People and Project Spotlights | Built

People & Project Spotlights

I Knew Nothing About Construction. Then I Interned at Bluebeam.

A marketing intern with zero construction experience reflects on what she learned—and unlearned—while helping tell the stories behind the buildings

Ella Perius
September 26, 2025

From Jobsite to Social Feed: How This Superintendent Builds Careers on and Offline

People & Project Spotlights
Ella Perius

Bob Medina blends early mornings on the jobsite with evenings sharing construction skills online, turning a blueprint course into a mission to inspire and educate tradespeople

It’s 5 a.m., and the jobsite is quiet. Superintendent Bob Medina arrives early, getting everything organized before the crew shows up.

By the time work begins, he’s already met with foremen, checked in with trades and made sure the day is set for success.

When the workday ends, Medina’s role shifts. On Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, he shares construction know-how and encouragement with an audience of more than 40,000 followers.

That online presence started to promote his blueprint course, but it quickly evolved into something more: a mission to educate and inspire people in the trades.

“It makes me feel great knowing that I’m helping other people,” Medina said.

A Lifelong, Indirect Path to the Trades

Medina’s connection to construction runs deep—even if he didn’t plan on making it his career. As a kid, he followed his father around jobsites, pushing a mini wheelbarrow and pitching in however he could. Summers in high school meant working alongside his uncles on their projects.

“I loved to be handy. I loved to help out and use the tools,” Medina recalled.

But when it came time for college, he enrolled in civil engineering at San Francisco State University, envisioning a career as an engineer. Summers still found him back in Los Angeles, working construction, but after graduation, the path forward was unclear.

Superintendent Bob Medina reviews construction plans on site, making sure every detail is ready before crews arrive—a balance of technical precision and people-first leadership.

A civil engineering internship gave him hands-on experience, but it was an unexpected offer from an architect he knew—to run an Enterprise Rent-A-Car project—that pulled him back into construction full time.

“Life has a crazy way of happening,” Medina said. “I just ended up going back to construction at the end of the day, and I absolutely loved it.”

Running the Jobsite

Today, Medina thrives in his role as a superintendent. The days start early with organizing the site, reviewing plans and setting up for the crews. Once the trades arrive, he meets with foremen, outlines daily priorities and checks in with plumbers, electricians, drywallers and more to keep everyone aligned.

He’s learned that good coordination depends on good communication.

“I make sure I’m treating people with respect—that’s the golden rule. I really live by that,” he said.

Beyond the day-to-day, Medina is always looking weeks ahead, tracking material orders, confirming equipment delivery and keeping projects on schedule. The role demands both technical expertise and people skills.

“In many ways, the superintendent is the glue that holds a project together,” Medina said. His approach: stay calm, avoid becoming overwhelmed and take it “one step at a time, one brick at a time day by day.”

The reward: “Seeing every step of the project and knowing that I played a part in every step is just amazing.”

From Blueprint Lessons to an Online Following

Medina’s leadership doesn’t stop at the jobsite. Early in his career, he struggled to read plan documents, spending late nights studying them at home. Over time, he began using spare moments on site to help his team build the same skill. Those lessons eventually became an online course for learning to read plan documents.

To promote the course, Medina began posting videos on TikTok and Instagram. In a little more than a month on Instagram, his account had grown to more than 30,000 followers. Comments and direct messages poured in from people thanking him for helping them work faster, save time and improve their skills.

From the jobsite to social media, Bob Medina is inspiring the next generation of tradespeople by showing that construction is both a craft and a career worth building.

“Giving people their time back is awesome,” he said. “They’re learning something and they’re getting time to spend with their families; they’re getting that back in their lives.”

Looking Ahead

Medina’s goal is to encourage more people to see construction as a viable, rewarding career.

“I really want construction to be seen as a career path,” he said. “You can learn some cool things; you can do some cool things.”

He’s quick to point out he’s still learning himself—and plans to keep it that way. Whether on the jobsite or online, Medina is committed to sharing what he knows while expanding his own skills.

As long as he’s building—projects, knowledge and community—Medina’s influence will continue to grow.

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Rebuilding Hollers: How Local Supply Chains and Skilled Hands Are Driving Recovery in NC

People & Project Spotlights, Project Management & Efficiency
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

A North Carolina nonprofit is blending supply chain innovation, contractor collaboration and community labor to rebuild after Hurricane Helene

At a gas station in western North Carolina, days after Hurricane Helene tore through the mountains, Stephanie Johnson watched a mother count out quarters to buy food for her kids.

“That’s when I understood that this is really bad,” Johnson said.

Helene had already left Johnson and her family stranded on their property for three days, sawing their way out through downed trees. But the sight of parents scraping for food showed her the storm’s devastation was deeper than wrecked roads and washed-out homes. It was survival.

