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COMMENTARY | When I graduated high school, the last thing I thought I'd be doing is running a construction business. Like so many others, I had thoughts of moving to a big city and becoming a supermodel. During my high school years, I changed my career choices at least a dozen times but it wasn't until I met my husband that I discovered that I loved the construction business.
My husband has an engineering degree from LSU and is a retired Army Engineer; building is in his blood - and now mine! I spent my college career pursing a science degree in archaeology, hardly a practical background for construction. However I love it for so many reasons.
My first personal experience with construction was as serving as a missionary. As missionaries, we've built hospitals, housing and even schools in poor areas of the world like Tegucigalpa, Honduras and in the rainforests of Costa Rica. The thing we loved the most was creating homes for kids who had never slept under a permanent roof. When we came back home to the Gulf Coast, we got to experience that joy again when a succession of vicious hurricanes, namely Ivan and Katrina destroyed the communities around us. What began as a socially-conscious way to spend a summer has transformed into a full blown business!
Another thing I love about working in the construction industry is meeting the families. Much of our business consists of residential work. We meet with families, listen to their dreams and help make them come true. Every detail from the foundation to the finishing paint touches is carefully questioned and considered. Our company doesn't shortcut clients who trust us with their money and their plans. I have gotten to know many families and appreciate the extensive family trees growing right here in Alabama.
Finally, I love the construction business because it allows us to bring gainful employment to workers who often go unappreciated. It chaps my hide (that's southern-speak for it makes me mad) when I hear people speaking negatively about construction workers. True, they are a rough and rowdy group but many are family men who just want to do good work for an honest day's pay. I like the extended family we've created with our employees. We are there for one another and we never forget that without each other, this business could do very little.
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