DOWL’s Post

This is a great article on the importance of bringing more women into the construction industry.

For International Women in Engineering Day (#INWED24), we are delighted to feature Anika Selle, who is currently pursuing a dual study program in wood and wood-based materials technology at Mercer Timber Products. Anika's enthusiasm for her studies and her role as a trailblazer for women in technical fields highlight the invaluable contributions women make in engineering. "What I like most about my studies and profession is the many possible applications and areas of responsibility. Studying wood technology offers a wide range of opportunities. You get to know many areas of work, and while not everyone is perfect, you can discover what you truly enjoy. Technical professions are often dominated by men, but having a woman on the team can be an enrichment, bringing a different perspective to the table. You can also be a role model for young people who are unsure whether to pursue a technical career. Seeing women in these roles can inspire and encourage them to take the leap. I wish I had known beforehand how varied the tasks in technical engineering professions are. At the beginning, I thought long and hard about whether I wanted to start an apprenticeship in this field and whether I would be able to do it. In hindsight, one reason for my hesitation was certainly the small number of women in wood technology or engineering in general." Anika's story highlights the diverse opportunities and rewarding experiences in the field of wood technology. Her journey underscores the importance of representation and the unique perspectives women bring to technical professions. By embracing these diverse viewpoints, we can foster a more inclusive and innovative industry. #INWED24 #WomenInEngineering #WoodTechnology #WomenInSTEM #GirlsInSTEM #EngineeringInspiration #DiversityInEngineering #FutureOfWork #RoleModel #CareerGoals

The National Association of Women in Construction began the tradition of the first week of March being a celebration of the ladies in our industry. We at Force love a reason to highlight our amazing teammates. Today we want to recognize Kelly Brinson, P.E., a Project Manager in our Force Construction team. Kelly is a Purdue grade and licensed Professional Engineer. We are excited to share her answers to a few questions on why she enjoys being part of the built environment. 1.     How did you decide on your career? “I’ve always enjoyed watching a project come to life and I’ve always been a Boilermaker fan so when it came time to apply to college and to decide on what I wanted to do with my future; Civil Engineering at Purdue seemed the perfect fit. Throughout my time in college and with various internships, I found my joy came from interacting with customers and overseeing work on site versus crunching numbers and designing. Project management has given me the ability to combine all of my favorite aspects and pull knowledge from my engineering background.” 2.    How long have you been in the construction industry? “Nearly 11 years” 3.    What do you like about being in the construction industry? “The construction industry provides a wide variety of projects that keeps each day unique and intriguing. Not only are you continuously learning about construction related activities, but you are learning the ins and outs of how your customers products are made and the intricacies of each business.” 4.    How long have you been with Force? “Nearly 11 years. I started with Force directly after I graduated; very green and hardly spoke a word. I’ve grown a lot over the last 11 years, and I’ve worked around a lot of great people here and have learned from them invaluable knowledge that no amount of schooling can teach.” 5.    What advice would you give to young women thinking or to get them to think about construction? “Go for it! Construction is an industry that offers a wealth of opportunity and does not have a single “right” path to take. You have the ability to form your career around your passions and interests which allows you to always keep learning and growing as an individual.” Thank you, Kelly, for everything you do! #buildingbetterbuilders #nobodybuildsbetter

So excited to have you meet our next amazing engineer for our series: KPFF Special Projects Trailblazers: Success in Engineering Amethyst Webb, PE started with the Special Projects Group of KPFF Consulting Engineers in June of 2012 as an Intern. Amethyst has the distinction of being the only person to Intern at all 3 of the Special Projects locations. She received her Masters in Civil Engineering at the University of Southern California in 2014, and her Bachelors of Civil Engineering from Seattle University in 2013. She started full time in 2015, and was named an Associate for the Special Projects Group in August of 2022. What does Success Look like for you in the Special Projects Group? At Special Projects, my definition of success involves establishing a cohesive structural group within the Long Beach office. I am committed to fostering growth and creating opportunities for younger engineers. By offering mentorship and unwavering support, my goal is to empower these emerging talents, providing them with challenges that inspire personal and professional development. Seeing a younger engineer excel and find joy in their work indicates that we are on the right path. What does success look like for a female engineer? As a female engineer, success to me is the ability to set and pursue my own goals, enjoying the freedom to do so with the trust and support of both leaders and peers. It means feeling an equal level of respect, importance, and support compared to my male counterparts in the field. What advice do you have for future female engineers? For future female engineers, my advice is to speak up for what you want. You don't have to say yes to everything. Identify what brings you joy and where your natural strengths lie, then follow that passion. Don't hesitate to ask questions, leverage your relationships, and make the most of available resources. Remember, you've got this. #societyofwomenengineers #womenengineers #rolemodels

