BUILDING } THEIR CAREERS MEET TWO WOMEN WHOSE EARLY WORK IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION HELPED BUILD THE FUTURE TO ENDURING CAREER SUCCESS BY TRISH AMUNDSON
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BUILDING A DREAM HOME. In the
beginning stages of residential construction, the structure begins to take shape, and homeowners can better visualize themselves living in a brand-new house. From pouring the foundation to framing the walls and installing electrical and plumbing systems, the skills of the tradespeople quickly become evident. The construction sector has long been dominated by men. Yet women are making important contributions in the industry, including residential building, where they work alongside their male counterparts swinging hammers, connecting wires, soldering pipes and coordinating work plans.
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With grit and guts, Mandy Reese and Jodi Wiemerslage began their careers with jobs comprising the initial steps of the residential construction process, which eventually equipped them to forge new paths to their present roles.
EMPOWERING FEMALE BUILDERS
Educational programs and resources can support individuals entering and working in the construction field, including a female demographic that has shown increased interest. Steve Carlson, carpentry instructor at Rochester Community and Technical College, has seen an uptick of women in the program over his 20 years of teaching. The two-semester class of
MANDY REESE
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From residential framer to lead carpenter
BACKGROUND: My husband, Al, and I moved from Rochester to our farm by Zumbrota about 10 years ago. We’ve been together for 17 years and have three children: Amber, Autumn
and Lee. I grew up in Pine Island and graduated from high school there.
HOW SHE STARTED: In junior high, I signed up for shop classes and was hooked! After graduation, I started working with a home builder in Rochester framing houses. I had experience in working with everything from footings, framing layout, floor joists, rafters, sheeting, shingles, siding and windows. Later I was hired on at A G Strobel (a general contractor) and joined the Carpenters Union. I completed a four-year apprenticeship training program and have worked for some great companies, including Benike Construction and, currently, Palmer Soderberg.
18 to 20 students concentrates on residential carpentry, and the number of females has grown from one or two per class in earlier years to four this year. “They can do anything that the men can do,” he says. The primary activity of the program is to build a house. The fast-paced learning experience includes building layout, foundation and rough framing, as well as installation of roofing, insulation, drywall and interior trim. With a placement rate of 90%, many students go on to a variety of construction-related careers. “Most of the female students join the local Carpenters Union,” says Carlson, “where they often work with steel studs and drywall, acoustic ceilings, cabinet installations and concrete form work.”
WHERE SHE IS NOW: I’m a lead carpenter at Palmer Soderberg and have been in the Carpenters Union for 20 years. I’m in charge of keeping the job organized and running on schedule. This includes working with our company estimators to make sure materials are ordered ahead of time and networking with other trades. I really enjoy the camaraderie with a lot of great tradesmen. CAREER INSPIRATION: I come from a long line of strong women in my family, and I like to think I get my strengths from my mom. She sacrificed a lot for our family and worked harder than anyone I know to give us what we needed. She is truly an inspiration, and I hope to be just like her! OVERCOMING CHALLENGES: I work with a lot of great men and women in construction, in many different trades. Like any job, you must RWmagazine.com January/February 2021
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