Women at WIRC

Sustainability as Part of Company Culture with Lindsay Helmick of Allen Construction

Santa Barbara-based Allen Construction focuses on sustainable construction, and they've made it a strong part of their company culture. On this episode of Women at WIRC, CFO Lindsay Helmick talks the benefits of a uniting core value, strengthening it within the company, and women's role in sustainability.
"Every year we'll survey what are people excited about. What makes you excited to come to work?" says Helmick. "Number one, two, or three is always going to be being at the forefront of the green building movement by all employees. It really lives and breathes in our culture."
Helmick discusses new initiatives, such as a sustainability rating system and company-wide award program, which improves culture and morale.
Learn more:
Pro Remodeler: https://www.proremodeler.com/
Allen Construction: https://www.buildallen.com/
Women in Residential Construction Conference: https://pbprwomen.com/2022/

Taking Over the Family Business and Pivoting with Lena McNally of HIVEX Basement Finishing Co.

On this episode of Women at WIRC, Lena McNally of HIVEX Basement Finishing Co. shares her perspective of her family company's ownership transition and how she made the company her own.
Changes include going from an all-encompassing home improvement company to a specialty basement contractor—a result of recognizing an opportunity gap in her market. The outcome has benefitted the company's revenue, project time, and customer satisfaction.
Registration is Open for Our Upcoming Events:
U40 Leadership Summit for Young Professionals: https://under40summit.probuilder.com/2022/?123
Women in Residential Construction Conference: https://pbprwomen.com/2022/index.html

Qualifying Leads Quick in Today’s Market with Jenny Rice of Icon Building Group

On this episode of Women at WIRC, Pro Remodeler's Director of Content Erika Mosse takes over with guest Jenny Rice, co-owner of Chicagoland-based Icon Building Group.
Rice's work at Icon resulted in a 300% backlog increase in just two years, and on a day-to-day basis, she focuses on sales and design for the company's remodeling division—which she started from the ground up.
Mosse chats with Rice about her process of qualifying leads and discussing budgets in today's market (don't miss her pro tip about including paint in an estimate!).
Find Us:
Pro Remodeler: https://www.proremodeler.com/
Pro Builder: https://www.probuilder.com/
Women in Residential Construction Conference: https://pbprwomen.com/

Women in Buildings Products with Stephanie Martin of 84 Lumber

Stephanie Martin currently serves as the Controller of 84 Lumber Company. In this role, she is responsible for the controllership and financial reporting activities for 84 Lumber Company and its related entities.
84 Lumber is located in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania and is the nation's largest privately held supplier of building materials. As a female-led business, 84 Lumber is lauded for its inclusive workplace, which offers a number of career opportunities for women in construction.
Learn more about 84 Lumber: https://www.84lumber.com/
Sign up for our monthly WIRC newsletter: sgc.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omed…R_prefs&PK=LAND

Best Project Management Practices with Kareena Gray of Alair Homes Charlotte

From graduating high school early as Valedictorian to getting hired at the Kennedy Space Station because of her persistence, Kareena Gray has always strived for finding the best and most efficient way to do things.
This has allowed her to shine in residential construction and project management, and she recently won a CoTY award for project manager of the year at her local NARI chapter.
"We always have adversity in front of us," says Gray. "It's how you step back, take a deep breathe, and bring all the parties together, and just come up with a solution. I don't need to have the solution myself."
Today, we learn more about Kareena, talk the importance of processes, and what makes an effective operations manager.

Working with Difficult Clients with Cindy Cipriani of Cipriani Remodeling Solutions

Cindy Cipriani loved working with her father on remodeling projects when she was young, and that upbringing spun into business ownerships, with the most recent being co-owner of Ciprani Remodeling Solutions.
Cindy also happens to have a professional background in grief counseling and personal coaching, both of which come in handy as a designer and designer salesperson.
She talks about handling hard client situations and how she approaches her client relationships.
Learn more about Cipriani Remodeling Solutions: https://ciprianiremodelingsolutions.com/
Sign up for our monthly WIRC newsletter: sgc.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omed…R_prefs&PK=LAND
Visit us: www.proremodeler.com

Developing a Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Women with Nora El-Khouri Spencer of Hope Renovations

Nora El-Khouri Spencer didn’t come from a construction background, but her experience working in HR for Lowe’s gave her tools—literally—to start home repairs and eventually making renovations a side gig.
Remodeling is where Nora’s strengths and passions were able to shine. She desired a way to become a “vessel of social change,” as she’s said, so she left Lowe’s and began grad school for social work.
She had witnessed the opportunity gap for women in construction, and saw it even when she interned at a homeless shelter during grad school, where women wanted to explore construction careers but had 0 clue how to start.
That was the spark that would become North Carolina’s first standalone women’s trade training program. Hope Renovations launched in July 2020, and now Nora joins us to share a bit about the journey and what she’s learned about how to make the industry and jobsites better suited for more women in the workforce.
Learn more about Hope Renovations: www.hoperenovations.org
Sign up for our monthly WIRC newsletter: https://sgc.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=PFR_prefs&PK=LAND
Visit us: www.proremodeler.com

Leadership and Opportunity Growth in Home Building with Lindy Oliva of PulteGroup

Lindy Oliva, president of PulteGroup’s Houston division, entered the industry through a finance position, but it was embracing each opportunity that came her way that got her to where she is today. After years as a residential construction leader, Lindy has settled into her own leadership style and as division president, she adds to PulteGroup’s nationally recognized work environment. She chats with us today about what a good leader is and her experience.

Developing a ’Baby at Work’ Policy with Michelle Lamb of Better Home Texas

Michelle Lamb, owner of Better Home Texas in Dallas, discusses how she made the “Baby at Work” policy for young mothers, designing a healthy company culture, and the best platforms to find specific hires.

Construction, Colonel, and College with Elizabeth Evans of E2 Homes and E2 Roofing

Elizabeth Evans, CEO and founder of E2 Homes and E2 Roofing, grew her businesses, attended the Joint War College, and was promoted to Colonel all during the pandemic.