This week we celebrate Women in Construction Week (WIC) and the many women who work in and make important contributions to our industry every day! We are pleased to share the stories from many of the women who work and live in NH and VT. The project was created in partnership with I Build NH and NAWIC Granite State Chapter.  

Why construction?
I enjoy construction because it is an ever-evolving, non-stop creative line of work. Additionally, the construction industry is filled with tradespeople who are willing to help out others and provide insight into their particular craft. This knowledge I have found to be priceless and educational while working alongside so many individuals. I am also a very creative person and enjoy being able to collaborate with architects and engineers during the design development and construction process.

What is your education/training background?
I graduated from Vermont Technical College in 2011 with an Associate's Degree in Architectural & Building Engineering Technology. I went on to work for a small construction business after college and eventually was hired at HP Cummings Construction Company.

How did you find yourself working in the construction industry?
I found myself working in the construction industry because many people in my family are in the trades, or are architects and engineers. I started out enjoying the creative and artistic side of architecture and wanted to become an architect, but I ended up working at a construction company to get some experience in the field and ended up enjoying how every day the challenges are different and unique.

What do you enjoy most about your career?
I enjoy that every day there is a different challenge and a different set of tasks. From the start of the project developing a plan and drawings to the end when we actually get to see it come alive, that's the best part.

What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on?
The most interesting project that I worked on was for the State of Vermont. While working for the small business before HP Cummings, I was working as an Assistant Project Manager on a multi-phased project at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery. We built two buildings, (one for the general public and the other for the cemetery maintenance crew), 140 pre-installed burial crypts, 3 columbariums, road infrastructure, and landscaping. My job was to help with the on-site planning during the construction process and working closely with the owners and architects to come up with solutions when problems onsite arose.

What advice do you have for women who want to work in the construction industry?
The advice that I would give to any woman in the construction industry is that we can do anything that we set our mind to and never give up. It's always a challenge, but that's the best part.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I am proud to be a woman in construction and enjoy being part of something that will always evolve, remain creative, and challenging.

###

ABC NH/VT
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national construction industry trade association representing nearly 21,000 chapter members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 70 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, profitably and for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors.

I Build New Hampshire
I Build NH represents the construction sector of the state through the Sector Partnerships Initiative (SPI). I Build NH represents companies involved in heavy construction like municipal water treatment systems and road building, electric and telecommunication infrastructure, civil engineering, heating/ventilation/air conditioning businesses and more.

National Association of Women in Construction
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has over 115 chapters throughout the United States, including the NAWIC Granite State Chapter. NAWIC provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more. NAWIC advocates for the value and impact of women builders, professionals and tradeswomen in all aspects of the construction industry.