learning something new daily. Every project has got some aspect of nuance and each type project you complete, will make you better prepared for the next. Also, you become more valuable when you work on a variety of projects.

What do you like most about your work?

What I like most about my work is that you are never in one place very long. Working on a project site, versus out of a stationary office allows for a continuous change of scenery. Each project is a new owner, a new set of architects, and a new location. The nature of a project is that it has an end date, so whether it’s six months or four years, a completion is inevitable. 

What would you like to see change within the construction industry?

I would like to see more representation on the management side of construction. I think things are slowly changing as a result of the big players promoting diversity in their workplace but I think there’s a lot more room to grow.

What are your long term career goals?

My long term career goals include getting a master’s degree in Construction Management. Another longer term goal would be ownership of a company. I’d like to get more involved in the bidding and accounting processes of Adrian Maldonado & Associates so that I will be better prepared to take a larger role in the future.

What advice would you give to other women interested in construction?

The advice I would give to women interested in the industry would be don’t be discouraged by the stereotypes. Construction doesn’t need to be a male-dominated industry. Women are just as capable of the job and gender shouldn’t be a factor. If you’re good at problem solving, critical thinking, and you’re flexible, construction management may be a fit for you.

Describe the kinds of opportunities in construction available to women?

I think that every opportunity in the construction field is open to women. The field is historically men; therefore, the older men are who represent our leadership now. The more women who join the construction industry, the more women we will start to see in those “C-Suite” positions. I also think the trades work is just as viable for women as it is for men. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone has had success in making women confident enough to try.

What can be done to attract more women to construction?

I think there needs to be an initiative taken by colleges to promote their programs to high school aged girls who are curious about the opportunities available. Construction Management degrees are not heavily marketed as it is, but especially not to women. There needs to be a push like a scholarship for girls that would encourage them to get into the field.