The Women of Construction
I Build America – Ohio is dedicated to celebrating the women of construction! Women are a vital part of our industry, and there are female leaders at all levels of construction work. From foreman to company owners and executives, construction wouldn’t be the industry it is without its female employees. Join us and our partners in celebrating the success of women within your own company and across the nation during National Women in Construction Week 2021.
Meet: Keonia W.
Name: Keonia
Company: Corna Kokosing provides general contracting services for commercial, industrial, institutional, and health care construction projects, primarily in central Ohio.
Title/Position: VDC (Virtual Design and Construction) Engineer
Years Working in Construction: 2 years
How Keonia Started in Construction: “When I was younger, growing up I loved taking electronics apart just to see how they were originally put together. Fascinated with creating things and art, architecture caught my attention. I was more interested in the design side of construction versus managing the numbers. Upon graduation, I started a full-time position with Corna Kokosing as a VDC Engineer. While earning my Bachelors of Science Degree in Design Drafting, I realized 3D construction is what I was most excited to pursue!”
What Keonia Loves Most About Her Job: “My role is really cool – essentially, I take the design drawings of a building from the architect and review them to make sure it is “buildable”… that every window and steel beam is aligned and ready to give to our construction team to start ordering materials, etc! This is a very important part to save time and money for the project. Because I spend about 90 percent of my workday on a computer, I have a lot of flexibility, which I love! I am able to work anywhere in the world with just my laptop and internet, I have different levels of responsibility on projects which keeps my work interesting, and I get to interact with a lot of different people throughout the company and industry!”
What Does It Mean to Keonia to Be a Women in Construction? “Being a young woman in one of the most male-dominated industries in the world is so rewarding. When I think about what is means to participate in construction, in building something that going to shape the future and last for years, I directly link it to making history. I love feeling a part of something bigger and producing things that will make people happy. As women, we can build something that will last forever and be an example to all coworkers of how to do it well!”
What Career Advice Does Keonia Offer to Women Considering a Career in Construction?
One of the best ways to know what you want to do is to ask a lot of questions – find out what people who work in construction like and what is challenging about their job. The other way is to get those life experiences through internships and educational programs. There are so many different job responsibilities and titles in construction that can fit your interest, so research which educational degree or path is best for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things, reach out to new people, and just ask a ton of questions to discover what fits you best.
Learn More About Careers in Construction
Begin your career in construction today! Explore educational tools and resources right here on I Build America Ohio’s website. Questions about how to start a career in construction? Email us at info@ibuildamericaohio.com to get started in the right direction.
Follow along all week as we continue to share the message about the important role of women in construction, today and all year long!
