SPARK

Discoveries, innovations, and insights that illuminate the future of the built environment

  • Home
  • Better Buildings
  • Big Ideas
  • B.L.U.E. Blog
  • Occupants & Operators
  • Technology

Who are the Women in Construction?

March 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Who are the Women in Construction?

2018-wic-week-logo

Today marks the beginning of National Women in Construction Week. While we regularly celebrate the contributions of all our employees, this is a special time of year where we focus on the measurable difference the women of McKinstry are making in the construction industry—and beyond. It’s not just women in hardhats and work boots, but women who work in all facets of the built environment—from engineering, sales and facility operations to human resources, accounting and technology.

This week, we also commemorate International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 8. This day not only celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, but it marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Historically, the construction industry has lagged others in the hiring and advancement of women. We know, for example, that women make up only about 9 percent of the construction industry in the United States. However, at McKinstry, women represent almost 30 percent of our professional staff and 15 percent of our tradespeople. The success of our company is due in no small part to each of us working diligently to create an inclusive [Read more…]

FacebookTwitterLinkedInGoogle GmailPocketGoogle+Share

Filed Under: Big Ideas, Home Tagged With: #2018WICWEEK, Culture, Diversity, Inclusion, Women in Construction

Turning great intention into action

September 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Turning great intention into action
pjimage-55

Some of the many people who make McKinstry great, pictured at our most-recent New Hire Orientation.

As a woman who has worked many decades in male-dominated environments, I’ve had my share of hurtful experiences. In a previous role at a different company, I remember when my male peers gathered around the conference room table to eat, while two female support staff and I sat on the sidelines with no food because we might be needed to get coffee or copies. I remember overhearing the conversations about not wanting to hire women because ‘they might get pregnant.’ Where it was assumed that we couldn’t be in a powerful decision making position because we would be too hormonal and emotional. Opportunities presented to women were limited, traditional and dead end. And to speak up meant being blackballed, alienated or fired.

Fast forward to today. Thank goodness we are in such a different time and place, where such overt displays of intolerance are no longer acceptable. Yet there is much more to be done. While I feel lucky to be with a company where people are judged on the innovation of their ideas, their commitment to the work, and their dedication to each other and our customers, I know our own diversity and inclusion journey is far from over.

[Read more…]

FacebookTwitterLinkedInGoogle GmailPocketGoogle+Share

Filed Under: Big Ideas, Home Tagged With: Culture, Diversity, Inclusion, STEM

Recent Posts

  • What Makes McKinstry Different? by Tyler Pritchard
  • What the McKinstry B.L.U.E program taught me: Zach Gerhardt
  • Intern Q&A: Lexie Bright
  • What it’s like to be a McKinstry Intern in Seattle: Michael Kinahan
  • How COVID-19 changed my Internship: Nolan Dahl

Tags

#2018WICWEEK B.L.U.E. B.L.U.E. Blog Building Technology Career Development Catalyst Building CES Colorado Construction Data Energy Energy Action Month Energy Efficiency Energy Savings Engineering Engineers Fire Protection Great Lakes Higher Ed HVAC Interns Internships K-12 LED Lighting Mechanical Midwest Mountain Regions Oregon Performance-based outcomes Portland powerED Safety Seattle Service Smart Buildings Spokane Sustainability Technical Services Technology The B.L.U.E. Experience Washington WIC Week Women in Construction Zero Energy

Recent Comments

  • James on A smart, comprehensive approach to a clean energy future
  • Eric on We’re ‘walking in’ for climate change
  • Bunji McLeod on Leaning and learning at McKinstry
  • Karl Darden on Leaning and learning at McKinstry
  • Frank Katkauskas on Aidan Korper: Getting to know me & my journey to McKinstry’s B.L.U.E. Program

sex

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Genesis Sample Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in