For Johnson—a former commercial contractor turned real estate agent—that moment launched a mission that has since grown into Rebuilding Hollers, a nonprofit coordinating hundreds of recovery projects. Drawing on her construction background, Johnson built a system that blends supply chain innovation, contractor collaboration and community labor—an approach with lessons for construction professionals far beyond North Carolina’s hollers.

From Chainsaws to Sheetrock: Meeting Material Needs

Johnson leaned on her contracting background to see past the immediate food crisis to the larger task: rebuilding. From fall 2024 to spring 2025, Rebuilding Hollers had distributed at least:

400 chainsaws.
300 generators.
50 water filtration systems.
Multiple 18-wheeler loads of lumber, sheetrock, siding and other building materials.

Support came from local businesses and national brands alike. Loggers donated lumber, a distributor contributed siding, Ryobi provided tools and a business pooled money to supply sheetrock. An empty storefront became storage space, and Starlink internet helped Johnson coordinate needs quickly on social media.

“It was just amazing how God was sending everything the community needed,” Johnson said.

A Construction-Informed Funding Model

Johnson’s team quickly recognized a familiar challenge for disaster recovery: getting the right materials to the right site at the right time. To solve it, they partnered with Summit Building Supply, a local supplier, to create a gift certificate system tied to each project’s material list.

Here’s how it works:

Rebuilding Hollers raises funds and directs them into a prepaid escrow at Summit.
Once a project is approved, the owner receives gift certificates linked to their specific list of materials.
Families use them at Summit to collect exactly what they need—reducing waste, avoiding mismatched supplies and keeping dollars circulating locally.

For some projects, Rebuilding Hollers also has paid contractors and subcontractors and covered costs at other stores.

A mountain hollow in western North Carolina shows the scars left by Hurricane Helene—washed-out banks, downed trees and debris. Rebuilding Hollers, founded by Stephanie Johnson, has supported more than 450 recovery projects like this one, supplying chainsaws, lumber, and skilled labor to help families rebuild.

As of spring 2025, the nonprofit has provided more than $284,000 in direct financial support. “It’s totally mind-blowing to me when you really get into what is going on,” Johnson said.

Workforce Partnerships and Skilled Labor

Rebuilding Hollers’ model emphasizes collaboration across the construction ecosystem:

Local contractors and tradespeople are working alongside families.
High school carpentry students, through a partnership with the nonprofit, are gaining hands-on training while contributing labor.
Nonprofits, businesses and individuals have joined in to provide both skilled and volunteer support.

By May 2025, the nonprofit was backing 457 projects—including 51 total losses. Two families had already moved back into fully rebuilt homes with help from the organization.

Rebuilding Communities and Stabilizing Economies

Johnson stresses that rebuilding homes isn’t just about shelter but about keeping the regional economy intact.

“If we don’t rebuild, our entire economy will crash,” Johnson said. “Families will leave, property values will plummet and the community will never recover.”

Tourism is central to the mountain economy, and in May 2025, Rebuilding Hollers hosted a fundraising event that brought tourists into the hollers, both to witness the devastation and support local businesses.

Lessons for the Construction Industry

Rebuilding Hollers’ experience offers several takeaways for professionals across construction, engineering and supply chain sectors:

Material management systems like project-specific gift certificates can reduce waste and misallocation.
Local supplier partnerships keep dollars in the community and streamline logistics.
Blended labor models—combining contractors, student trainees and volunteers—expand capacity in a strained workforce.
Community-focused rebuilding strengthens not just housing stock but the broader economy.

As Johnson put it: “We’re saying we’re going to stand by you as you rebuild. If you’re brave enough to rebuild, we’re brave enough to get you whatever you need.”

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Building a Career in Construction: Mara Horn’s Journey to Leadership

People & Project Spotlights
Katie Navarra

From a determined young laborer to a construction manager overseeing multi-million-dollar projects, Mara Horn’s journey proves that perseverance and passion can break barriers in a male-dominated industry

Mara Horn didn’t grow up working in construction, but she knew she belonged in it.

At 20 years old, she walked onto a job site and asked for work—no experience, no connections, just determination. From that moment, she carved out a career that took her from a general laborer to a construction manager overseeing multi-million-dollar projects across the United States.

Horn’s fascination with the industry began in childhood. Her grandparents owned a construction business in Florida, and though she never worked in the family company, the trade always intrigued her. Once she got her first job, she wasted no time learning the ins and outs of the industry.

Driven by a passion for mastering every aspect of the job, she spent the first 16 years of her career learning multiple trades—electrical work, millwrighting and full-scale construction from the ground up. She worked in civil construction, laying brick and block for everything from single-family homes to apartment buildings.

A little more than two years ago, she set her sights on a new challenge: a construction supervisor role at Cargill. It took three attempts before she finally landed the job.

“Every time it popped back, I applied again and again,”she said. “When I didn’t get the position the last time, I wrote the hiring manager explaining why I should get it. I’m not a great interviewer, and I get nervous speaking in front of people. I thought this was my best shot, and it worked.”

