Women in Construction: Amanda Breon

Amanda Breon    
A.M. Higley Company    
Project Manager    
9 years in the industry

Amanda started her career at A.M. Higley with a co-op rotation at the Eaton Corporation headquarters project in Beachwood in 2011. Upon graduation from Case Western Reserve University in January 2013, Amanda joined A.M. Higley full time as a project engineer. In 2018, she was promoted to project manager. She has served clients such as the Cleveland Browns, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Ursuline College, Cuyahoga Community College, and her alma mater, CWRU. Amanda earned her professional engineer license in 2016 and an MBA degree in 2017.  
   
What brought or attracted you to the construction industry?    

I started college as an engineering major because I like problem solving, and eventually landed in the construction track of civil engineering because I wanted a job that wouldn’t require me to spend all my time behind a desk.     

What do you like most about your work?    

I like being exposed to a huge variety of people on any given day, from experienced tradespeople to highly technical A/E teams, to clients who might not have any prior experience with construction.    

What would you like to see change within the construction industry?  
 
I want to see more accommodations being made for people (both women and men) to have flexibility for family demands or other commitments outside of work. For a lot of women, it’s challenging to imagine finding a balance between raising children and continuing to advance your career.    

What are your long term career goals?    

I’d like to broaden my skill set and continue to challenge myself to learn new things. Lately, I’ve been considering learning surveying or brushing up on Computer-Aided Design (CAD).     

What advice would you give to other women interested in construction?  
 
Make sure to ask lots of questions. Ask questions to figure out what area of the industry could be a good fit for you. Once you’re on board with an employer, ask lots of questions about how your employer can help you reach your goals. If your employer isn’t supportive of you, remember that there are tons of other opportunities available.    

Describe the kinds of opportunities in construction available to women?    

I think there’s an opportunity in construction to fit any person, and the industry needs more female perspectives. In the field you can be a tradesperson, surveyor, materials tester or superintendent. If you’re more interested in an office-based position, you could pursue civil or MEP engineering, architectural design, CAD drafting or project management.     

What can be done to attract more women to construction?

In my opinion, the main issue in attracting women is the perception that a career in construction means swinging a hammer. That’s only one of dozens of careers in construction, and the industry as a whole should help young women understand what other options are available. Making women feel welcome would also help attract them to the industry. This can be anything from offering personal protective equipment (PPE) and boots in women’s sizes, to showing women how they can strike a rewarding balance between professional achievements and personal milestones.