By Jordan Crouse
Hard Hats. Strong Women. Building the Future.
Follow our blog to hear the stories of women working in construction in New York City at every level as we ask 20 questions to women working in construction.
Jordan Crouse
What was your first job in construction?
I was an intern at a heavy civil contracting firm.
What is your current job?
I am a Project Manager on a high rise apartment building for Lend Lease.
What job do you want in the future?
I would like to work up to the Project Executive level.
Why did you choose construction? What led you to construction?
I have always been interested in architecture and when I went to college for Architectural Engineering, I stumbled upon construction management and really enjoyed learning about it.
When did you realize you wanted to work in construction?
My Junior year in college.
Is there someone in particular in your life that led you to this career?
No, I didn't know anyone in this field.
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by many people in the industry (current and previous bosses and coworkers) as well as my father for his work ethic.
What has been the most surprising part of being a woman working in construction? The most surprising part about being a woman working in construction is how quickly I've been embraced by others I work with as being an integral part of the team. After college I expected a bit of a struggle, but haven't experienced that thus far.
What is your favorite part of your career?
The camaraderie among teams and the feeling of being a part of gigantic pieces of artwork.
What is your most memorable moment working in construction?
When I personally got a call from a developer to tell me that my team was chosen to build their building.
What is your favorite project you have worked on?
400 Park Avenue South, NYC
What is the biggest challenge of being a woman working in construction?
Proving to others that I do know (a little bit) about construction.
What is the biggest change you have seen in the field since you started?
Over the last six years or so there are a lot more women coming into this industry straight from college.
What advice would you give someone starting out?
Don't take everything personally.
What is your favorite tool?
My calculator.
What is your favorite hard hat sticker?
My LEED AP sticker.
What is your most valuable certification? What was the most challenging?
My most valuable certification is my LEED AP BD+C status. It was challenging to study and pass this exam.
What would surprise us about you?
I enjoy fashion, makeup and getting my nails done just as much (if not more) than many other women not in this industry.
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