Since joining Cargill, Horn has steadily risen through the ranks and now serves as a construction manager. In this role, she oversees major construction projects, coordinating everything from site logistics and safety protocols to permitting and contractor management. She uses Bluebeam daily to review and mark up construction drawings, create site logistics maps and streamline project coordination.

“I supervise the overall build project execution phases by following established project controls and timetables to deliver build projects that meet all safety, quality and regulatory goals,”she said.

Inside a Day in Construction Management

Horn’s work takes her across the country, overseeing large-scale industrial projects. She is often the only woman on-site, leading crews on complex, high-budget builds. Currently, she is managing a $25 million project to erect three tanks in Ohio. Prior, she worked on a $115 million expansion at a salt facility in Michigan.

Her days start early.

“If a shift starts at 6, I’m there making sure we have a scope of work for the day and address any safety concerns the guys in the field might have,”she said. “We go through the permitting process and another safety protocol where we ask the crews to list their safety hazards for the day, and they all have to sign off on safety protocols.”

Essential Skills for Construction Managers

Successful construction managers wear many hats, balancing technical expertise, leadership and problem-solving to keep projects on track. Here are some of the most critical skills needed to excel in this demanding role:

1. Project Coordination & Scheduling

Managing timelines, budgets and resources is essential to delivering projects on time and within scope. A great construction manager ensures seamless coordination between contractors, suppliers and stakeholders.

2. Safety & Compliance Oversight

Safety is a top priority on every job site. Understanding OSHA regulations, enforcing safety protocols and proactively identifying hazards help keep workers safe and projects compliant.

3. Leadership & Team Management

A strong construction manager inspires and motivates their team, balancing authority with approachability. Effective leadership means resolving conflicts, fostering teamwork and ensuring everyone is aligned on project goals.

4. Adaptability & Problem-Solving

No two days on a construction site are the same. The ability to think on your feet, troubleshoot issues and adapt to unexpected challenges is crucial for keeping projects moving forward.

5. Communication & Collaboration

Clear communication with contractors, engineers and clients is vital. A construction manager must be able to translate complex technical details into actionable steps for the entire team.

6. Digital Proficiency & Technology Use

Construction management increasingly relies on digital tools like Bluebeam for plan reviews, document collaboration and logistics mapping. Staying ahead with technology helps improve efficiency and decision-making.

7. Financial & Budget Management

Understanding cost estimates, negotiating contracts and monitoring project expenses ensure that a construction manager can control costs while maintaining quality standards.

By mastering these skills, construction managers like Mara Horn can lead with confidence, overcome challenges and drive success in the industry.

By 7 a.m., she meets with the plant operations group to align on the day’s objectives and ensure seamless communication between leadership and contractors. Once a week, she holds contractor meetings to review project phases and scheduling updates.

“We schedule meetings with contractors where they deliver updates on where they’re at in the phase and schedule,”she said.

How a Construction Manager Balances Work and Family Life

Horn’s role requires full-time travel. Depending on the project, she could be working first, second or third shifts, sometimes staying in one place for months or even years. While Pennsylvania is home, she rarely spends time there, instead living in apartments near her project sites.

“Cargill is amazing with the family dynamic and allowing you to bring your family out to live with you,”she said.”We also have a great construction team that will swing in and let us take off a weekend. We do have future projects scheduled, but they try to keep us on the same project from start to finish.”

Her two sons, now 18 and 15, have lived with her on the road at times. Balancing family life with a demanding career hasn’t always been easy, but she’s proud of the example she’s setting—especially for young women.

“I was a teen mom when my oldest was born,”she said.”98% of teen moms in their 30s have minimum-wage jobs, and only 6% become highly successful. I never went to college and broke that probability. I am a voice for women like me that they can go for it.”

She makes a point to share her experience with others. Wherever she goes, dressed in her work gear, she strikes up conversations with women who might be interested in the trades.

“I usually get at least a couple of women interested in learning more about construction,”she said.

Horn’s Leadership Style: Building Confidence and Breaking Barriers

Horn has spent years refining her leadership approach, particularly in an industry where women are underrepresented in management roles. She credits Cargill’s Women’s Leadership Bridge Group with helping her grow in confidence and develop her unique leadership philosophy.

“I can’t thank these women enough, and how encouraging they are,”she said.”It’s a women’s leadership network and every type of stereotype, and I can’t complain—they have forever changed my outlook on life.”

Through her time at Cargill, Horn has embraced a leadership style she describes as heliotropic—a term that refers to gravitating toward positivity and light.

“I can be a hard ass. I’m a redhead, so that side can come out of me, but I’ve come to find that being positive goes a long way with the crews on site, especially being a female,”she said. “I might lead a team, but they don’t realize they’re leading me too. They’re inspiring me and teaching me every single day.”

