This year we’ve celebrated national Women in Construction Week, Purdue University’s #4 nationally-ranked graduate School of Engineering – both of which were highlighted on our social media pages – and Purdue’s #9 nationally-ranked undergrad School of Engineering. As president of Charles C. Brandt Construction and a Purdue engineering graduate, I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in the construction field, and want to be a voice for my chosen profession and an advocate for encouraging women to pursue an education in this traditionally male dominated industry.
Ladies, you’re NEEDED and WANTED in the construction world, and you owe it to yourself to spend some time learning about the various roles available. One of them might be the perfect fit for you!
In 2019, Purdue released enrollment figures for the School of Engineering where women represent only 26% of total undergraduate students. Ag, Bio, Environmental & Ecological disciplines led the way at over 50%, while Construction Engineering was near the bottom at 19%. Purdue’s Women in Engineering Program (WIEP) was established over 50 years ago, and has increased women’s participation in the school from less than 1% of enrollees, to the current 26%. That’s huge progress, but we can and must do better!
The National Association of Women in Construction – the sponsors of the annual Women in Construction Week – state that only 10.3% of entire construction workforce is women, and less than 1% of the front line / job site workforce is women. Considering that women make up 47% of all employed individuals, we have a long way to go.
My construction career started with internships while still a student at Purdue, to my first post graduate job here at Charles C. Brandt as field engineer. I moved to Project Manager, then Director of Project Management, then to my current position as President. Along the way, I’ve learned so much from so many people from every walk-of-life you can imagine – company owners, CEO’s, architects, real estate investors, other engineers, field force, and every teammate at CCB – and every person I’ve encountered has prepared me for today and beyond. My career has been a completely new education in addition to what I learned in college, that education is still ongoing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Math isn’t your thing? That’s okay, you don’t have to be an engineer to join our team. Last month in a shared social media post celebrating Women in Construction, we listed the names of ten women on our team. The positions they hold – all critical to our success – include senior staff accountant, company president, project assistant, administrative supervisor, staff accountant, project manager, and field laborer. There is literally something for everyone, and CCB is ALWAYS hiring good people to join our team.
For more information about Purdue University’s WIEP, use this link: https://www.purdue.edu/wiep/index.html
For more information from NAWIC, use this link: https://www.nawic.org/nawic/Career_Center.asp
If you have further interest in discussing opportunities, or any questions about my experience in this industry, please contact me through the link below. Thank you!