Shobert

One of the most talked about television shows recently has been “Joe Millionaire.” Twenty women competed for the affections of Evan Walsh, who they believe is the heir to a $50 million fortune. The catch — Walsh is really a construction worker who merely played the part of a wealthy bachelor. Once he chose his perfect match, the woman discovered that her Prince Charming really earns $19,000 a year operating a backhoe.

What’s wrong with this picture? Well, a lot actually. But for Dennis Day, executive director of public affairs for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the biggest controversy is the misconception that construction industry jobs don’t pay well. “The average hourly wage in our industry is $17.80,” he says. “That translates to a lot more than $19,000 a year for someone working full-time.”

The construction industry offers a variety of career options from skilled laborer to CEO. In the United States, the industry provides employment to an increasingly diverse workforce of more than 7.9 million people.

Locally, there are a number of women who own their own construction firms as well as

Dori Shobert of Shobert Construction is one example of a local woman who has excelled in what is traditionally thought of as a man’s field.

Shobert has served as president of the Homebuilder’s Association of Kitsap County and has won its most coveted awards — Builder of the Year — as well as Best in Show — more than once — for the group’s annual showcase event, the Parade of Homes.

Other local women who come immediately to mind are Brenda Kruse of Brenda K Construction, AnnaLee Todd of EHT Construction, as well as Karla Cook and Judy Granlee Gates who both work with her husbands.

Running the entire construction operation fell to Gates recently when her husband Joe suffered a life-threatening injury. She was responsible for keeping their U-Build-It franchise afloat, while Joe was hospitalized for an extended period after a series of operations. When it was determined he would survive, whether or not he would be permanently paralyzed was another question.

Thankfully, Joe has recuperated from his injuries and is back to work, but Judy not only ran the entire construction end of the business, but the financial end as well as taking care of their family.

“The construction industry is not only good for individuals, but also good for the country,” notes Day. “It accounts for nearly 8 percent of U.S. gross domestic product.” Even in today’s uncertain economy, housing construction starts are holding strong. The Commerce Department reported in January that construction activity climbed to an annual rate of 1.84 million units in December 2002.

For more information on the opportunities available in the construction industry, visit the AGC Web site at www.agc.org.

(Editor’s Note: A portion of this article is courtesy of ARA Content.).