Michelle Sauceda

My career in construction started when I found an office assistant job with Epoxy Design Systems, but I left after 10 months to pursue purchasing in oil and gas. When COVID hit and I got laid off, I reached out to my friends at Epoxy Design Systems on good terms and asked if they could take me back in a different role. The vice president made room for me in operations, and after working there for a year or two, I wanted to learn more and earn more. I really wanted to create a career in construction, so I began shadowing the vice president, going to job sites and pre-bid walkthroughs, and helping him gather information. I started learning how to estimate and project manage on my own. That experience led me to go back to school online for my bachelor's degree in business and construction management, which I'll graduate this year. I worked in concrete restoration for many years before recently getting my current position about 2 months ago at an interiors company through a referral from my active involvement in ABC and Women in Construction groups. I sent my resume in and got a job offer like 3 days later. Now I manage about 9 to 10 jobs in different phases, handling everything from troubleshooting field issues and material deliveries to coordinating with superintendents and submitting change orders. My most notable achievement was taking over a $1.5 million project when the project manager quit our company and completing it seamlessly, on time, and within our profit margin, even though I had no experience with jobs that large. I was able to grab the bull by the horns, not be scared, and just own it, learn it, and adapt quickly.