Women in Construction: Janelle Hinkle

Janelle Hinkle 

Vice President of Construction Operations 

Regency Construction Services, Inc. 

How many years have you worked in the industry? 11 Years 

What attracted you to the construction industry? As a child, I was always building things from Lego structures and pillow forts, to Rube Goldberg machines made of anything I could find in our house. I decided to study civil engineering in college and was able to shadow multiple different firms. While shadowing construction firms, I loved being able to see projects progress and the constant problem solving required to complete them. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? I enjoy getting to work with a diverse group of people, industry professionals and community organizations. It is exciting to be involved in the development of the city and help progress numerous important missions. 

What advice would you give other women considering the construction industry? Go for it! The construction industry is a dynamic, exciting place to continue to learn and develop. There’s always someone more experienced to learn from, and I’ve discovered the best way to figure out what you don’t yet know is to lean on those that do. 

What can be done to attract more women to construction? It is critical to introduce all students to STEM fields early and reinforce that the career paths can be fulfilled by anyone with the motivation to pursue it. It is also important for students to see people that look like them in the industry. Mentoring programs like ACE are great opportunities for that to happen. 

What do you like to do in your free time? Spending time building "tall towers" with my toddler, playing flute in the Rocky River community band, and hanging out with friends and family.