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 2023.
Name: Jacquelyn Tesar-Valek
Company: Tesar Industrial Contractors, Inc.
Title/Position: Chief Operating Officer
Years Working in Construction: 11 years
What was your path to a career in construction?
My career started as an administrative assistant at Tesar Industrial Contractors, Inc. and then I moved into a senior accountant/human resource generalist role for Dunlop & Johnston (D&J), Inc. My responsibilities consisted mainly of payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and general ledger transactions. My work between Tesar Industrial and D&J gradually revealed my passion for human resource work. To that end, I continued my education by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Ashland University with a specialization in human resources. From there, I ventured into other industries. Those included manufacturing, professional services and healthcare in the human resource field—until I found myself back in the construction industry as the COO for Tesar Industrial Contractors, Inc. As current COO, I work closely with the leadership team overseeing day-to-day operations, implementing the strategic direction of the organization and supporting the high-quality services offered to our clients.
What do you like most about working in construction?
In an old closet tucked far away, there is a pair of Carhartt coveralls once tailored just for me as a kid from a pair my dad wore back in the day. I used to wear those coveralls on the weekends when my dad would go to work cleaning up the shop yard. I remember gliding across a dirty old concrete floor holding tightly onto a sliding chain used to hoist the tractor trailers off the ground for repair. In my late teens, my dad would call me up to watch a big press being moved while he’d explain the gantry system and tipping points—all of which left a nervous but excited feeling in the pit of my childhood stomach.
Fast forwarding to today, as the third generation, I sit next to my dad with that old familiar nervous-but-excited feeling as we work together running the family business into its 104th year. The company motto, “from concept to reality,” best describes the reason I love the industry. Watching those initial plans brought to life and seeing the progress and the teamwork come to fruition in a completed project is fascinating work. For example, watching large, complex equipment being installed to manufacture everyday items like a car holds great interest for me—so the industry has become more than just a job; it is an integral part of my life.
What changes have you seen for women in construction over the course of your career?
Women make up only 10.9% of all workers on a construction site and 14% of staff in executive positions. These are staggeringly low numbers with so much room for growth! I consider it an honor and a privilege to be a catalyst in elevating that number and expanding the presence of women in the construction industry. I believe I can use my diverse background within my position as a leader to attract more women to what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.
What do you hope to see for the future of women in construction?
I hope to see women lift each other up through education and mentoring by creating programs that provide opportunities for women in all stages of life. I hope to see a path built around seeking excellence in performance for women in the workforce with an underlying compassion for motherhood (not excluding fathers, of course). I would like to see us adjust perceptions of gender bias from the work culture.
What advice would you give to a young woman considering a career in construction?
Be yourself; everyone else is taken. Luck is the crossroads between hard work and opportunity.
