Women in Construction

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!

Employee Spotlight: Celebrating Jeff Nichols' 32 Years at CCB

Jeff Nichols has been with CCB since the late 1980s and has since become one of our company’s most skilled and dedicated superintendents. Read on to learn more about Jeff and how he’s gotten to where he is today!

When did you start at CCB and what was your life like at the time? 1988 or 1989 at the Alamo Car Rental. I was single and attending IUPUI at night.

What did you want to be when you were growing up and how did that change as you got older? I wanted to work with my uncle who was an architect/builder, but he passed when I was in HS.

Who were some of your first colleagues/mentors when you started at CCB? Rick Thomas Jim Leslie, and Jack Lautenschlager. Those guys really showed me the ropes in this business and I’m forever grateful to them for it!

What was one of the more challenging moments working at CCB? Working in Miami, FL for 17 months, getting to the airport Monday at 5 a.m, getting home Friday after midnight, and only being with my family two days a week. We did a lot of great work down there, but it did get hard for my family after awhile.

What is your most memorable moment at CCB? After completing the Cinemas at the Mall of America, going to the grand opening of the mall, watching Ray Charles walk into the rotunda, sit down at a grand piano and sing America the Beautiful! I was in awe of what I was witnessing. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.

What lessons has working at CCB taught you, and what advice would you give to employees that have started working at CCB in the last few years? Treat every job as if it is your own because you are not only representing CCB but yourself. Always do your best. Know what you know and know what you don't. Always be ready to listen and learn, because you never know where that next great piece of career advice is going to come from.

Getting to Know You - The Foundation of Success

I count wins by the relationships I’ve built, and ultimately how I serve that relationship. If I do the work, the business will generally follow. A suspect becomes a prospect, a prospect becomes a friend, a friend becomes a client, and a client becomes a referral source. Often that client also becomes an advisor back to me. You never know where you’re going to get that next great piece of advice, so be open to it.

This has been my practice my entire career: find someone you want to know, and work to make it happen. It’s a natural “givers gain” approach to business as well as life.

I love to understand how businesses operate, where they falter, how they recover, grow, pivot, and succeed. It doesn’t matter what kind of business – an insurance agency, restaurant, not-for-profit, or contractor – I could sit with almost any owner/operator and be mesmerized by learning their path. It’s like never-ending story time for me, and I’m lucky that most love to share. People are proud of what they’ve accomplished – as they should be. Sometimes that pride is new, and highlights their current team; other times it’s about the generations before them that laid the foundation. I genuinely enjoy hearing the history, operational details, and succession plans. 

Familiarity and comfort make it easier to stay connected and relevant. When they have a reason to celebrate, congratulate them. When they’re personally or professionally struggling, don’t hide – offer support and be a resource when needed. While you’re learning their world, they’ll likely learn about yours as you share experiences. When appropriate, talk about business and ask for referrals, but always in the context of giving first.

I believe the fundamentals of getting to know someone and their business truly sets the foundation for a successful PARTNERSHIP – one of CCB’s core values. Simply being helpful and present is less common than it should be, and works wonders for the soul. It’s been my approach for my entire career, and I can’t imagine doing it differently.