Marybeth Colpitts probably doesn’t have any haters, but if she did, she’d likely let them know she’s not fazed by being a construction assistant superintendent in a man’s world.
More than 227,000 construction jobs exist in the DFW region, but only about 11 percent of such jobs nationwide are held by women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
So it’s definitely a male-dominated field, but for a strong-willed, hard worker like Colpitts, that’s not a problem.
Taking Care Of Building
Colpitts, 23, recently graduated with a construction engineering technology degree from Oklahoma State University. She works for the nation’s fifth-largest homebuilder, Taylor Morrison, whose CEO also is female.
Colpitts grew up working on cars with her father and developed an interest in engineering. She initially studied interior design, but changed her major and was introduced to the Taylor Morrison team by a friend of her boyfriend’s parents.
“I knew I wanted to be in the residential business rather than commercial because it’s more personal,” she said. “I love being able to communicate with homeowners and help build their dream house.”
Now she spends her days walking homes, meeting with subcontractors, and checking on the status of ongoing projects.
“Problem-solving and thinking outside the box are my No. 1 jobs,” she said. “Sometimes various issues may arise during the process, so it is important to navigate those appropriately while continuing to put our customers first.”
She spends a lot of time at the Tribute community in The Colony.
“I have continued to improve and learn since beginning at Taylor Morrison and appreciate the opportunity to be mentored by one of the country’s leading builders,” Colpitts said.
Against The Odds
In addition to being a woman, Colpitts also has to prove that she knows what she’s talking about even though she’s much younger than her counterparts.
“Since the very beginning, even in college, I have always had to prove that I know what I am doing,” she said. “My greatest accomplishment at Taylor Morrison was the fact that they gave me the opportunity to show everyone, including myself, that even though I am very young and a female, I know how to build a quality house.”
She said she is constantly learning but knows her worth.
“Earning respect and recognition for my work can be harder and a challenge for women in the industry, so I’ve learned to be loud, tough, and assertive when working with my subcontractors,” she said. “I am constantly fighting the battle and I always will.”
The assistant superintendent says she always wanted to work with residential housing.
“Everyone loves their home,” she said. “It’s the place they will always go back to. It’s theirs. I love being able to deliver a customer their dream home.”
In her short career, Colpitts already has been set apart from the others because of her eye for detail.
“As a woman, I add a different perspective that the industry hasn’t had much experience with,” she said. “Whenever I walk into a home, I think about it as if it were my own house. What would I want it to look like and how can I make it perfect?”
So what would she say to a young lady hoping to follow in her footsteps?
“If you love it and this is what you want to do, don’t give up just because there are more men than women,” Colpitts advised. “Women are more detail-oriented, and we’re more organized. We can do it just as well as men. Being a woman in this industry is not something that should push you away; it is something that should draw you in. Women bring a completely different view and mindset to the field, something that has been missing.”
