Each year, Hilmerson Safety® celebrates women in the construction industry during Women in Construction (WIC) Week™ by sharing their stories. How did they start? Who mentored them? What were challenges they overcame? What would they do differently? What advice do they have for women entering the construction field?
Defying stereotypes is nothing new for these women leaders in construction. Whether they chose the construction field or it chose them – since the 90’s and early 2000’s they’ve paved new paths for women pursuing careers in construction. Thanks to all who participated!
Janelle Miller,
25 Years’ Experience
Janelle Miller, Contract Administrator, Peterson Companies, Inc.
How did you get into the industry?
I was sitting at lunch by the window of the bank I worked in and saw the curb and landscape workers out in the parking lot. I hated my job so I went back and put in my notice. Went to the hall and signed on as an apprentice laborer.
Why did you start working in construction/take the position?
I have always liked building things. My father was a heavy equipment operator and always wanted me to run a crane. Lol I am not good at sitting still but LOVED playing in the dirt so laborer fit me well.
Tell us about your first job in construction – what is a favorite memory from that experience?
My very first job was 1 week long and I was at the Fur Trading Post off of Interstate 35 North of the cities. I loved being outside, spreading out the woodchips and aggregate paths, seeing what I did and feeling like I had accomplished something. The Foreman and my one fellow worker were AWESOME! They answered my questions, let me run the roller (shhh don’t tell the operators) and were really encouraging! They reported back to the Hall and it must have been good as the next two and a half years after that job I worked for Foster Wheeler on the U of M Steam Generating Facility on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis by the Stone Arch Bridge.
What educational background / professional training did you have at that point?
None. I was a high school drop-out with a barely over minimum wage job and a baby. Being a laborer paid for my education and I now hold a BS, AAS and several certificates.
Tell us about other positions in Construction you have had since – what has been most rewarding? What were challenges you overcame?
I love this industry! I have worked in Highway Heavy, Building and Industrial. I have been a Laborer, Field Engineer and a Project Coordinator. I was the first Female Field Engineer for a large Earthwork contractor. That was pretty cool. Challenges… well, that came in many different forms. When you are the only female onsite, and then the only one of three in a field of 350 men, that can be challenging and intimidating at times. I have had a good support network of males that have mentored me along the way. Also, I am not shy about setting boundaries and speaking up for myself.
Do you have any advice for young women pursuing careers in construction?
This industry can be large, noisy, exhausting and scary. You have to be willing to work, get dirty, ask questions, take criticism, and be direct. I remember when I first worked at a refinery. There is so much going on that it is hard to think but just like any other job, you take a deep breath and pay attention to those that have been there for a while, then before you know it, you are the one that has been there for a while and people are looking at you. It happens fast.
What is the most iconic or favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
In the field or Highway – Empire Outfall Line – this was piping that ran from Empire WWTP to the Mississippi River. Commercial – U of M Steam Generating Facilities, Minneapolis and St. Paul sites. Industrial – Turnaround where they brought in the largest crane I have ever seen in my life and I have seen a lot of cranes. As a Contract Admin, Vikings Training Center was pretty cool but I think my favorite project we have done is the Edina Promenade project.
Do you have a favorite mentor or someone who is always there for you or you count on to have your back?
Several! I surround myself with people I admire and that inspire me to be the best version of myself. If I list one, I would have to list them all so I will just give a shout-out to one of my original mentors Gene Haaland. He taught me so much about engineering in the two years I was with his crew and gave me the confidence to go back to college for construction project management. Field side was a bunch of Iron Workers. Lol
When you started your career was running water provided on the jobsite so you could wash your hands prior to having lunch-:)
Depends upon the jobsite. HH no. I usually found a fast food or gas station to use the restroom or washup. I also kept baby wipes and sunblock in my lunchbox because one never knows where they will end up riding around raising iron on a mud truck.
Toni DiDomenico,
30+ Years’ Experience
(Photo includes Vanessa Leonardo)
Toni DiDomenico, Regional Safety Director, Ryan Companies US, Inc.
How many years of experience do you have in the construction industry?