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From Railroads to Rebuilds: How These 6 Megaprojects Shaped America

People & Project Spotlights
Frank Kalman

Explore six historic U.S. megaprojects that redefined American infrastructure, engineering and national growth

If you really want to understand America, don’t start with the Constitution. Start with a blueprint. With a rail spike. With the sound of steel beams rising skyward or concrete pouring into canyon walls.

This country wasn’t born overnight. It was built—one bolt, one beam, one bold idea at a time.

Our ideals live on paper, sure. But our ambition? Our resolve? That’s carved into rock, laid across rivers and etched into skylines. These structures weren’t just built to function. They were built to mean something. To connect coasts. To spark economies. To remind us who we are and what we’re capable of when we build together.

This Fourth of July, we’re celebrating the America made from concrete and steel. The America shaped not just by vision, but by the hands and minds that turned vision into reality.

Here are six builds that didn’t just transform landscapes. They transformed what this country could become.

The Transcontinental Railroad (1863–1869): The Line That United a Nation

Steel rails stitched east to west—tunnels, trestles and grit laid the foundation for coast-to-coast commerce and expansion.

Why it mattered: Connected east and west. Laid the track for coast-to-coast commerce and expansion.

Engineering firsts: Tunnels blasted through the Sierra granite. Timber trestles across the plains. Mobile supply trains that housed the workforce.

Modern lesson: Infrastructure doesn’t just move goods—it moves history. A nation can be bound by ideas, but it’s unified by access.

The Empire State Building (1930–1931): America Builds Up

102 stories in 13 months. Built in the heart of the Great Depression, it wasn’t just a skyscraper—it was a statement.

Why it mattered: Rose during the depths of the Great Depression. A symbol of hope and hustle in the hardest of times.

Engineering flex: 102 stories in just 13 months. Prefabricated steel, vertical supply chains and rail carts feeding material floor by floor.

Modern lesson: Innovation is powerful—but belief is what lifts it off the ground.

Hoover Dam (1931–1936): Power to the People

Concrete, cooling pipes and vision turned the Colorado River into an engine for growth—and the Southwest into a livable region.

Why it mattered: Turned the Colorado River into an engine for growth. Enabled life, power and prosperity in the American Southwest.

Engineering feat: 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete poured in lockstep. Giant cooling pipes reduced cure times from years to months.

Modern lesson: Big dreams require big systems—and bold leadership to deliver them.

The Pentagon (1941–1943): Built for War, Ready for the Future

Designed in days. Built in months. This five-sided fortress became the epicenter of American defense—and a model of fast, smart construction.

Why it mattered: Designed in days. Built in months. Became the nerve center of American defense.

Engineering system: Five rings. Ramps instead of elevators. Local materials sourced for speed and sustainability.

Modern lesson: When it truly matters, we don’t just meet deadlines—we redefine them.

The Interstate Highway System (1956–Present): Driving the American Way

46,000 miles of highway paved the way for suburbs, road trips, and a more connected country. Infrastructure for the people, by the people.

Why it mattered: 46,000 miles of highway made everything—from suburbs to summer road trips—possible.

Engineering hallmark: Cloverleafs, controlled access, overpasses—all built to keep America moving.

Modern lesson: Infrastructure isn’t just about getting somewhere. It’s about who gets to go—and who decides the route.

World Trade Center (1973; Rebuilt 2001–2014): From Skyline to Symbol

The original Twin Towers soared above Lower Manhattan as a bold bet on global trade and American ambition—an architectural icon built to show the world we meant business.

Why it mattered: First a triumph of commerce, then a site of national tragedy—and, finally, a beacon of resilience.

Engineering innovation: Slurry walls. Tube-frame structures. Unmatched union craftsmanship. Rebuilt with strength and reverence.

Modern lesson: Destruction can never erase who we are. What we rebuild says everything about where we’re going.

What was once lost rose again—rebuilt with reverence and strength. A monument to resilience, unity, and what it means to rebuild better.

What Comes Next?

The next “building that built America” won’t be made of marble or symbolism. It might be:

A high-speed rail line bridging California’s fractured coasts.
A semiconductor fab anchoring a new era of American manufacturing.
A seawall protecting future generations from rising tides.

Whatever it is, it’ll be built with brains, collaboration—and tools that help builders build.

Tools like Bluebeam.

The Takeaway

This country has always been more than the sum of its structures. But time and again, it’s those structures that remind us what’s possible.

This weekend, while fireworks light the sky, think of the steel beneath your feet, the bridges you cross, the power in your home and the roads you travel. They didn’t appear by accident.

They were built—by visionaries, laborers, engineers and dreamers.

And we’re not done yet.

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Underground Wonders: What the Paris Métro and Grand Paris Express Can Teach Builders About Infrastructure That Lasts

People & Project Spotlights
Frank Kalman

From century-old tunnels to cutting-edge megaprojects, Paris is redefining how cities build—and how infrastructure can shape urban life for generations

While millions of people stroll the boulevards of Paris each day, few stop to consider the city beneath their feet. A city built twice. Once in stone, once in steel. And the second one—engineered beneath the surface—is arguably more transformative.

