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: Wendy B.
Company: Kuhlman Corp
Title/Position: Sales
Years working in construction: 5.5 months
I have only been with Kuhlmans for about 5 ½ months. I had prior construction experience through an apprenticeship program during the summers that I was in high school. We held signs and assisted the road crews in maintaining traffic safely. Currently I am not out in the field, but am on the sales side of things. I enjoy working in the store and assisting contractors and their employees get the building materials or supplies they need.
Working at Kuhlmans, I noticed that there are more women in construction than I had initially imagined. I think stereotypical caregiver paradigms made it less likely for women to attempt a career in construction in the past, but now, there are many women working in construction.
On a serious note, we often hear how the younger generation has no interest in learning the trades. What If the tradesman could coordinate with educators and offer financial or training opportunities to future construction workers. Perhaps this will ignite interest in the younger generation to consider working in one of the many trades.
If I were to give advice to woman about a career in construction, I would tell her to do what makes her passionate and if working at a construction site is what you want, then do it! I would tell her to remove the doubt in her head that says she can’t do it because it is a man’s job. What’s the worst that could happen, you might love it?
