Women in Construction Week

Thanks to the efforts of the National Association of Women in Construction® (NAWIC), the first full week of March every year has been designated as Women in Construction Week®.

This vital initiative brings a spotlight to the impact and advancements of women in the construction industry. At Patriot Engineering, we are proud to have some of the best women in construction on our team.

In honor of Women in Construction Week, we are excited to highlight some of those women who play a vital role in the growth of our company!

Kaleigh: 4 years, Project Manager: Toyota Division

What is one way you have made an impact at Patriot Engineering? I have a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset. I was asked to travel to Tijuana, Mexico to work on a project with a key client. During my time on site, I was able to provide deepened support and alignment, strengthening our relationship through a foundation of trust. This relationship has resulted in consistent ongoing projects with them since!

How has working at Patriot Engineering impacted you and your career? Before Patriot, I never imagined construction would be the right fit for me. I started as the office administrator in Louisville, but I knew I wanted to grow beyond that role. I asked for the chance to work in the soils and concrete lab, and that’s where everything clicked, I realized how much I genuinely enjoyed the work.

From there, I pushed to get trained in the field, and not long after I was given an incredible opportunity to work in a new country doing something I had quickly grown passionate about. Throughout my time with Patriot, I’ve always felt supported. There was never pressure, just encouragement from leadership to keep learning and taking on more.

My career here has helped me grow both professionally and personally. It’s shown me that with hard work and initiative, you can start anywhere and build a meaningful career. I’m truly grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and for how much I’ve been able to grow along the way.

What is one piece of advice you would give to any woman wanting to begin working in construction? Don’t internalize being “the only woman.” Sometimes you’ll be the only one in the room or on site. That doesn’t mean you don’t belong there. It means you’re paving the way.

Danielle: 2 years, Branch Manager

What is one way you have made an impact at Patriot Engineering? By the grace of God, the support of management and the team that I have built, we took a struggling branch location, breathed life into it, nurtured it with great care and established a growing solution-oriented resource to the Construction Industry and all of our partners. I learned from experience how to create a culture that builds people up instead of tears them down. We operate out of a servant leadership mentality, Patriots core values of High Ethical Standards, Great Management Practices, Safety, Profitability, Innovative and Sustainable Growth. Everyone on my team is equal, valued, respected, supported and pushed to be the best versions of themselves at work and at home. We have created a strong foundation training program where every style of learning is taught and also put into position advanced training for those that have experience in the industry. Staying teachable and continuously learning are a motto of ours and it encourages our team to grow professionally. My team takes pride in providing on site solutions, quick response times, and cost-effective options for project issues.

How has working at Patriot Engineering impacted you and your career? Patriot Engineering has pushed me to be a better version of myself, get outside of my comfort zone, establish a vision, bring the vision to life and support me every step of the way. Patriot’s resource of experts in the industry have allowed me the freedom to think outside of the box, provide answers when needed, give me the space to Fail Forward and trust me to make the hard decision.

What is one piece of advice you would give to any woman wanting to begin working in construction? Believe in yourself even when others don’t. Set a goal and accomplish it one step at a time. Find a great community of people that support you and will hold you accountable. You’ll never succeed if you never fail and you’ll never fail if you never try.

Clara: 8 years, Inspector

What is one way you have made an impact at Patriot Engineering? I have brought a unique skill set to Patriot and have inspired others to obtain their ICC Special Inspection Certifications. I am willing to go anywhere for work and do not complain.

How has working at Patriot Engineering impacted you and your career? Patriot has encouraged me to further my education in Non-Destructive Test methods for welding inspections.

What is one piece of advice you would give to any woman wanting to begin working in construction? Don’t be intimidated.

Emily: 3 years Community Engagement and Laboratory Manager,

What is one way you have made an impact at Patriot Engineering? I have made an impact at Patriot by fully committing to our newest branch in Portage, MI. In this way, I have been able to support Patriot through helping out and learning several roles inside the company beyond where I started out as a lab technician in our Indianapolis branch. I have been working hard to establish Patriot Engineering as a part of the Southwest Michigan area and working hard on the tail end of our first CCRL inspection and proficiency samples.

How has working at Patriot Engineering impacted you and your career? Patriot has enabled me to grow so much beyond laboratory testing and geology background. I have been able to learn and engage with the community on behalf of Patriot, as well as expand on my established knowledge in Construction Materials Testing, Geotechnical, and Environmental.

What is one piece of advice you would give to any woman wanting to begin working in construction? Have confidence in your own knowledge and charge forward with it.

Sara: 14 years, Laboratory Supervisor

What is one way you have made an impact at Patriot Engineering? Bringing the lab together as one team. Adding more testing accreditations and equipment to our lab. Patriot is accredited for more testing than most labs under AASHTO resource.

How has working at Patriot Engineering impacted you and your career? Working at Patriot has taught me that communication is key. Being able to effectively discuss projects and their testing needs with Project Managers and Clients helps us in the long run. Patriot has given me confidence and a sense of purpose in my role as a supervisor.

What is one piece of advice you would give to any woman wanting to begin working in construction? Be confident in yourself and know the other women in the industry are here to help you however we can.

Breigh: 2 years, Assistant Field Operations Manager

What is one way you have made an impact at Patriot Engineering? I feel like I have made an impact by stepping up to take care of equipment as well as keeping the calibrations organized. Also, I have become the site RSO. This has been an amazing opportunity for me. I love being involved with the safety side of our nuclear density gauges.

How has working at Patriot Engineering impacted you and your career? Working at Patriot has helped me realize my potential and that this is a great home for me to build my career. The management here has encouraged me to go for what I want and I look forward to becoming a project manager.

What is one piece of advice you would give to any woman wanting to begin working in construction? Do it! It was the best decision I ever made. It has definitely been a wild ride but has been worth every second. I have learned so much and continue to learn more every day.

Sabrina: 4 years, Project Manager

What is one way you have made an impact at Patriot Engineering? I feel one way in which I have made an impact at Patriot Engineering has been by assisting in the training process with our field technicians. We have built an incredible staff, and I take pride in knowing that I was able to be a part of it.

How has working at Patriot Engineering impacted you and your career? Patriot Engineering has impacted my career by providing the support and mentorship needed to grow my career. They have given me opportunities to obtain multiple certifications, which have allowed me to broaden my skill set and knowledge.

What is one piece of advice you would give to any woman wanting to begin working in construction? Never stop expanding your knowledge, whether through coursework, in the field or in your free time. Construction is ever-changing. Staying up to date of the newest trends and methods, will help you to grow within the industry and your career.