Women in Construction 🚧 This week is Women in Construction Week , and I am loving the support I’m seeing. Co-workers. Colleagues. Contractors. Even strangers. During a time when skilled tradesworkers are in high demand, women have an incredible opportunity to step into careers that are not only meaningful but also lucrative. Careers where the pay rate is nearly equal. Careers where advancement is absolutely possible. Careers where you can build something real, every single

George was a big, burly man. He always picked up his check in person at my Grandpa’s home office. He was quiet and gentle, very polite—always said "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" to my grandmother, and he never called Grandpa anything but "Boss." I never heard him call Grandpa any other name. The first time I saw The Green Mile, I thought of George. Same kind of build, same kind of spirit.

Even the best contractors eventually face negative reviews. A single 1-star or 2-star rating can feel devastating — especially if you’ve spent years building a solid reputation, delivering quality work, and earning the trust of your community. Here’s the thing: Negative reviews aren’t the enemy. How you respond to them can actually do more for your brand than a perfect 5-star rating. Homeowners and project managers don’t just scan star ratings. They read tone, professionalism

At the end of 2025, both my shrimp and I were on the edge of disaster. Now, at the beginning of 2026, I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel (and hopefully it's not a train.) There is hope. Clearer, warmer waters are ahead. Sometimes those of us who have been in business a long time get complacent. We think we’ve seen it all. We think nothing can take us down. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

In the trades, the crew you work with can make or break your experience. A good crew feels like family. A toxic crew feels like a hazard—physically, mentally, and professionally. And too many tradeswomen learn the hard way that some jobs should’ve been passed on from the start. These are the red flags you should watch for before you ever set foot on the jobsite.

When news broke about the horrific killing of 20-year-old welder Amber Czech, women across the trades felt something crack open inside them. Her death wasn’t just a tragedy; it pulled back the curtain on a problem that has been quietly festering in male-dominated industries for decades.

The trades are filled with strong, capable, hardworking women who show up every day ready to build, weld, restore, and create. But sometimes, even the toughest woman faces a danger she should never have to, such as hostility, bullying, or outright violence from a coworker.