Julia Colyar, Project Manager
What interested you in the construction industry or did the industry find you? It was a combination of both, after my first year of college I did not like my major and wanted to find something different so I started really thinking about what I enjoy and what I want to be a part of. Growing up in Bucks County, I always loved looking at the big beautiful houses and landscapes and wondered how I could be a part of building something. So, I started researching jobs within the design and construction industry and then I stumbled on construction management. I then transferred to Drexel University to study Construction management where I realized I found an awesome career choice. Now I’ve been at P. Agnes for almost 6 years.
What has been the most exciting and/or rewarding part of your career? Besides seeing the building come together from beginning to end, the most rewarding is foreseeing issues and coming up with a plan to mitigate the issues, then seeing your plan come together.
Why should more women consider a career in the construction industry? Since it is not just for men, there are so many women in construction! Construction is a big industry that is more than just the people in the field with tools. Construction is an industry that is fun, fast paced, requires good time management skills, and the ability to think critically.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction or just starting their careers in construction? Be willing to listen and learn, but also be confident in your abilities and stand up for yourself when you need to. Also do not take anything personal, it’s a stressful industry so people can be on edge at times, but its due to the stressful nature of the job. Do not be intimated!
What interested you in the construction industry or did the industry find you? The industry found me, although I had a strong connection with my own personal hands-on construction experiences many years ago.
What has been the most exciting and/or rewarding part of your career? I like being able to hold my own in a male dominated industry.
Why should more women consider a career in the construction industry? Women have been underestimated and underutilized for far too long. There are so many talented women in this world just waiting to make their mark in an industry that wasn’t easily accessible to them in the past.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction or just starting their careers in construction? Nothing is out of reach. Educate yourself and pursue your passion.
Pam Chiaradia, Assistant Project Manager
What interested you in the construction industry or did the industry find you? The industry found me. I started out working for an Architect and then moved to the contractor side.
What has been the most exciting and/or rewarding part of your career? The most rewarding part is starting on a project from the beginning, watching it all come together and then turning it over to the end users and seeing their excitement.
Why should more women consider a career in the construction industry? It pays well and there is job security because the skills are in high demand. It is also very challenging. It is a fast-paced environment, a lot of problem solving and a lot of team collaboration. Nothing is the ever the same from project to project, from day to day. And, women are very good at time management and good at multi-tasking, which is great for this industry.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction or just starting their careers in construction? They should not be intimidated. Best advice I can give coming into this industry is that “You’re going to be doubted when you walk in a room”, but don’t let it define you. Be confident enough to use your skills and knowledge to make the right decisions and listen to others thoughts and ideas, giving and receiving respect.
Stay tuned for part 2!