🦺👷♂️ Did you know that October is #CareersInConstructionMonth? 👷♂️ 🦺 Many people don't necessarily think of construction when they explore the idea of a STEM career, but there are countless positions in the construction industry that demand a sophisticated knowledge of technology. Capitol Tech, along with our partnering organizations NCCER and Maryland Center for Construction Education and Innovation, Inc. (MCCEI), aim to change the view of the field, showing students that construction is more than physical labor and that there are countless career options across the industry that are accessible to a wide variety of skillsets. Check out the following posts on our website that showcase the intersection of STEM and construction, and highlight the need for fresh perspectives and talent in the evolving workforce. ⚙️ Current issues in construction site safety: https://capl.ink/3FaPgsM ⚙️ Resources for women considering a construction management career: https://capl.ink/3ZKN2tz ⚙️ Fastest growing careers in construction: https://capl.ink/46my3sh ⚙️ How a degree in construction management can lead to a project management career: https://capl.ink/3OiEt4W ⚙️ How robotics can improve the construction industry: https://capl.ink/3rMwKDV

As the aroma of #pumpkinspice starts to flood our senses and the fall weather begins to cool, we had to say goodbye to our amazing group of summer #interns as they returned to their respective universities. Having this group of enthusiastic students in our office made the summer more enjoyable. Everyone needs to be investing in the next generation of engineers to build the much-needed #civilengineering work force that will ultimately be responsible for rebuilding the #infrastructure of this country. No longer can our industry afford to recruit our candidates from competitor firms; we need to #growthepool, not just rotate business cards. I was proud that R2O Consulting LLC was able to do our small part this summer with these four amazing students. #STEM #stemstudents #stemcareers #environmentalconsulting #civilengineering #civilengineer #waterresources #hydrology #hydraulics #hydraulicmodeling #smallbusiness #womanownedbusiness #engineers #engineering #engineeringjobs #trainingthenextgeneration

I found out today that engineering was the equal first degree choice for students at my high school, Sydney Girls High, last year, with 24 girls enrolling! This is up from 3 girls in my year. What’s changed in 15 years? - The school has an active careers advisor who engages with industry and alumni to host monthly careers talks, like the one I attended today. - The school runs an engineering elective course. - Northrop Consulting Engineers has supported me taking work experience students from SGHS every year. I know Arup take students as well. - Roberts Co took a group of year 10 students to our Zurich Tower site a a couple of years ago. - Laing O'Rourke have involved the school in one of their programs over the past few years. It’s not just us, and it’s not just this school. According to the government’s STEM Equity Monitor, the proportion of women enrolling in engineering has increased from 14% in 2015 to 18% in 2021. Degree completions are slightly lower at 17%. The numbers are still low, but it’s great to see them moving, especially so close to home.

🚀 Celebrating Women in Engineering: #EnhancedbyEngineering 🚀 This Sunday, 23rd June, marks a day of inspiration and recognition for International Women in Engineering Day. We’re thrilled to highlight the incredible women who are propelling our Property Maintenance team to new heights with their expertise and passion. 🛠️💪 🌟 Meet Amy Hopkinson, a shining star among our Maintenance Technicians. Her journey is a testament to the power of determination and ingenuity. 🌟 Why should women be engineers? 'I am an only child brought up by a disabled single mother, and I had very few male role models to look up to. It was difficult as if there was a problem it usually meant I had to figure it out myself. In maintenance terms, even if we had to put a picture frame up it meant a lot of broken drill bits and subsequently learning how to patch up a lot of holes in the wall (sorry mum!). But this meant I was able to become my own role model I would have needed growing up. If there is a problem I will always give it a go which is what any engineering department is at its core, and a lot of women have this ability to analyse an issue or think about how something can be improved and act on it.' Why Tesco? 'I joined as a Tesco Maintenance apprentice. Tesco apprenticeships were offering a higher starting salary, which was such a huge point for me as I had already moved out from home and as we all do, had bills to pay. Because Tesco offered more than most, it meant I was able to start studying while working and still support myself.' Advice for Aspiring Female Engineers: Amy’s message is clear: “Just go for it.” If you’re passionate about problem-solving, you’re already on the right path. Embrace the learning curve; every day brings new challenges and opportunities to expand your technical skills. Join us in celebrating these remarkable women who are enhancing lives through engineering. 💡 #PropertyProud #TescoProperty #Maintenance #TescoCareers Amy Hopkinson

Exciting news in the world of #architecture, #construction, and #engineering! Check out this inspiring article featuring ACE Mentor Program of America alumni who are making a difference in their fields. Let's continue to support and uplift the next generation of industry leaders. Read below ⬇ ! #ACEmentorprogram #mentoringmatters 🏗️🌟💼

The Ethos Engineering TY Work Placement Programme gives young students the opportunity to spend a week working across our engineering departments to ascertain whether a career in engineering is something they would like to pursue. Joseph on the left and Adonai on the right are pictured with Dayana from Ethos' People & Talent team. The two are on their final day, having had the opportunity to work closely with our engineers. #EngineeringWOW #EngineeringExcellence #NextGenEngineers #WorkExperience #WorkPlacement #TYWorkPlacement