DE&I Story Sharing Series "Little Bit of Hard Hat Hair", by Mary Greblunas
When I was growing up in eastern Nebraska on a small farm, the land behind our home was being developed into higher end custom homes. My siblings and I would wait for the workers to leave, and we would sneak into the wood framed homes and play designer until it was dark. I would imagine my dream kitchen, and I would set up my bedroom with sticks and rocks to layout how my imaginary furniture would sit. This truly was my first experience with construction, and it made me believe that I wanted to become an architect. The older I got, though, the more I was drawn to the actual building process and not so much of the design side. I ultimately made the decision to explore the construction management degree program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
While studying at University, I found that I was the only female in the construction program. All my construction classes consisted of only male classmates, and it made me incredibly self-conscious. I wanted to blend in and be “one of the guys”. Many questions ran through my head…Did I pick the right degree? Should I raise my hand? Do I belong? It was after my freshman year, that I applied and was extended an offer to intern at Kiewit Building Group in Omaha. I spent that summer running around with a bold and incredibly smart mentor that showed me that uniqueness and intelligence were my secret weapons in this industry. After that summer, I came back to the school year on fire and ready to make a difference in the industry.
Since then, I’ve spent over a decade in the industry building commercial buildings in the Omaha and Denver Metro Areas. I’ve worked my way into the superintendent role specializing in medical buildings and renovations. I have a huge passion for creating spaces for healing and growth. I also have a huge passion for growing people in the industry. A lot of the people we have working in the field are some of the most resourceful and talented people I’ve been around. Helping them realize their potential or even encouraging them to smile in a tough situation, brings me daily joy and fulfillment. I have found that I have a different approach when it comes to running work, but although it is different, it has proven to work successfully for me.
Being a female in the construction industry has had some challenges, but overall, what I’ve learned is to truly be unapologetically myself. Not being “one of the guys” has been the biggest blessing in my growth within the industry. It has shown me that the more diversity we can bring into construction, the greater and faster change we can have on the industry. So, take risks, voice your opinion, and don’t be afraid of a little bit of hard hat hair.
