Carol Carter

I attribute my success to hard work, determination, and perseverance. I have a tendency to be a workaholic, and I think that comes from my pride in the quality of work I produce. I want my projects to be the best and to represent my own integrity and trustworthiness and passion for construction. So I'll work harder and longer, and I'll get others to work harder and longer to make it happen. But you still have to know people's limitations. I'm the same person all the way around - I don't pretend to be anybody different in front of different people. I'm just who I am. That consistency and integrity, combined with my relentless work ethic, is what has carried me through 25 years in this industry.

The best career advice came from a moment that taught me the power of determination and using my voice. Early in my career, I was trying to get men to do something on a job site, and nobody was listening to me. I got up and made my voice heard, saying I couldn't believe that none of them were going to listen to me because I was a female. It was very disappointing. When I left that trailer, a general superintendent came out, put his arm around me, and told me he would do anything I wanted him to do because he admired my determination and saw my passion for the job. He said, 'Don't lose it.' And I haven't. That taught me to stay focused and determined and chase after my dream. Sometimes people don't like me because they want to use that B word - you know, a man can say something and it's fine, but if a woman says it, she's immediately labeled. But I'm going to go out there and do my job. My bosses have always said, 'Go do it!' That integrity to really persevere and don't give up - to stay focused and determined and chase after your dream - that's the advice I took at the beginning of my career and have carried with me ever since.

My advice to young women entering construction is that you gotta be tough. You gotta get out there and raise your voice, and do your job, no matter what anybody says. Sometimes when people see females out on the job site, they're like, 'What? Who's this?' And you're like, 'I'm the boss.' You have to learn how to manage people and know their strengths and weaknesses, and know your own strengths and weaknesses too. Be able to use people on your team to make things happen, because it's not all about you. It's about your team, and it's about everybody else on the job site. I always look at it as a huge family, that we're all here to do a job. We gotta work together and make it happen. That's what we're here for - to build a building, and it takes a village. I tell my interns that they need to be strong and professional, because that's how you earn respect in this field.

I would say the biggest challenges are advancement and security. I've been in my career for so many years, and really getting the opportunity to advance into more of an executive role has been a challenge. I did have a big break in the middle of my career when the market crashed, so I kind of had to start back over, but I made it to Senior Project Manager. Security is another big issue. So many companies see people jump from company to company to company, and everybody has certain ways they want things done, and sometimes personalities conflict. It's not like it was years ago, where you could go with a company and be with them for your whole career. It just seems like everything is more transient now. I've moved from Ohio to North Carolina to Florida, and then from one coast of Florida to the other, so maybe that's just me and my journey. But I really believe that building relationships with people is the key to success in this business. Some people will say you're not here to make friends, but I believe that relationships are the key to success, and I will always believe that, no matter what anybody tells me.

My faith is the most important value to me. I couldn't do it without the Lord and without Jesus Christ. I've told people that the name Jesus Christ sometimes will clear a room out, or sometimes it'll fill it up - it just depends on the people that are standing around. But my faith is really the important part, because I do everything for Him. People hurt you, you know, not intentionally, but people do disappoint and hurt you, so you have to stay steady and love them right where they're at. Beyond my faith, I just love construction. I love how we all work together and make it come together and make it happen. So many people are involved in one project, it's incredible. It's very rewarding, like raising a child. There was nothing there, and then all of a sudden, you have this whole building, and we're gonna educate children. When I build schools, I really look towards the kids. We even put Bible verses in the concrete on the walkways, so they're walking on the Word of God - though nobody knows that.