People on the Move: 3 Women Promoted to Director of Construction

Here at Ryan, we believe in the development of talented female leaders and the promotion of gender diversity in the workplace – which is why we are excited to highlight three stellar women who were promoted to Director of Construction this past year: Sara Hudoba, Rachel Dana and Anna Griffin.

Each plays an important role in ensuring project success by managing the planning and construction process of key projects, while also overseeing and growing their respective regional construction teams.

Read on to hear from Sara, Rachel and Anna about their start in construction, their journeys to their current roles here at Ryan and advice for women thinking about pursuing a career in construction.

Q: What made you decide to pursue a career in construction?

Sara: Like so many others, I grew up loving Legos. I would build house after house, each one different than the last.  But the path to being a builder really became clear when I took an architectural drafting course in high school.  It was clear that I could have a career working with plan drawings.

Rachel: I originally went to art college for graphic and multimedia design. I was a mediocre designer at best. Years later, I was a single mom and needed a better paying career so I could support my kids. I googled “top paying bachelor’s degrees” and construction management was number 10 on the list. At the time, I was already working in construction by managing a flooring labor business with my brother. Two years later, I graduated from University of Minnesota with construction management degree and was hired at Ryan.

Anna: I grew up on a farm and was always my dad’s right-hand helper. Whether it was building fences and animal pens, helping remodel the house, or fixing equipment, I was amazed at how he knew how to make things work.  Little did I know, it was trial and error and sometimes was completely wrong, but it was the pursuit of getting it right that sparked my interest.  Additionally, my mom was an 18-wheeler truck driver.  It was because of her strength and example that I never felt any industry was off limits.

Construction however was not my immediate choice.  I initially planned to pursue advertising, then historic preservation, then architecture, and finally landed in construction.  Construction provided that great mix of utilizing curiosity to create solutions while the design/build aspect provides an outlet to achieve a beautiful design.

Q: What do you love about working at Ryan?

Anna: The people! Teams at Ryan have the “it factor,” which brings the best of a highly motivated, technically sound, and fun-focused attitude to projects. They create an environment where everyone wants the very best for each person involved and creates a space where everyone can thrive. 

Rachel: The values. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of opportunity for unethical behavior in construction. At Ryan, we always take the position of trying to do what is best for our employees, clients, and community. This attracts good people, and it’s fun to work with good people.

Sara: We are a class act all the way around. From the way we treat each other to the way we deal with our clients, honesty, integrity and respect are embedded in all that we do.  I have seen this demonstrated at all levels of the company, and appreciate that not everyone out there operates this way.

Q: Thinking about your career thus far, what are you most proud of?

Rachel: Seeing the people, especially women, whom I have mentored and trained as co-op students and project engineers go on to lead their own large projects and teams.

Anna: I take the most pride in building true relationships with project teams and, in some small way, being part of achieving their goals. It has been truly rewarding mentoring several interns, project engineers, and project managers who are now well on track to surpass me and being a sounding board for bosses who are now moving into the C-Suite. Being a person that others trust and can count on is something I strive to live up to everyday.

Sara: Being a teacher and a role model.  There is something very rewarding about being part of the growth of others. It still makes me smile every time I see the light bulb go off and connection made in someone’s growth. 

Q: Giving back is an important value to us at Ryan, how do you give back to your community? What organizations are you involved in?

Anna: At the end of the day, we exist because a need within the community exists and I’m so thankful to be part of that journey.  With each project, we identify several opportunities to align our community mission with the client. During my time in our South Central region, I was fortunate to assist with several fundraisers, Halloween events, and Shopping Spree’s for the Jeremiah Program. We also held a toy and food drive for the local Fire Marshall’s office.  Additionally, I’m a 20-year member of the Air Force National Guard where I have been a part of 6 hurricane relief efforts.

Sara: Making a difference in the lives of youth is near to my heart.  So many kids are in a tough situation to no fault of their own.  I currently sit on the board for our local youth hockey organization, where we focus on making the sport accessible to everyone.

Rachel: Outside of Ryan, I volunteer with 4H at club and county level. I serve on my township’s planning commission and building committee. Working in local government is frustrating, challenging, and sometimes very entertaining. It does allow me to use my skills and experience to give back to my community.

Q: How do you deal with the challenges that come with being a woman in a male-dominated industry?

Anna: It is simple – treat everyone as humans! That is not to say that there are not challenges or frustrating circumstances, but there is only one side of the equation that anyone can control.  That’s how we treat and react to people when things get tough. Be fair, be consistent, and stand your ground for what is right.

Sara: Like so many situations, we deal with different people all the time.  Learning to recognize when that difference matters and when it doesn’t has been key to me.

Rachel: I don’t always handle it well, but I am working on it. It was easier when people didn’t expect as much from me earlier in my career. Now, I battle bouts of imposter syndrome and feel the need to be perfect to show that women have a place here, and if I fail it just proves we don’t have what it takes in construction. Logically, I know I am well supported at Ryan and have been given permission to fail, but it still feels like a burden at times when I am the only woman in the room.

For the first decade of my career, I steered away from women focused organizations, I was determined to make my own path without help from any women’s groups. Now, I regret not building a network of women in construction earlier and I wish I had a larger network outside of Ryan.

Q: How do you think the construction industry can attract more women?

Sara: I firmly believe we need to be more involved in high school outreach.  This is when most people are deciding what sort of direction their future has. The industry is missing a connection with the guidance counselors and trade teachers at that level.

Anna: In general, I think there remains a misunderstanding of what a career path can look like in this industry.  There are so many facets that provide the flexibility to grow a rewarding career which aligns with your wants and needs at any stage of life.  This can even be confusing to women already in the industry.  I think communication and continued mentorship of women at the early stages of their career is key to attracting and retaining our very best talent.

Rachel: Women are easy to attract! Be respectful, actively listen, value our ideas, offer good pay and benefits, and show us a path to the future in the industry. When companies don’t have women in leadership roles at all levels, it says to other women “there is not a future for you here.” Representation matters, it really does.

Q: What advice would you give to a woman who is thinking about pursuing a career in construction?

Rachel: Do it. It’s a fun career with great opportunities. Women are great at collaboration and emotional intelligence, both highly valuable skills in the industry. Find a great company with a healthy work environment. Find mentors inside and outside of your organization and build a network of women in the industry.

Anna: Jump in, ask questions, and be curious.

Sara: Ask someone in the industry to show you a day in their life. We would all welcome introducing somebody to this crazy world in hopes you love it as much as we do.