Name: Nicole K.
Company: The Ruhlin Company
Title/Position: Assistant Project Manager
Years working in construction: 10
What was your path to a career in construction? During high school we had to job shadow different types of careers that you were interested in. I was able to team up with a local design firm and follow them around for a day. Their knowledge of what needed to be where and why was so interesting, but I wanted to put their design into the world, which lead me to general contractors and ultimately working with The Ruhlin Company
What do you like most about working in construction? I like that my days are never the same. Some days I might not love what I’m doing, but I know that within the next few days something else will come up and I will have to handle whatever the next task is. I love watching and working on a project from the very beginning once the job has been awarded to the opening of the project.
This year’s theme is “Keys to the Future.” What is the key to the future of construction in Ohio? I feel the Key to the Future is the transfer of knowledge between the experienced, aged trades members and the inexperienced, young members. I feel there is an age gap that the trades were not pushed so there are minimal workers within a middle age range. If the knowledge is not passed on for best practices and best methods, we will lose the knowledge that is already available to us.
If you were to give young women (high schoolers) advice about beginning a career in construction? Careers in this industry are so rewarding, but you have to be comfortable in potentially uncomfortable situations. People might underestimate you; people might feel like you can’t do this job, but if you are willing to stand up for yourself and have faith in your abilities you will be able to do amazing within this industry.
