Women in construction
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Women in construction
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Women in construction--I'm one of them. For over two decades, I have operated a roofing company in the mid-Atlantic area. In this geographical area the size of the country of Hungary, I am one of six females who own and run a roofing operation. A small club, but an impressive group....as I discovered in the spring of 2000.
Thanks to the staff of then Stelwagon Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia, headed by Charles Ringwalt, we six women in construction were invited to an interview for the Roofer's Voice Magazine. Below are some extended quotes from their May 2000 article:
"Our panel consisted of a number of women who own (or co-own) and operate roofing companies......Those contributing to the discussion were: Terry Brown of Brown & Guarino; Miriam Cunningham of R. Menders, Inc; Amy Reeves Edison of Reeves Roofing Equipment Co., Inc.; Joanne Kohn of Kirbery Transport, Inc; Joyce M. Loffredo of New Jersey Masonry & Roofing, Inc; Gail L. Palladino of Palladino Brothers; Linda Pepe of L.Pepe Contractors, Inc; and Marsha Sadel of Alert General Contractors, Inc."
"As is the case with their male counterparts, women entered the roofing field in a number of different ways. In some cases, a business was inherited from a family member. In other instances, wives and/or daughters of experienced roofers have been named as business owners so that the company might share in the potential benefits afforded by the minority bidding process...Still others gained invaluable on-the-job experience...then decided to go their own way."
"With an average of fifteen years of experience in the roofing business, our panelists are acutely aware of the single most important factor related to their future success...the reliability and quality workmanship their companies must exhibit in order to establish a positive reputation."
"....our panel of experts felt they were no more or less capable of dealing with the difficult issues that arise than their male counterparts, nor did they feel they were treated differently by ...potential customers, simply because they are women."
After the meeting, this lady in construction expressed her appreciation to the Stelwagon staff for the opportunity to meet others like me. I was surprised that each of us began our profession in a distinct way. For me, I just started making cold calls selling white roofing. Yet, regardless of the initial startup, the similarity of our day-to-day problems and triumphs were similar--such as finding good help.
The other perspective that impressed me was the length of our careers in roofing. We all qualified for an "old-timers" medal. Over the years, each of us experienced similar situations with cash flow, insurance, customer relations, and the list went on.
Below are rare pictures of the owner of this tin restoration company doing real work on a roof.
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In conclusion, women in construction, particularly roofing, may not be numerous, but we are around....and, apparently, around for the long haul.
Thanks to the article in Roofer's Voice dated May 2000, published by Stelwagon Manufacturing Company, about women in construction profession.