We’re talking about the Paris Métro.

Launched at the turn of the 20^th century and still one of the densest rapid transit systems in the world, the Métro is more than just a way to get from Bastille to Montmartre. It’s a masterclass in civil engineering, urban planning and—surprise—design. Beautiful, intentional, cohesive design.

And now, a century after its debut, Paris is doing it again. Only bigger. Smarter. And deeper.

The Grand Paris Express, the largest transit infrastructure project in Europe, is tunneling a new kind of future for the Paris region. One driven by automation, equity, sustainability and digital workflows from day one.

If you’re an architect, engineer, transit planner or just someone who geeks out over concrete and coherence, this one’s for you.

Born for a World’s Fair, Built to Outlast Empires

The Paris Métro opened in 1900, timed with the Exposition Universelle, and it was engineered at breakneck speed under the guidance of Fulgence Bienvenüe, a civil engineer with a thing for straight lines and hard deadlines. Line 1, for instance, opened just 20 months after breaking ground.

The early construction leaned heavily on cut-and-cover methods, slicing just under street level and then rebuilding the road above. But when construction crews had to go deeper—like crossing the Seine—they didn’t blink. Crews sank massive caissons into the riverbed and excavated them from the inside. And when they hit waterlogged soil under Gare de l’Est, they straight-up froze the ground to keep it stable.

It was gritty. Experimental. And it worked.

And it wasn’t just the tunnels. The whole system was standardized from day one. Same train width. Same station dimensions. Same ceramic tiles lining the walls—white, clean, reflective. Functional beauty. That modularity meant faster builds, easier maintenance and less chaos down the line.

When Design Is the Infrastructure

Now let’s talk about the entrances. You’ve seen them—even if you’ve never been to Paris.

Those glowing green “Métropolitain” signs framed by curling iron tendrils? Those are Hector Guimard’s Art Nouveau masterpieces, designed to be beautiful, mass-producible and unmistakably Parisian. Many are now protected as national treasures.

But the aesthetic went far beyond the street level. Over the years, the Métro became a canvas. Not metaphorically. Literally.

Arts et Métiers was redesigned in 1994 to resemble a Jules Verne submarine, with riveted copper walls and portholes.

Concorde is tiled wall-to-wall with the text of the Declaration of the Rights of Man—letter by letter, no spaces, like a democratic code.

Bastille station has a ceramic mural that wraps around the platform, depicting scenes from the French Revolution.

It’s civic infrastructure that also tells a story. That’s rare.

Density as a Design Choice

Here’s something wild: Paris’s Métro has 244 stations in just 105 square kilometers. That’s one station every 562 meters.

That’s not normal.

In New York or London, you might walk 10–15 minutes between stops. In Paris, it’s more like five. The system was designed not just to move people, but to blanket the city. That station density has had massive implications for walkability, land use and car dependency.

Back in 2019, the Métro moved about 1.5 billion passengers annually, or roughly 4.1 million per day. That puts it toe-to-toe with New York City’s subway and ahead of the London Underground.

It’s not a coincidence. If you build infrastructure that’s close, fast and easy to use, people will use it. What’s more, they’ll build their lives around it.

Infrastructure shapes behavior. It always has.

The Grand Paris Express: One of the Biggest Projects You’ve Never Heard Of

Fast forward to today.

Greater Paris is growing. And the old Métro didn’t extend far beyond the city center. That left the banlieues—working-class suburbs—underserved and disconnected.

Enter The Grand Paris Express.

This megaproject is adding 200 kilometers of new track, 68 new stations and four entirely new automated lines. It’s essentially doubling the size of the transit system.

It’s massive. Estimated cost: €35–40 billion. That’s $38–$43 billion in U.S. dollars.

It’s also smart.

The Grand Paris Express is BIM-based from the ground up. Every tunnel, station and mechanical system is modeled in 3D. The project is coordinated across six design-and-engineering consortia using shared digital environments.

The construction teams working on the expansion are also tunneling like maniacs. At peak, more than 20 tunnel boring machines were operating at once. That’s one of the largest fleets ever deployed in Europe.

Oh, and it’s green.

Construction crews are reusing 70% of the 47 million tons of excavated soil, rerouting much of it by barge and rail to avoid tens of thousands of truck trips. All concrete used must be low-carbon mixes, with some stations targeting net-zero energy use.

By 2030, 90% of Greater Paris will live within 2 kilometers of a Grand Paris Express station.

That’s not just transit expansion. That’s urban transformation.

Lessons for the Rest of Us

So, what can global infrastructure teams learn from a 125-year-old subway system and its futuristic sibling?

