As we celebrate Women in Construction (WIC) Week, we embrace this year’s theme: “Together We Rise.” This theme highlights the collective strength, unity, and growth of women in the construction industry, emphasizing their vital role in shaping its future.
In Ohio, the contributions of women to construction are both significant and inspiring. Their dedication and expertise have been instrumental in driving the state’s infrastructure and development projects forward. WIC Week offers an opportunity to recognize these achievements and encourage more women to pursue careers in this dynamic field.
Here are some of the stories of the women of Ohio’s construction workforce. Together, we rise!
- Name: Penny
- Company: Shook Construction
- Title/Position: Operating Engineer
- Years working in construction: 31
- What inspired you to pursue a career in construction, and what has kept you motivated along the way?
“Being outside has always been a passion of mine. I didn’t think sitting in a warehouse or office setting was for me. Plus, I’ve always enjoyed driving trucks and tractors and never shied away from physical labor.”
- How have mentorship and collaboration played a role in your success in the construction industry?
“Always trying to learn from those around me as a young woman in construction was important to me, as this is a hands-on job, and learning from others was beneficial to my growth. Being able to collaborate with my crew was essential and still is one of the most important pieces that I deal with daily. This profession can be dangerous, and communication is paramount.”
- What challenges have you faced as a woman in construction, and how have you overcome them?
“As I have progressed through my last 30 years in construction and the last 26 as an Operating Engineer, I have had some tough situations in the workforce as a woman. With that, if I had to give young women coming into the workforce some advice, it would be the lesson this industry taught me – don’t give up on what you want to do just because others don’t believe in your abilities. The first person to believe in my abilities was me. After that, all the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fall into place. Believe in yourself first and chase your dreams.”
- Can you share a moment when you felt especially empowered or supported by your colleagues in this industry?
“I remember an instance that still feels like yesterday. As a young woman in what was a man’s world, I was never allowed to run the excavator or any of the larger pieces of equipment. I was always asked to operate the skid steer. If you have ever run a skid steer, you understand that they bounce you around a lot and my back paid the price. I remember my first time being able to run larger equipment and proving my worth as an Operating Engineer. This was the first of many times I felt supported and my confidence as a professional grew from that day forward.”
- What advice would you give to young women considering a career in construction?
“The world of construction today is so different than it was 31 years ago. In today’s world, it is easier for a woman to get a start in this field. My advice would be the same whether you want to go into construction or take a career anywhere else: Show up, make an effort, and learn something every day. Once we stop doing this, we stop growing and become stagnant.”
- How do you see the role of women evolving in construction, and what changes would you like to see in the future?
“When I first started this career, I didn’t see many other women from jobsite to jobsite. Today, I get to see a couple on each jobsite. We are growing in numbers, and I believe younger women understand that this field is an option now. I don’t think there needs to be a change, there just needs to be more women accepting that this field is an option.”
- What does the theme ‘Together We Rise’ mean to you, and how do you apply it in your work?
“I think ‘Together We Rise’ means it is okay to venture out and try new things. I think it means that whatever we do, we will have support from each other in our career decisions. Supporting each other and being able to lean on one another is important. Dreams do come true!”
