Women in Construction Week is dedicated to recognizing the impact of women in what has historically been one of the most male-dominated fields in the U.S. WIC Week is both a celebration, as the number of women in the field continues to grow, as well as a networking opportunity for those interested in finding a new role within it.
Here’s a look at the career of BKV Group Director of Specifications Elaine Fitzgerald. Her work includes high-profile projects within healthcare, higher education, multifamily residential, multi-building high-rise, commercial and public-cultural developments across the U.S.
How did you get your start in the construction industry?
Elaine Fitzgerald: It started when I decided to go to college for architecture many years ago. After that, I began looking for a job at a firm that would give me a wide breadth of experience. I plugged my nose and jumped in to see what the construction industry was all about to try and find a comfortable and meaningful place to start growing my expertise. Through the years, I’ve followed my passion: I’ve found the most enjoyment in communicating the designs, which ultimately led me to my current role at BKV Group.
Describe a typical day on the job.
Fitzgerald: As a specifier, I have a unique role on the preconstruction side of the project team in the sense that I rarely see myself on a jobsite. A lot of my work is on paper, developing the technical documentation like the project manuals that go out with every project. I’m closely coordinating with the project teams to help coordinate the design for each project and how it will be delivered to the owners.
My day also consists of meetings and phone calls to find solutions to project-specific problems.
What hurdles do you face working in a career still largely dominated by men? How do you overcome these hurdles?
Fitzgerald: There’s still biases out there, and it’s still a “men’s profession”. My mom wanted the same career in the 1960s, but the opportunity for women didn’t exist at that time. Though there’s more opportunity now, we continue to face similar biases.
Every day, I find myself flying in the face of these biases, trying to prove that, given the opportunity, women bring just as much value to a team and can parallel anyone else in the field. It’s about bringing solutions to the project team. The more that you can do that, like anyone on the team, you will get more responsibility and be regarded as a problem solver. Additionally, I’m deliberate about who I work with—I tend to gravitate toward people that are genuinely interested in the expertise I can bring to a project.
What’s been your favorite project and why?
Fitzgerald: That’s a loaded question. There are exciting projects, but there’s also projects that are challenging which, in retrospect, are some of the most incredible.
The one I want to highlight was a three-building high school renovation project in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. I was a part of the team from the first day through the last day of construction, and it was rewarding to see the implications of our decision-making and understanding how the delivery process worked together. It was exciting to see all the players that worked together on the project, from the school district to the architecture firms.
What do you like most about your job?
Fitzgerald: There are many ways to look at it. It’s rewarding having the opportunity to be part of a positive impact on society. It’s a grandiose thing to say, but the goal is always to enrich the lives of others through our work.
I also enjoy being a part of the “interconnectedness” of a project and having the ability to collaborate on decision making. Not one person puts a building together, but a whole team, and I value when each member contributes their unique expertise for the benefit of one goal.
How has the participation of women in construction changed over the years and where do you see it heading?
Fitzgerald: On the technical side of the profession, which remains loaded with men, it’s hard to break through. Nobody has it easy. There are more women entering technical roles, but I wish there were more because women have a lot to bring to the design process.
That said, I do find that we’re in a transition period right now. Many people in the older generations that are clinging to gender-based stereotypes are crossing the finish lines of their careers, creating space for new generations to fill in and hire people based on ability.
What advice would you give to other women interested in entering the field?
Fitzgerald: I’ll give the same advice my mother gave me: it’s about continuous improvement. She always said, “Make sure there’s someone in your golf foursome that plays even just a little better than you,” because if that’s the case, you’ll continue to aspire to greater.
It’s also important to be deliberate about the people you work with—I’ve worked hard to seat myself next to people who are just as interested in my success as they are in their own. Interestingly, they’ve all been men.