Here’s a shortlist:

Standardization = speed + clarity. Paris did it in 1900 and again in 2020. Pick your specs and stick to them.
Density isn’t just urbanism—it’s access. Close stops drive usage and walkability. More people, fewer cars.
Design is identity. Make infrastructure beautiful and people will protect it.
Digital workflows are essential. BIM didn’t just make the Grand Paris Express faster; it made it possible.

Final Thought

The Paris Métro was more than an engineering breakthrough. It was a design decision, a planning blueprint, and—over time—a cultural artifact. The Grand Paris Express is picking up that baton, with the added weight of digital coordination, climate urgency and social equity.

In both cases, the real legacy is the same: infrastructure that moves people—physically, yes, but also emotionally.

Because when you build something with intention, it lasts. When you build it beautifully, it matters.

And when you build it right?

It becomes part of the city’s soul.

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The Group Advocating for Greater LGBTQ+ Representation in Construction

People & Project Spotlights
Hilary Daninhirsch

Build Out Alliance, started in 2017, has grown mightily in cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, with the goal of building community and advocacy around the changing demographics of those working in the construction industry

The construction industry continues to change for the better. While women and other traditionally underrepresented groups have evolved to make up a greater share of the overall construction workforce, so have the ranks of those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

In an effort to promote construction’s continued inclusion, a group of individuals in 2017 formed Build Out Alliance, a volunteer advocacy and awareness organization for members of the LGBTQ+ community working in the industry as well as related fields such as development, planning and lighting design.

The group, which has branches from New York to Los Angeles, aims to promote representation and inclusivity in these industries as well as provide opportunities for members to socialize and network. Its initiatives are centered around key pillars like visibility, mentoring, networking, leadership, outreach and impact.

Andrew Torres, an architect and project manager for a development company based in Brooklyn who serves as Build Out’s president, said the organization was born out of the recognition that the industry wasn’t overly LGBTQ+ friendly.

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“We looked around and wondered why we didn’t have support, or a vehicle to advocate for ourselves,” Torres said. “It was a response to biases inherent in the construction industry and part of the design industry that if you are not conforming to a certain stereotype—which is often a heterosexual, middle-aged man—you may not be receiving the promotion or attention you might otherwise.”

The initial chapter was based in New York City, which was where the founders were located. During the COVID-19 pandemic, chapters formed in both Los Angeles and San Francisco; the latest branch is in Washington, D.C. The February 2024 launch in DC was a result of a need in that area, Torres said, and the group hasn’t ruled out expanding into other major construction hubs, like Chicago or Boston.

“The goal is to be smart and intelligent and be sustainable with how we are growing,” said Pauline Barkin, the group’s vice president and an architect and East Coast regional director for Heitmann & Associates. “As much as we’d love to be in every single city and small town, we are trying to make the biggest impact.”

She added, “It’s very impressive what has happened since our early days of being a scrappy new organization. We get people reaching out to us, wishing things could be different. There’s a need. Since our founding in 2017, more than 4,000 people have joined Build Out Alliance for our numerous events across four cities.”

Meeting likeminded individuals

A major component of Build Out Alliance is that it offers a vehicle for people to get to know each other with inclusive, in-person events. “It’s another avenue for professional networking for people with a different set of affinities,” Torres said, adding that this is especially important for younger members. “That is a reason we have grown and maintained membership—people feel really welcomed and really seen.”

For Barkin, some of the primary perks have indeed come from the social elements, by being able to meet so many bright and talented people in the industry who she views as role models. She added that she endeavors to help future generations be their free and authentic selves, without a separation of who they are personally and professionally. Group events have ranged from happy hours to game nights to Pride parade marches and career workshops.

And in 2023, Build Out Alliance was an event partner for New York Build Expo, the largest tradeshow for construction and design in New York City. The inaugural springtime soiree was held in March, with the description: “While many people still live each day like a closed flower, the soirée is all about recognizing what we can do when in full bloom,” a sentiment that encapsulates Build Out Alliance’s mission.

Besides networking, mentorship is a key component to the group. To that end, Build Out Alliance has partnered with multiple universities in New York City to provide mentorship for college students entering construction and related fields.

As the alliance has grown, so have its supporters and sponsors, with a number of organizations (including Bluebeam) recognizing its work and helping with fundraising. Volunteer committees within the different branches of the organization contribute to everything from events programming to community building to fundraising and communications.

Changemaking

Torres, the group’s president, has noticed a positive change since becoming involved with the nonprofit, both for the LGBTQ+ construction industry community and personally.

He said it was pretty isolating at his former job in a medium-sized design firm, which was compounded by the nature of architecture, where he worked long hours, often alone. “There was a certain moment when I need to find other people who have similar interests. I don’t know how I searched for it, but I somehow stumbled across Build Out Alliance,” Torres said, adding that his affiliation has been transformational.

“As I became more involved in Build Out Alliance, having it as a platform and as a soapbox to stand on and advocate for myself within the office has really been beneficial in how I think about my place within the organization,” he continued.

