Stephanie Peña WICNM Secretary 2022

Stephanie Peña is the current Secretary of Women in Construction New Mexico and one of the founders. She began her career in the construction industry in 2010 and absolutely loves it. She a proud boy mom to an 11 year old and 15 year old, which she loves spending time with. In her downtime she enjoys crafting, spending time with her family and friends. I blessed to be a part of Women in Construction New Mexico and excited to see what the future holds for this great group.

When asked the following questions, she replied:

Did you plan to work in the construction industry?

I honestly did not. I was working in the accounting field with a tobacco company in Santa Fe, NM, when I purchased a home in Albuquerque, NM. I quickly realized I did not enjoy the daily commute, and began looking for accounting positions in Albuquerque when I found a listing for AUI Inc. After being employed with AUI Inc for a couple weeks I fell in love with the industry and knew it is where I wanted to stay.

What is your favorite thing about working in the construction industry?

After working in the tobacco industry, I was excited to be a part of an industry that made positive contributions to the community. To have the opportunity to belong to a team that builds the roads and bridges we drive on or to a team that does selective demolition in-order-to build something new is simply thrilling

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in construction?

I have faced many challenges throughout my career, however none of those challenges were because I was a woman in the construction industry. I am hopeful that moving into the future women will not have to answer in any industry for being a female.

If you could give advice to a young lady considering her future career, what would you tell her about the construction industry?

First of all, the construction industry is not only “boots on the ground”, there are plenty of positions in the industry that play a supportive role to the individuals in the field. Many times the workers in the field would not be able to walk on the jobsite until the office team members do their part. For any individual interested in the construction industry there many career paths to choose from, whether it be a trade worker on the jobsite, a person in the office setting, to somebody who would like a little bit of both; there is something for you.

Next month, we'll meet Diane Huerta, WICNM Treasurer

MARCH 5, 2020 BY GRACE ELLIS

How Women in Construction Positively Impact Profits and Collaboration

Construction is a competitive industry. We’re doing serious work, and everybody wants to build the most impressive and innovative structures, on time and on budget. That spirit is pushing the boundaries of the way building happens.

As more women join construction, the diversity of viewpoints helps to move the industry forward and push these boundaries. While women are slowly seeing construction as a viable career option, both in the field and office, attracting and retaining women in the industry remains a challenge. In fact, only 17% of the construction workforce is made up of women, both in the office and on site, and that number has grown by only 4.4% since 2006. One of the big reasons is a lack of role models. Industry leaders need to embrace the change and be part of creating a positive future by ensuring their female workforce feels supported.

So, why the lack of women in construction? Undeniably, a career in construction 

offers plenty of opportunities and benefits. Still, there’s a long road ahead to balance the male to female ratio. While it’s easy to blame factors like lack of sufficient education and promotion from apprenticeship programs and universities to encourage women to enter the field, there’s not just one thing that contributes to the lack of females in the profession........... READ MORE