On Thursday, March 31, 2022, GBCA’s Construction Leadership Council held a Coffee Chat featuring Dr. Christine Fiori, Program Director of Drexel University’s Construction Management Program. Led by Paul McLaughlin, past Manager of Continuous Improvement of the Butz Family of Companies (parent company of GBCA member Shoemaker Construction Co.) and past CLC Steering Committee Member, the chat spotlighted Dr. Fiori’s career into the construction industry and how she eventually became primarily an academic, encouraging and helping new construction professionals enter the industry.

Some highlights from Dr. Fiori:

  • Never stop learning.
  • Find a mentor, someone you can trust and with whom you can be honest. Ask questions.
  • Speak up. If you don’t know something, listen and learn.
  • Changing minds takes time. She followed her father to his construction sites, and it was her interest in the industry that eventually helped him change his mind about women’s inclusion in the construction industry.
  • Mentor people who don’t look like you. Men should mentor women. Yes, we want more women to mentor other women, but women’s mentors should not be limited to other women in the industry.

Thank you, Dr. Fiori, for sharing your experiences with us, and we look forward to seeing more people at the next Coffee Chat!