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

“We need more competition." We only have one grocery store.”“Why can’t we get a Walmart?” “Our hardware stores don’t carry enough; we need a Lowe’s.” These statements seem reasonable. At first glance, they suggest progress, more choices, convenience, and growth. But many small towns may not realize that not all development helps the local economy.   In many cases, it quietly takes money away. What people call “economic growth” often turns into a long-term trade-off, where loc

Most people don’t regret painting brick right away. That’s the problem. The damage doesn’t show up while the paint is fresh and the compliments are rolling in. It shows up years later—when paint begins to bubble, when brick faces start popping off, or when moisture appears inside a building with no obvious source. By the time it’s visible, the brick has already been compromised.

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.