30+ years I started in high school. My Dad was an architect and his office performed construction management as well. After school, weekends and summers were spent as jobsite labor cleaning projects, holding survey sticks, stacking block for retaining walls, typing job specifications, and nail removal!
Why did you start working in construction/take the position?
Growing up in a mining town (Butte, MT) and fascinated with mining, I wanted to complete my degree and work in the mines. While looking for work, I moved to Phoenix, AZ and started networking with the mines. My first real interview was with the State of Arizona, OSHA department. I worked there for over 10 years as a safety and industrial hygiene compliance officer, safety/health consultant, trainer and was able to experience everything from hospitals, retail stores, manufacturing, government contract work, and construction. After growing up working on small job sites with my Dad I was in awe of the large jobsites I was able to visit during my OSHA career (i.e. NFL football stadiums, high rise buildings, Hoover Dam Bypass Project, power plants, etc.). Construction quickly became a fascination that continues to fascinate me to this day.
Tell us about your first job in construction – what is a favorite memory from that experience?
This memory sort of combines a first construction job along with one of my first accident investigations with OSHA on my own without a senior compliance officer. I was sent to a job where a man fell from a rolling truss and died immediately from his injuries. The victim was the ex brother in-law to the owner of the building being constructed. The employer did not report the fatality until one week later. I met the owner on the site to perform an inspection a week later and as he described the incident, he cried uncontrollably. I sat with him and cried too. I was directed to issue citations to the employer for lack of reporting and for not providing fall protection to the employee. When the owner came in for an Informal Conference, he openly told my boss that I was too compassionate for this type of job. I thought that was a compliment even though it was so difficult for me to cite him after the loss of his family member/employee.
What educational background / professional training did you have at that point?
I have a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health/Science and Engineering
Do you have any advice for young women pursuing careers in construction?
Grab the pencil and write your own story. Don’t “follow” anyone, there is only one you. My Dad taught me also to sit back and listen. Let everyone else talk, think about what was said, analyze and then respond. I have learned a lot by listening to others, taking bits and pieces from all angles and then creating my own plan. And most importantly, know that you deserve to be respected. I believe women perform equally with men in construction but sometimes men forget it isn’t just the boys in the room anymore. They need to recognize when a woman is present and respect their presence.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your career? Are there other job opportunities or careers you would like to explore?
In my current position at Ryan Companies US, Inc., I would like to take some Construction Management courses or something to assist me in communicating with superintendents, project managers, etc. I wish I would have taken time to become fluent in Spanish as well. I can still start but could have had 20 years of practice.
What is the most iconic or favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
I have a few but one is the Hoover Damn Bypass Project, the first concrete and steel composite arch bridge built in the US. I was a Safety/Industrial Hygiene Consultant for AZ OSHA at the time. My safety consultant partner and I went to the project in the beginning stages. We asked the GC about their emergency response plan in the event of an emergency. It became evident immediately that it was unsure who would respond in an emergency (i.e. Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, or US Bureau of Reclamation). The GC made contact with the responding agency and created an emergency plan with a designated helicopter pad. This new plan was presented to us on a follow up survey. Within hours after we left the site, a 60 foot rebar tower fell with workers still attached and riding the rebar as it fell. No fatalities but one serious injury. The GC called my partner an I immediately to thank us for the observation because their emergency action plan went off without a hitch and the employee was airlifted to the local hospital.
Do you have a favorite mentor or someone who is always there for you or you count on to have your back?
Over 15 years ago, I met Scott Beron, Corporate Safety Director for Ryan Companies US, Inc. We met in a stairwell of a project Ryan was building. He was a mentor for the next 13 plus years as I worked as Ryan’s 3rd party consultant in Arizona. He then asked me to submit my application and resume to come to work for Ryan. There is not another company or another safety professional I respect enough to have left my own business to come to work for other than Ryan Companies and Scott Beron. I promised him 15 years to learn from him while applying what I already knew about safety and Ryan Companies. I miss him a lot and spend a lot of windshield time wondering “What would Scott do?” and if he is proud of our efforts as we push on without him by our sides.
What are a few of the biggest differences in the industry from when you began your career in construction?
