This National Women in Construction (NWIC) Week Hear the Journeys and Career Highlights of Women in Construction
March 11, 2022 – Lakewood, CO — During National Women in Construction Week the industry celebrates women who are mentors, experts, and innovators in construction. Established more than twenty years ago by the National Association of Women in Construction, the week is meant to increase visibility of the work done by women in construction while also highlighting the opportunities for women in construction. NWIC Week is also recognized throughout the industry with organizations like the AGC of Colorado, as well as other Encore Electric general contractors and industry partners.
Encore Electric employs a talented group of women in numerous positions and departments. Women’s contributions help Encore Electric to be successful on projects through preconstruction and planning stages through to close out and servicing these builds. From apprentices, engineers, superintendents and project managers to preconstruction, estimating and VDC and prefabrication and other support roles, the women on our teams help fuel success in a multitude of ways.
We had the unique opportunity this week to hear from a few women of Encore Electric about their journeys, project wins, and highlights of contributing to the construction industry and Encore Electric. Here are their stories:
Jacque Strevey: Project Manager
How did you get into construction?
Strevey: My father was a Union Electrical Contractor in Boulder. Growing up he would make us go to his shop on Saturdays and help organize and inventory material and assist with organizing paperwork and processing invoices. It is definitely not a career I ever thought I would end up in!
I started with Encore Electric in May of 2016 as a Project Engineer, and thanks to Andy Gordon and Travis Sharrock who saw my knowledge and drive to advance within Encore, I was quickly promoted to a Project Manager working on a data center project where I have remained since.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Strevey: What I love the most about working in construction is the relationship you develop with your team, the General Contractor, the Owner, and the other trades working on the project.
Advice for your coworkers or someone just entering construction:
Strevey: Have strong shoulders, don’t take things personally. Stand up for your team, they will support you if you demonstrate that you believe in them and support them.
What does a career in construction mean to you?
Strevey: A career in construction means that you are always firsthand with leading technology. You have the ability to move within the industry and experience the different types of construction, whether it is working in hospitals, schools, high rise office buildings, or data centers, you have control over your destiny.
Sam Hamilton: Director of Prefabrication and Virtual Construction
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Hamilton: Working in Vegas for 4 years doing Casino and Hospitality design on the strip. Also being a part of a lot of incredible/impactful projects all over the country such as Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, NV; Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV; Walter Reed Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; and Gaylord of the Rockies, Aurora, CO.
Advice for your coworkers or someone just entering construction:
Hamilton: Figure out what you like to do, what excites you and build your career around that. I’ve been in construction my whole life and I still love what I do.
Janely Garcia: Apprentice
How did you get into construction?
Garcia: I’m the first person in the family to work in the trades. I’ve wanted to work in construction for as long as I can remember but found it easier to hop into trades. I recently moved over to TS to move up into an office position as soon as I gain more knowledge about Encore.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Garcia: Being a woman in construction allows me to remind myself that I am capable of doing all that the men can. It gives me a lot more motivation when I have the guys doubting what I can do.
Cheryl Steiner: Estimator
How did you get into construction?
Steiner: I was introduced to construction really young. My dad built our family home and enlisted my help throughout the whole process. I was involved in everything from drywall to plumbing and electrical and was able to learn about materials, tools, electrical, and all things construction.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Steiner: Some highlights have been the Field Concourse A Expansion at DIA, the Luminous Wind sculpture at Peña Station, and helping win the Air Force Academy Chapel job.
Advice for your coworkers or someone just entering construction:
Steiner: I think it’s important to be true to yourself, you don’t need to be tough or stubborn to get your way, stand up for yourself and disarm with a smile. My favorite quote is by Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I try to let this quote guide me in my personal life and also at work.
Stephanie Olesen: Accounting Manager
How did you get into construction?
Olesen: My dad worked for a general contractor, so I grew up in the construction world. One summer in high school, I worked with the Accounting and Admin group at his company and fell in love with the environment but didn’t think I’d end up in this world for my career.
