Women Talk Construction Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner are joined by Alicia Woods, CEO of Covergalls Workwear and principal consultant for CG Aligned Consulting. The conversation focuses on the significance of properly fitting PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for women, particularly in the mining and construction industries. Alicia shares insights from her extensive 20-year experie...

Send us Fan Mail In this Episode: Angela Gardner and Christi Powell interview Kerri Smith from Baker Construction, the nation's leading concrete contractor. Kerri shares her 20-year journey within the company and discusses her current role as Chief People and Strategy Officer. The conversation covers innovative leadership strategies, the importance of mentorship, and the unique challenges and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christ and Angela review the second part of NCCER's report, 'In Her Own Words', which highlights strategies for advancing women in the construction industry. The discussion covers three main topics: offering training opportunities, increasing the number of women in field leadership positions, and improving job site experiences. Key points include me...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Angela Gardner and Christi Powell engage with David Wolke, Vice President of Hill Electric, to discuss the company's effective strategies in operations management, safety, and workforce development. The conversation covers Hill Electric's career outreach programs, their strong partnerships with local technical colleges, and the unique challenges of opera...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Angela Gardner and Christi Powell dive into the latest NCCER report, which includes insights from 176 tradeswomen and serves as a call to action from the field. They discuss topics such as treating women equally, accommodating mothers, eliminating discrimination and harassment, and ensuring consistent hiring practices. They emphasize the importance of equal treatm...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner engage in an inspiring conversation with Ines, founder and president of Intec Group. The discussion centers around Ines's journey as a female entrepreneur in the construction industry, highlighting her achievements, challenges, and the importance of mentorship. Ines shares her experiences of moving from Venezuela to the U.S.,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode:  Christi Powell and Angela Gardner engage in an insightful conversation with Nancy Novak, CIO of Compass Data Centers. The discussion highlights the impact of women in critical construction roles, particularly in construction management and frontline supervision. Nancy shares her personal journey, and advice to her younger self, and elaborates on Compass Data Cent...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Women Talk Construction, co-hosts Angela Gardner and Christi Powell discuss the critical issues of confidence and self-esteem among women and girls. They share personal stories, surprising statistics, and actionable tips for building self-confidence, including the importance of supportive communities and personal experiences in career development. The discussion...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Angela Gardner and Christi discuss with special guest Melody Hackett, a seasoned leader in the building materials industry and breast cancer survivor. Melody shares her inspiring journey from working part-time at 15 to becoming the Director of Sales and Business Development at 84 Lumber Company. She talks about her initiatives, like a builder program connecting in...

Send us Fan Mail In this Episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner welcome Abigail Richardson, a civil engineering team leader from Seaman Whiteside. Abigail shares the story of the company's Women's Initiative, which started in 2021 and focuses on inspiring female leaders in a male-dominated industry. She discusses the initiative's successes, including mentorship programs, profess...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner are joined by Alicia Brentzel to discuss the importance of work-life balance. Alicia shares her experience in managing Brex Enterprises with her husband, the value of taking personal time, and the benefits of attending industry-specific events like the 'Together in the Trades' cruise. Alicia also discusses her journey in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner discuss the impactful topic of mentoring and sponsoring other women. They address common myths about being too busy for mentorship and share tips on setting goals, making time, and providing constructive feedback. They also emphasize the importance of sharing experiences, providing networking opportunities, and celebrating achieve...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner converse with Lori Briggs, President of Industrial Solutions at NewPark. The discussion revolves around Lori's 30-year journey in traditionally male-dominated industries like utilities, oil and gas, and construction. Lori shares candid insights about her challenges with imposter syndrome, being authentic, and navigating her c...

Send us Fan Mail In this Episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner welcome Jamie Vanek, President of Etolin Strait Development Group and founder of Adminnovate. Jamie shares her inspiring journey from an entry-level administrative professional to a leader in the construction industry. She discusses her mission to bridge the gap between project management and administration, and the vital role adm...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Women Talk Construction, hosts Angela Gardner and Christi Powell introduce their very first female welder guest, Casey Ross. Casey shares her journey in the welding industry, including her current role as the Academic Program Director and welding instructor at Greenville Tech. She talks about her inspirations, challenges, and achievements, along with the signifi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Women Talk Construction, co-hosts Angela and Christi discuss the Commerce Department's pledge to bring over a million women into the construction industry. They highlight the importance of experienced workers, strategic training, and equitable hiring practices under the Chips and Science Act. The episode also covers the involvement of major companies in the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 'Women Talk Construction' podcast, hosts welcome special guest Katie Throckmorton, owner and GC of Distinct Builders, to discuss her journey and experiences as a woman entrepreneur in the construction industry. Key topics include the importance of women-owned business certifications, challenges faced by women starting businesses later in life, gove...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Women Talk Construction, Angela Gardner and Christi Powell talk with Jason Blair, CEO of Talon, about his inspiring career journey in the construction industry. Jason shares his experiences, emphasizing the importance of patience, accountability, and leadership. He discusses the 'Oz Principle' and how its culture of accountability has positively impact...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Women Talk Construction, host Christi Powell, along with guest co-host Alex Iacovelli, interviews Lysa Solano, a senior construction manager at Cire Equity and recent recipient of the San Diego Business Journal Women of Influence and Construction Award. Lysa discusses her role in managing construction projects across the U.S., strategies for balancing multiple p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Women Talk Construction, hosts Christi Powell and Angela Gardner are joined by Amy from Superior Construction to discuss the company's efforts in creating a supportive environment for women in the construction industry. Amy shares the origins and impact of Superior's Women in Construction program and highlights her own journey, celebrating her recent M...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Angela Gardner and Christi Powell discuss the significant impact of the Women Construction Owners and Executives (WCOE) organization. Christi shares her profound experiences and the benefits of attending WCOE conferences, highlighting the organization's 40-year history of advocating for women business owners in the construction industry. They delve into WCOE&...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as construction and aviation. Our special guest, Michelle 'MACE' Curran, a former fighter pilot and combat veteran, shares her journey from a small town in Wisconsin with no aviation background to becoming a fighter pilot and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Christi Powell & Angela Gardner feature Brittany Gentilhomme, an Assistant Superintendent from R. C. Matthews, discussing her unconventional path to the construction industry. With a degree in communication and diverse job experiences, including landscaping and fashion merchandising, Brittany shares how each role contributed to her problem-solving and leadersh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode: Angela and Christi discuss fostering inclusivity and effective leadership in the construction industry with their special guest, Jason Blair, CEO at TAL Building Centers. They explore Jason's unique approach to creating a welcoming environment for both women and men in a traditionally male-dominated field. Jason shares insights into his daily CEO responsibili...

Send us Fan Mail Christi Powell and Angela Gardner discuss the significance of Women in Construction Week, International Women's Day, and Women's History Month. Despite the challenges and exhaustion these observances can bring, they emphasize the importance of showcasing women's achievements in the industry. Angela shares her packed schedule of events and advocacy efforts, highlight...