National Women In Construction Week…

It’s no secret that McKenzie has always focused on curating a diverse group of talented individuals, eager to synthesize the art and science behind building and construction. Over the years, we have seen countless professionals pursue their career goals with our team, both in the field and in our headquarters in Allapattah. This week, we celebrate the women who have dedicated their endless talents, hard work, and innovation to the acceleration of our mission: to create beautiful spaces and products that improve the lives of those who inhabit and utilize them.

In the fall of 2023, we had the pleasure of welcoming Miriam Neville to our estimating team. Miriam has a long history in the industry, with countless accolades that extend beyond a 9 to 5 and a work ethic that sets an example for those around her. Serving as Secretary for the Miami chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Miriam recently shared her thoughts on the subject, drawing from personal experience and her knowledge of the organization and the industry.

Tell us about your career in construction… How did it start? How has it changed?

Probably going to date myself a bit, but my construction career began with answering an ad in the classified section of The Washington Post for a field engineer aide position with Manhattan Construction at Ronald Reagan National Airport in December 1994. I remember taking the Metro from Falls Church to Ronald Reagan, getting off, and walking across the street to the job site trailer and meeting my first boss, Chief Engineer, Barry Olley, who hired me, most likely because I filled a couple of quotas - I was a veteran and a woman. I spent the next six months learning to survey and layout roads, soldier beams (and lagging), and caissons including building templates and placing rebar dowels in the center, as well as, concrete foundations.  

For the next couple of years, I worked for Clark Construction on a semiconductor plant and the Redskins Stadium, finally settling on Miller & Long Concrete Construction as a lead field engineer doing layout, and installing hundreds of embeds for follow-on trades. I was often the only woman on the construction site. One fateful night after working on a vertical addition on K Street in D.C, I was involved in a horrific car accident blocking all traffic westbound out of Tysons Corner, VA sandwiching my pickup truck between two vehicles. A year later, I would undergo major spinal surgery on my thirtieth birthday, but three months after the car accident, I answered another classified ad and was hired as a junior estimator with Uniwest, a Developer / General Contractor, thus beginning my estimating career.  

I have been an estimator now for nearly 25 years, working for general contractors, and cost consultants, notably at Dulles International Airport and Miami International Airport assigned to their capital improvement programs estimating projects, managing and negotiating change orders, and recently for a specialty contractor.  

How long have you been a NAWIC member?

For about 4 years, I finally joined NAWIC in 2019, during the COVID pandemic.  

As a woman in construction, how has NAWIC enhanced your career dynamic?

NAWIC has provided me with a sense of belonging, sisterhood, and an invaluable professional network. I enjoy attending events, broadening my construction knowledge, meeting industry leaders, and developing as a leader. In April, I will be attending the NAWIC Southeast Region Spring Forum in Nashville with a couple hundred other women in industry leadership, and look forward to returning to Miami inspired to impart new knowledge and ideas.  

You're helping lead an all female team as a Senior Estimator... has the industry changed at all in regards to women in construction since you first started in it?

Over the last dozen years or so have I seen a dramatic rise in the number of women in construction. Gone are the days of being the lone female on a job site. We now account for 10.8% of the construction industry nationwide, and 14.5% in Florida. For the most part, women are much more accepted on the job site; you will see many more women in the trades, holding positions of foreman, superintendent, project manager, project executive, corporate leadership, and even owner / CEO. 

What can companies be doing to promote environments that tap into the amazing resources and talents that these women have to offer in the industry?

Companies on a whole need to acknowledge that they need to adapt to the changing workplace; Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) in the last year or so stated a shortage of 500,000 construction workers (and probably growing) in this economy. Construction needs to start looking at changing work hours to allow employees, not only women but all parents, the ability to care and provide for their school-aged children, creating partnerships with local childcare providers, offering English language classes, as well as skills and safety training. Additionally, we need to start programs targeted at middle school and junior high to show young people that skilled trades are viable career paths and make sure we get them into vocational training while in high school. We're losing valuable knowledge as Baby Boomers and Generation X-ers retire from the industry.    

What are some goals you have for yourself as a leader in the industry? What are some goals you would have for the industry as a whole in the future?

As I enter perhaps the last decade or so before retirement age, I look forward to sharing my acquired knowledge, mentoring others, and ensuring that this industry continues to evolve. I would like to see more collaboration between trades, contractors, developers, designers, architects, and engineers early on in the process. I would like to see contractors spend more time forming more meaningful relationships with open communication with their trade contractors; as we forge new client relationships, we also need to realize that we are only as good as the skilled labor making it happen. If we, as a construction industry, can grow and invest in our skilled tradespeople, we can ensure that there is a future for construction, and our children.  

The celebration of Women in Construction Week is not a new tradition at McKenzie. Throughout the years, we have continued to watch our diverse team grow, encompassing many perspectives and backgrounds as we service the South Florida area. This week and the rest of 2024 and beyond, we continue to push the industry to reflect the endless supply of talent we find ourselves surrounded with as we work alongside these innovative women both in the office and field.