Fast forward to after I got my accounting degree, I started working in public accounting and my favorite clients to work on were our construction clients. Pretty soon, that was the only clients I wanted to work on. When the time came to leave public accounting, there was no question that I wanted to work for a contractor.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Olesen: I love that we get to be part of producing something so tangible. There are so many places across town that I point out to whoever I am with and say, “That’s an Encore project!”
Coreen Smith: Superintendent
How did you get into construction?
Smith: I owned my own remodeling company and got tired of paying for electricians.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Smith: Completing my apprentice program and becoming a Foreman/Superintendent.
What are some of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on?
Smith: A few I’ve enjoyed working on have been the Four Seasons, high end mansions, Microsoft Data Center.
Advice for your coworkers or someone just entering construction:
Smith: Learn everything you can!
Joyce Hudson: Apprentice
How did you get into construction?
Hudson: I left my last job, also in a male-dominated field, and wasn’t sure I wanted to go back to office work or a male-dominated field. But a friend told me to apply at Encore anyway. Honestly, I didn’t think they’d hire me, but they offered me an apprenticeship and opportunities to advance my knowledge and career. I didn’t realize how difficult it can be to get an apprenticeship, but it’s been a really good fit. Most of the time I really enjoy my job. And even though I’m only an apprentice, I’ve been given opportunities to lead crews and work in the job office. So, I’ve seen many sides of the job that others might not have; I’m grateful for the opportunities and don’t take the trust that has been given to me for granted.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Hudson: The highlights would be working both the construction and service sides of projects. It’s cool to see the building you just built occupied and in action.
Advice for your coworkers or someone just entering construction:
Hudson: My advice would be to be yourself, be teachable, don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know something or need help.
Anna Lavenhar: Engineering and Quality Manager
How did you get into construction?
Lavenhar: I was in my early 20’s playing in an all-female 3-piece band at the time. We could never get a decent recording for a demo, and this began my quest of how to get a good quality recording. After going to a community college and getting my Associate in Arts degree, I then enrolled at a local tech school in a 2-year Audio Recording program. From there I realized I did not want to have anything to do with the recording industry, but one of my teachers got me my first job working in audio-visual in Minneapolis, MN. I loved the work, especially rack build and was blessed to have one the best teachers I could have asked for. The Audio Recording program taught me the backbone of what I needed for a career in AV. This of course, was way before AVIXA and CTS. There was no school for AV, you had to learn it from someone else.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Lavenhar: I would say owning and operating my own audiovisual subcontracting company in Minneapolis for 11 years is at the top of those highlights. I had a top-notch crew and we took on high profile projects and traveled throughout the U.S. doing installation and commissioning.
Advice for your coworkers or someone just entering construction:
Lavenhar: Find a mentor, shadow them. I feel that I have been pretty blessed to have had some pretty awesome mentors that took me under their wing when I was younger. Having a job in audio/visual means getting to play with all the latest toys in technology. It is fast-paced and keeps you challenged daily.
Jessica Linder: Project Engineer
How did you get into construction?
Linder: I grew up alongside Encore, interning a summer here and there, but never officially joined its ranks. Instead, I pursued a Master’s in Psychology, going so far as starting a Ph.D. before realizing that I wasn’t enjoying my work. I returned home to Colorado, and started as a Project Engineer for Encore in February of 2020, and haven’t looked back since.
What are some highlights of your career in construction?
Linder: Each time we have started up gear has been a highlight of me in my career. I will always remember the new generator at Tower 3 roaring to life for the first time, the entire building shuddering from the force of all the generators running at once, while cold air whipped through the open louvers dropping the temperature in the room a good 40 degrees in a matter of seconds.
Advice for your coworkers or someone just entering construction:
Linder: My advice to anyone whether they are in construction or not, is to be true to yourself. Don’t make rash decisions. Take your time. Be smart. Question yourself. But ultimately you know what you need and what type of work speaks to you. If you’re already doing that, then great. If not, make moves to get yourself there.
As National Women in Construction week comes to a close, we again thank the women of Encore Electric for their great contributions to the industry. If you are a woman in construction and want to share your story, click here.
