Women in Construction 2023
Celebrating R&S’ Women in Construction
In celebration of Women in Construction Week (WIC Week), March 5-11, R&S spotlights some of the many intelligent, talented, passionate, committed and inspiring female employees who enrich our organization and are crucial to R&S’s success. Starting today, and each day this week, we’re excited to share their stories with you.
WIC Week transcends seven days in March. It aligns with R&S’s culture of diversity and inclusion and presents a powerful opportunity to further the dialogue on women making strides in our traditionally male-dominated industry.
In the past year, both the men and women in our company have focused efforts on educating women on the many diverse opportunities in construction, advancing our efforts to bring more female talent into R&S and increasing women’s representation in all roles and levels of management throughout our company. We are proud to celebrate and promote the role of women in the construction industry.
“I have a degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in structural design. After working for a few years running calculations behind a desk, I realized that being part of a construction team and making the design come to life was what I wanted.
“I joined R&S in 2016. During my first few days as I was setting up all my logins, I created passwords that were variations of ‘4MyDre@mjob!’ I couldn’t believe the opportunity I’d been given to be a part of the R&S family.
“I started out knowing very little about project management. Today, I know what it takes to be part of a construction team and make the plans come to life. I’ve learned that many problems can be mitigated early-on through design-build project delivery, and with R&S’ support, I’ve received the Associate DBIA credential. A few years ago, I transitioned to the Special Projects Group where I get to be a part of all phases and aspects of a project. This experience has allowed me to grow my career exponentially. I’ve also developed specialized knowledge of LEED.
“We build some really incredible projects, but the relationships I’ve built along the way are what fill me with the most pride.
“Passion for Building is R&S’ core value that stands out most for me as aligning with women in construction. Being a woman in the industry requires passion. Women’s passion for building drives us to conquer adversity, embrace our diversities and build something together that we are proud of.”
“A huge part of my role in business development is creating great external relationships with architects, owners and consultants. The other part focuses on internal team dynamics. It's easy to promote your team when all relationships are legitimately strong.
“I have tremendous respect for everyone I work with here, and I'm strongly motivated by helping others. I feel the most accomplished when I’m able to provide solutions to my team. I’m proud of my success in creating a meaningful approach to how we present R&S to owners.
“Integrity is R&S’ core value that’s most important to me. The women we hire are valued and treated equally not because they are women but because they bring intelligent perspectives, great work ethic and strong skill sets to their projects. To me, that is integrity.
“I transitioned from the financial services industry to the construction industry in 2009. This industry is a fantastic career choice for women. You don't have to be an engineer or have a passion for concrete to be successful. There are lots of avenues to explore at the jobsites and in the offices and lots of people willing to help guide you. The industry is full of wonderful, open-minded people. The amount of creativity and collaboration that occurs in our industry, for someone like me who is a people person, is a lot of fun!”
“I was exposed to construction early in my life while spending summers at my grandparents’ house. My grandfather was a craftsman. Every year he would tour me around his shop and show me the different tools he acquired. I always enjoyed spending time with him in his shop, building little projects together.
“Growing up in the Middle East, women were generally not encouraged to venture into fields like construction. My family was different. My parents emboldened us to test the norm. When I asked my father for guidance on a career path, he shared with me the opportunities and rewards of a career in construction. When I decided to take this path, he and my mother encouraged me.
“I am a single mother. It’s a heavy challenge to balance family and work. R&S is a great all-inclusive company and has shown me kindness and consideration in achieving this balance. R&S has also afforded me the opportunity to be exposed to unique and once-in-a-lifetime projects that have enhanced my knowledge in the field. I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far with my R&S family support.
“Client Focused and Passion for Building are two R&S core values that I appreciate. If you have a passion for building, you can excel in this industry, regardless of your gender. There are endless career branches in construction. Women in this field of work have the opportunity to lead teams to help build better hospitals, schools, community centers and other projects that enhance people’s lives for generations to come.”
“I love being on the jobsite working in a trailer with people who wear hard hats and boots. I love working with my project teams, and I have fun. I enjoy working with the different roles on a project—Project Managers, Project Engineers, Superintendents, Safety Coordinators, Foremen. I get to learn what each role does and how they all tie into being a project team.
“In between big projects, I’ve worked in the headquarters office with other FOCs and other groups that support us. I have helped train new FOCs, one-on-one, to process union payroll. This is a critical task—same time, weekly. If one FOC cannot process their project’s payroll, we plan with another FOC to stand in for us. Once again, teamwork.
“I joined R&S in 2000 with no construction experience and little accounting experience. I appreciate that R&S encourages us and gives us the technology, tools and training we need to do our jobs better and continually improve.
“Being a Senior FOC has been a truly rewarding experience. I regularly drive by several buildings that were built by R&S teams that I was part of. Seeing those buildings always makes me feel proud.
“There are lots of opportunities for women in construction. This industry isn’t just hammers and nails. My role is fascinating and fun, but there are also plenty of different roles in the office environment. Women, put on your alpha hard hat and go for it!”
“Growing up in the Philippines, I thought construction was only for men. I am an accountant and although I’ve worked in different industries, it wasn’t until after I came to the U.S. that I started working in the construction industry. Compared to other industries, construction offered me more unique opportunities and rewards in terms of building my career path.
“When I joined R&S in 2014, my department was undergoing a major overhaul. Everybody was a temp except for me. It was a very challenging time, but I committed to having a positive attitude, focused on analyzing the processes and got a lot of support and encouragement from my mentors here. I was able to create a more cohesive, functional and organized group with minimal supervision. That was a big accomplishment for me.
“R&S is very good at investing in their employees. During my first six months here, R&S sent me to training. I thought that was huge. It showed me that R&S values all their employees, including someone who is new. We have regular trainings for construction and for personal and professional development, which is very nice. I think that’s been the most important part of my growth—training and being able to work with the R&S family.
“This company is a strong advocate for women. I see a lot of opportunity here for women to have a career path—whether in an office or in the field. I like that R&S has increased their efforts to invest in and support talented women who have a passion for building.”