Dawn Marshall, KTC Construction
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awn Marshall is the director of operations for KTC Construction. Marshall has worked with the company for over 13 years, helping support its growth from a small remodeling company to one of Louisville’s premier construction companies. As the director of operations, she manages all aspects of the business but still enjoys working directly with clients, architects and designers on their projects. Early on, Marshall saw the need to speak to clients in their language. She contributed significantly to changing the way KTC presents proposals and blueprints in a way that takes out the intimidating language and helps clients easily understand them. Many KTC clients have never remodeled or built a house, and most are women. Marshall has found that having a woman to discuss their questions and concerns has been helpful in opening communication flow, leading to better project results and happier clients. Born into a military family, traveling is one of Marshall’s greatest passions. She and her husband, Phil, have traveled extensively throughout the country and internationally. Travel has allowed her to meet people from all over the world, learn how they live and about architecture. Dawn and Phil moved to Louisville in 1994, live in the Highlands in a wonderful old fixer upper near Cherokee Park, have a beloved beagle named Arthel and both enjoy working with the KTC team.
How long have you been in your industry and how did you get involved in it? I started working with KTC in 2008. I met Kiel [Thomson] through my husband who was a subcontractor for KTC. I had been in the mortgage business for years and things started crumbling in 2008. Kiel was looking for a bookkeeper at the same time I wanted to leave mortgage origination.
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Dawn Marshall.
What do you love most about your job?
What are your future goals for yourself in your industry or career?
We typically work on older homes that have lots of character and charm. Each new project we do is completely different from the previous project. There are always quirks to work out, which keeps things interesting. It seems that the most interesting houses are owned by the most interesting people and I love getting to know our clients and connecting with them.
Specifically for KTC, I’m trying to implement new processes that will help our projects move seamlessly from development to design to construction, giving our project managers the tools and support they need so that the client is not only happy with the finished product but also with the process.
What makes your workplace unique?
What can you recommend to others interested in working in your industry?
Kiel and I tell every person we interview that they can create their own position. They can run the company if they want! We encourage people to find their niche, learn new things about the construction business and help the company grow in different ways. I always tell my story of starting in a part-time accounting position and becoming the director of operations in a fairly quick time frame.
Now is the time to start! There are many opportunities in the construction business – from designing to drafting, bookkeeping to carpentry – it’s endless. Young people starting out can find apprenticeship positions or trade schools where they can begin to learn a trade that will become a well-paid career without going into the debt that a typical university or four-year college requires.
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