Women at WIRC

This episode features Laura Sullivan, founder of design firm ID.ology in Asheville, N.C., talking about the importance of thinking beyond what’s beautiful in residential design and focusing on how the built environment can support overall wellbeing.

On this episode of Women at WIRC, we sat down with Gena Hoyt, owner of Big Dog Construction and Executive Director of BS and Beer Canada, for a discussion on the origins of her company, how she navigates her role as a woman in construction, and the importance of building science education.

In this episode of Women at WIRC, architect, contractor, tech expert, and author Grace Mase demystifies integrating AI to help boost predictability and profitability. 

In this episode of Women at WIRC, we talk to Ashley Sheaffer, principal of the Maitland, Fla.-based remodeling and design firm KBF Design Gallery. Sheaffer shares with us how AI is helping improve their performance and better meet client needs.

Labor remains a critical challenge in residential construction. We just don't have enough boots on the ground. At the same time, thousands of service members are transitioning into civilian life each year. With the exact discipline and leadership skills that the trades are seeking. Joining us today are two people working to bridge that gap. Torri Broderick manages military and veteran services at...

In this episode of Women at WIRC, you'll hear from three women working in rebuilding and recovery in different parts of the country. DXA Studio's Allysa Taylor, lowernine.org's Laura Paul, and KAA Design Group's Lisa Copeland, share their stories, experiences, and strategies that help them create thriving communities in the aftermath of disaster. 

We spend 90% of our time indoors—but how much thought do we give to how our homes affect our health? In this episode, Pauline Hammerbeck sits down with Liz Miles, Vice President of Residential at the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), to explore how the built environment passively impacts our wellbeing every single day—from the air we breathe to the lighting we're exposed to, the water...

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Mary Peters, founder of Sasquatch Contracting in Boise, Idaho, shares how failing twice helped her build a successful new service division, Yeti Services . It's a candid look at missteps, lessons learned, and, ultimately, how those failures ultimately shaped a healthier, more consistent business model. This episode is a great roadmap for others looking to looking...

In our latest episode of Women at WIRC, Michal Porter, senior lead scientist at Dupont's performance building solutions business, including their Corian Design brand, spoke with us about her work in advancing sustainable building materials and practices and what other businesses can do to lower their own impact.

Sara Jorgensen, senior designer at Harrell Design + Build believes that homes should be designed to adapt with owners as they age. In this episode of the Women at WIRC podcast, Jorgensen discusses the pros of universal design for all homeowners, no matter their age or ability. 

In this episode, Pauline Hammerbeck of Custom Builder talks with Melissa Kennedy, president of Meadowlark Design Build in Southeast Michigan, about the evolution of project management in custom homebuilding. They discuss the rise of the “construction concierge” model, how client expectations have changed post-COVID, and strategies for delivering high-touch service without burning out your team. Me...

The 2025 Women in Residential Construction Conference wrapped on Sept. 26, but the work is not over. On the final day of the conference, attendees heard from Camille Jenkins, who provides coaching and consulting services through her business, Camille's Keys.  Having attended WIRC over the past several years, Jenkins shares with audience members the importance of keeping conversations going and con...

In this episode of Women at WIRC, we sit down with Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki of tst ink and Nancy Keenen, CEO of Dahlin Architecture, Planning, and Interiors , to unpack the just-released findings from the America at Home Study . The data shows what many in housing are missing: the pandemic permanently reshaped how people want to live. Affordability pressures, new household formations, and the rising de...

Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing at home remodeling and design platform Houzz, knows her way around the client. From understanding client expectations to helping housing industry professionals navigate ever-changing AI tools, Hausman has experience with it all. In this episode of Women at WIRC, we talk with Hausman about her role at Houzz and how home builders can stay up to date...

Kat Klingenberg, founder of passive building non-profit Phius, discusses the explosive growth in passive building interest. From building the first certified passive house in Champaign, Illinois, to working on 53-story towers in Brooklyn, she explains how the movement has evolved beyond energy efficiency. Secondary benefits like air quality and grid-resilience are now the primary selling points, "...

Mary Peters, owner of Sasquatch Contracting in Boise, Idaho, discusses a new division of her business: Yeti Services, launched this year to deliver small home improvement and home maintenance work. Her diligence in verifying the market need, building a dedicated team, and effectively cross-marketing the two businesses offers a roadmap for others looking to diversify, find new sources of revenue, a...

Cammie Beckert, managing director and co-owner of Cameron Custom in Scottsdale, Arizona, shares her experience of transitioning from a highly successful, family-owned luxury production builder to leading the start-up (and suffering the growing pains) of a new division with a very different business model.

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Candice Rania, president of LEFF Design Build, discusses the transition of the company to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) from a sole ownership model. With LEFF two years into this change, Candice shares insights into the cultural transformation, operational logistics, and goals for the company's future. She also delves into her personal journey from study...

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Editor Caroline Broderick interviews Alaina Money-Garman, CEO and co-founder of Garman Homes (garmanhomes.com), who was honored as Woman of the Year at the WIR+CC Conference (womensconstructionconference.com). Alaina believes that accepting projects that don't monetarily move the company forward pays dividends by moving the industry forward. Garman Homes does this...

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Custom Builder Online Editor Caroline Broderick interviews Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs, about the emerging field of neuroaesthetics. Ginger shares her personal journey through significant life challenges, including her daughter's leukemia and her own battle with breast cancer. She discusses how these experiences influenced her instinct to...

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Bree Jones, founder and CEO of Parity Homes, shares her transformative journey from Wall Street to affordable housing development. Driven by incidents of racial injustice and gentrification in her Bronx neighborhood, Bree purchased and renovated an abandoned building in the Bronx, providing a deeply affordable home for three families. She had found her calling, cr...

LEFF Design Build Director of Operations Morgan Thomas is tired of ineffective, boring meetings. At LEFF, Thomas has learned—and taught—how to maximize everyone's time through engaging, productive meetings. After all, design-build remodeling thrives on communication, so you better do it correctly. On this episode, Thomas shares her background in construction while providing the best practices for...

Stephanie Dailey of Steven Dailey Construction has more than 110,000 followers @stephaniebuildsit on Instagram—and most of that happened within the past year. On this bonus track for Women at WIRC, Dailey shares her Instagram growth story and actionable tips for contractors looking to up their social media game. 00:00 Opening Question on Social Media Presence 00:28 The Journey of Instagram Growth...

Every business needs a story. Steven Dailey Construction's story is its people, its reputation, and its community. On this episode of Women at WIRC, Vice President Stephanie Dailey shares how the contractor shares its story to gain clients through its website, community involvement, social media, and more. "We don't do any marketing. The most marketing that you'll see come out of us is my Instagra...

On this episode of Women at WIRC, Bridget Bacon, development manager at Red House Design Build (https://redhousecustombuilding.com/), discusses the journey she underwent to systematize the pre-construction process at the Rhode Island-based remodeling company. Bacon identified issues all contractors have faced: slippage, a delayed design process, and low pre-construction team morale. On this episod...