Obstacles and challenges for LGBTQ+ members cannot be erased in one day nor with one organization. But those affiliated with Build Out Alliance are seeing noticeable and positive changes on a larger scale, with more visibility and challenges to the notion of the accepted demographic makeup of people in the construction industry.

Torres said the partners in his previous firm had no idea he was involved with Build Out Alliance and asked how they could help support it. “Putting this out into the world has ripple effects, even if there is no direct impact in a particular firm or office,” he said.

An eye toward the future

Barkin and Torres are optimistic that strides are being made and will continue to be made long term. “LGBTQ people are here,” Barkin said. “We’re not going anywhere; we will be part of the industry, and the Build Out Alliance’s goal is to be a place where we can share our voice, collaborate, be role models and mentor.”

Barkin’s hope is that companies take a more active role to support the community, and that support will become the norm. “That is the direction we see things going: more welcoming and supportive and a general understanding that LGBTQ+ people are a vital part of the AEC industry.”

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Wonder Woman with a Wrench: How One Plumber Is Rewiring the Future for Girls

People & Project Spotlights
Hilary Daninhirsch

Judaline Cassidy, a veteran New York City plumber, is helping girls break into the skilled trades through her nonprofit, Tools & Tiaras

Judaline Cassidy didn’t set out to start a movement. She just wanted girls to stop asking permission.

Three decades in the trades will teach you a few things—like how to fix a broken pipe, hold your ground and push back when someone tells you, “That’s not for you.”

And Cassidy’s been doing all three since she was a teenager.

“I am dyslexic, and plumbing helped me fire up that side of my brain, solving puzzles and figuring things out. And people take plumbing for granted. What I do improves people’s lives every day. I’m Wonder Woman with a wrench.”

She means it. She’s been a plumber for more than 30 years and a proud member of UA Local Union No. 1 in New York City since 1996. But beyond the job, Cassidy has become something else: a mentor, speaker and the founder of Tools & Tiaras.

‘Jobs Don’t Have Genders’

Cassidy was raised by her great-grandmother in Trinidad and Tobago, in a home filled with love—and expectations.

“It was a patriarchal society, and women were geared to be homemakers and take care of their husbands.”

But Cassidy wasn’t wired that way.

“I wanted to be Wonder Woman, and a lawyer. I loved watching Lynda Carter; she could lasso the truth out of people and fight for justice at the same time.”

Law school was too expensive, so she looked for a different path. Trade school offered two options: plumbing or electrical. She chose plumbing.

At 19, she got married and moved to the U.S., chasing opportunity with a wrench in her hand. She never looked back.

When the Quote Becomes the Mission

In 2017, Cassidy was invited to speak at the MAKERS Conference. She stepped onstage and said something that would end up changing everything.

“When you give a girl a tool and a tiara, you give her independence, confidence and power.”

It hit her mid-sentence. That wasn’t just a line—it was a mission. So, she built something.

Tools & Tiaras is a nonprofit that introduces girls—ages 6 to 14—to the trades through monthly workshops and weeklong summer camps. Real tools. Real trades. Real confidence.

The timing matters. Cassidy says girls start to doubt themselves around 8 or 9 years old. “That fire in them gets smothered with blankets from the world,” she says. “But if she had that ‘little girl fire’ in her still burning, no one would stop her.”

The Camp That Builds More Than Skills

Each camp starts with architecture—because, as Cassidy says, “everything starts with the architect.” Then it’s on to plumbing, electrical, welding, sheet metal. No fluff. Just hands-on work.

They cut tile. Wire panels. Learn how to measure, drill and fix. It’s the real stuff, scaled down for smaller hands.

But it’s not just tools they walk away with.

Cassidy also runs a signature life skills series called T.O.O.L.S. (Total Ownership of Life Skills). The girls learn finance, public speaking, activism, self-defense—things every kid should know but too few are taught.

The week ends with a trip to an active jobsite and a graduation ceremony. Each girl walks away with her first set of tools: a belt, hammer, four-way screwdriver, tape measure and box to carry it all in.

It’s not a gift. It’s a start.

Built by Women Who’ve Been There

All the instructors are tradeswomen. No suits. No tourists. Just people who’ve lived the grind and still show up with something to give.

Cassidy takes vacation time to lead the camps herself.

The girls come from every kind of background. Different races. Different income levels. But they leave with the same core lesson:

“We teach the girls that if we truly come together as sisters supporting each other, we would have world domination.”

‘If You Believe in You, Nobody Can Take That Away’

The word Cassidy keeps returning to? Empower.

“If we don’t feel empowered, we won’t be able to excel,” she says. “Me feeling empowered helps me on the days when the men talk crap about me, or people judge me and say I can’t do something. That helps me on days when things get difficult.”

Early in her career, as an immigrant woman of color with an accent, Cassidy walked onto jobsites where no one would talk to her. She still remembers the silence.

But she pushed through.

She’s earned her place now. But she says the industry still has a leadership problem—specifically, a woman in leadership problem.