More and more women are in the field, not only in the project manager, superintendent and director positions but also the trades. We had a wood frame project here in Phoenix and I was impressed to see the number of ladies with tool belts on swinging a hammer!
Jessica Hanson,
23+ Years’ Experience
Jessica Hanson, Sales Manager-Contract Dept of Heartland Glass a division of Brin Glass
How did you get into the industry?
In high school I was in a business administration course that allowed me to participate in a work study. I worked at Star Quality Glass. I sold commercial and residential glass.
Tell us about your first job in construction – what is a favorite memory from that experience?
This was actually my second workplace. I was a commercial estimator. I had an older gentleman ask me if he could please talk to a man. I calmly noted to him that I knew what I was doing and if he wasn’t going to talk to me, then he’d need to wait for a response from his sales rep. The sales team had my back. This man finally started to trust me and knew that I knew my stuff. He would call me for advice eventually. It’s my favorite memory because I was able to prove to him that a woman was perfectly capable of doing this work.
Do you have any advice for young women pursuing careers in construction?
Don’t stop, keep doing hard things. You will be looked up to and respected by people of all ages, sex, colors and sizes.
What is the most iconic or favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
My very first million dollar project was Firstlight Health Systems. This hospital is located in my hometown. I took on the project as a PM and it was successful. People around town know me as the gal onsite with the pink hardhat—yes, I am that girl!
Do you have a favorite mentor or someone who is always there for you or you count on to have your back?
My manager, Garrity Gerber. He is always the person to make you feel like you are doing the right thing or that you are the right piece of the puzzle.
What are a few of the biggest differences in the industry from when you began your career in construction?
I have seen a lot more women on sites or holding positions where it used to just be men. It’s great to see!
Yolanda Y McIntosh,
20+ Years’ Experience
Yolanda Y McIntosh, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Associated General Contractors of MN (AGCMN)
Why did you start working in construction/take the position?
I took a Clerk-Typist 3 position as a promotional opportunity. I had no prior experience or exposure to the construction industry.
Tell us about your first job in construction – what is a favorite memory from that experience?
My first job in construction was on the Hiawatha Light Rail. I took minutes for all meetings and would create PowerPoints for the directors. One year, an HLRT meeting was held on Valentine’s Day and I added all types of Valentine’s Day animations to almost every slide. Long story short – my Valentine’s Day slides did not impress the room full of men! Lol… It is still funny!
Do you have any advice for young women pursuing careers in construction?
- The construction industry has a vast array of career tracks to choose from. Some traditional; some non-traditional. Choose the track that is best for you, your long-term goals, and your lifestyle. Then go for it!
- Be sure to have a strong support system and an array of mentors.
- Do not be afraid to take a stand for yourself. You are worth it!
Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your career?
Yes. Although I have had a lot of success in this industry, having been a trailblazer in some significant areas, I wish I would have been there more for my daughter as she was growing up. I wish I would have ordered my priorities differently. I missed school events and games that she was a part. I was not always there when she struggled through her pre-teen years. I missed out on quality time that I cannot get back.
What is the most iconic or favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
St. Croix Stillwater Bridge. I was working as a Compliance Specialist for MnDOT on the project. I set the On-the-Job Training (OJT) goal and was responsible for monitoring and auditing contractor Good Faith Efforts (GFE). At the time, the prime contractor challenged the OJT goal; thinking it would be impossible to achieve. Fast forward. During the construction of the bridge, I left MnDOT and went to work for the prime contractor for Stillwater. Long story short. Being on the contractor side, the goal was not achieved; instead, it was exceeded far beyond even my expectations! It was while working for the contractor that I learned nothing is impossible to achieve if we all work together. In fact, under my leadership, we received MnDOT’s Advancing Equity Award.
Do you have a favorite mentor or someone who is always there for you or you count on to have your back?
I have favorite mentors throughout the industry. Each mentor plays an active role in different areas of my profession. My mentors are Ashanti Payne, Ramona Wilson, Brent Wilber, Kim Collins, and Channon Lemon.
What are a few of the biggest differences in the industry from when you began your career in construction?
On the highway heavy side, more opportunities are being made available for people of color to participate.
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