Celebrating Women in the Real Estate and Construction Industries
by Alyssa Peters, Project Coordinator
Women’s History Month, observed every March since 1987, is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. Real Projectives® respects and promotes diversity including the roles and opportunities of women, particularly in the real estate and construction fields.
One of our valuable teammates, Ms. Peters, shares her industry journey in celebration of Women’s History Month.
The construction industry has changed over the years, with new methods for project delivery, to innovative technology, and ever-increasing competition. As an historically male dominated field, it remains that women only represent a small portion of the workforce. However, a shift has occurred and there are more jobs than ever for women in the industry.
As a single mom looking to get back into the job market, I searched for a job that would afford me a steady income, health insurance, and a work-life balance. I often joke that I didn’t find the construction industry. The construction industry found me. I started my time as an administrative assistant for a national construction company, working under one of the only female Superintendents in the company. She saw something in me, took me under her wing, and pushed me to learn more about the industry. She became my first mentor. After a few years, and a couple promotions, she challenged me to think about my future and thus started my Master of Project Management journey.
It is important to understand that roles in the construction industry go far beyond field work. Business, leadership, problem-solving, initiative, and customer service are part of the industry and a necessity for a successful organization. Now, more than ever, women are afforded opportunities for support and networking with organizations such as The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), National Association of Women in Real Estate (NAWRB), Women in Real Estate (WIRE), Women in Energy (WEN), and many others.
During my time in the industry, I have seen a significant growth of female presence. I have worked alongside many women who are veterans in the industry, as well as those just starting off. Many of these women have broken barriers, overcome obstacles, and opened doors for other women. It is important to continue to foster relationships, mentor one another, and remember the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
While women make up only about 10% of all construction jobs, we are proud that women comprise nearly 40% of our employees—and we continue to recruit more, promote higher, and encourage involvement in women-driven organizations like CREW Baltimore.
We are honored to have Alyssa, Aislinn, Anne, Ashley, Eloise, and Ruby as colleagues on our team.