“In order for women to change the industry, they have to get into leadership, and we don’t as yet have the power structure for that.”

It’s not just about getting more women in. It’s about keeping them there—and giving them a path to lead.

“Women love the craft, want to succeed and want to become leaders.”

The Ripple Effect

Tools & Tiaras is working.

Cassidy’s seen alums go on to study engineering and architecture, career paths directly shaped by camp.

Even her own daughter is now a sheet metal worker.

The next step: expansion. More camps. More instructors. More girls with wrenches and something to prove.

Maybe even a full-time pivot to running Tools & Tiaras. Cassidy’s thinking about it.

Because this was never just about plumbing.

“I want girls to see themselves as builders of whatever world they envision.” And she’s building that world one tool—and one tiara—at a time.

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Line by Line: How a Night Owl Built Her Career on the Roads

People & Project Spotlights
Katie Navarra

Maine-based line striping specialist Kailyn Braddock shares how late nights, hard lessons and serious hustle helped her build a career on her own terms

In an industry built on tough shifts and tougher people, Kailyn Braddock has found her lane—and she’s painting it, one long night at a time.

Braddock, based in Maine, thrives in a world most people don’t see. Night after night, she hits the road armed with blueprints, buckets of thermoplastic paint and a job to get done right before sunrise. “I’m a night owl,” she said. “It’s when I do some of my best work.”

Paint, Pavement and a Place to Belong

Seven years ago, Braddock was looking for something different. She applied for a laborer position at a line striping company where her boyfriend and his father worked. Her early days were spent hand-painting crosswalks, arrows and stop bars, learning the ins and outs of water- and oil-based paints before graduating to thermoplastics.

“I miss painting,” she said. “I still paint with thermos, but it’s not as common. That is still hand work, but we now use a hand liner.”

Today, her role is bigger, and the stakes are higher. On long line projects, Braddock rides behind the paint truck, guarding freshly drawn lines from wayward traffic. She hauls 50-pound paint materials, keeps the machines fed with beads and elements and reads site plans on the fly.

“It’s a lot of reading blueprints, holding the tape and walking—lots of walking,” she said.

Strength, Smarts and a Swivel Head

This isn’t work for the faint of heart—or the faint of body. Braddock’s height sometimes makes hoisting heavy materials into paint rigs a challenge, but that’s just part of the job. So is the constant awareness that one bad driver could change everything.

“Making sure your head is on a swivel is crucial,” she said. “I’ve almost been hit a few times. I also have to be good at driving a trailer and backing up. I’ve backed up with a trailer 12 miles on a highway before.”

Long hours, late nights and physical stress took their toll in 2024 when Braddock was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat condition. After a pulmonary vein isolation ablation surgery in December, she’s hoping for smoother nights ahead.

“This year was the toughest I’ve ever had on the job,” she said. “I just adapt and do my best. The guys will always help me if needed. I’m well respected where I work.”

Inside Road Construction: What the Job Really Demands

Kailyn Braddock knows firsthand: this isn’t easy work. Here’s what she faces every shift—and what it takes to make it home safe.

Traffic Never Stops: “Making sure your head is on a swivel is crucial. I’ve almost been hit a few times.”

Heavy Lifting, Night After Night: Materials can weigh 50 pounds or more, and you’ll move pallets’ worth before sunrise.

No Shortcuts on Precision: “It’s a lot of reading blueprints, holding the tape and walking—lots of walking.”

Stamina for the Long Haul: Expect 12-hour nights, 70-hour weeks and seasons where exhaustion isn’t an excuse.

Risk You Can’t Ignore: Driving trailers, backing them up on highways—it’s not skill, it’s survival.

Reality check: Road construction is a high-pressure craft that demands skill, grit and vigilance every minute you’re on the job.

Why She Stays

For Braddock, it’s about more than a paycheck. It’s about pride—and freedom.

“The ability to be feral,” she said when asked what she loves most about the work. “I don’t have to look cute. I can cuss and talk smack, and the guys don’t judge me.”

Road construction gives her what a lot of desk jobs don’t: motion, challenge and a different kind of smarts.

“I don’t like sitting still,” she said. “The job makes you use your brain, from math to quick problem-solving. Every night is different. You just have to adjust to whatever is thrown at you.”

It’s also opened new doors. Thanks to skills she picked up on the job. “Because of my job, I was able to learn carpentry and now help my boyfriend build barns on the side,” she said.

A New Face for the Trades

Even now, women on the jobsite are outnumbered, but the ground is shifting. Braddock works for a woman-owned company and has convinced several friends to jump into the industry too.

Her advice to women thinking about construction careers: Don’t overthink it—just start.

“Do it!” she said. “It’ll teach you so much about life. It’ll make you strong mentally, and you can make so much more money. It may be intimidating, but it’s worth it.”

Braddock’s story is proof: the future of construction is more diverse, more real and a lot more driven by people willing to build their own way.

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