Misty Loeks

I attribute my success to perseverance, determination, and refusing to give up regardless of the challenges placed in front of me. Eight years ago, when I left my marriage, I moved into a small apartment with nothing more than a queen bed, no furniture, no job, and an uncertain future. There were moments when I questioned whether I had made the right decision, but I made a promise to myself that I would rebuild my life no matter how difficult the road became.

I chose to start over completely on my own. I did not ask for child support, spousal support, or financial help. I walked away from the house, the vehicles, the furniture, and everything we had built together because I believed I was capable of creating something greater for myself through hard work and determination. The last words my ex-husband said to me as I carried out my final box were, “You’re never going to make it, and you’ll come home crying.” From that moment forward, I was determined to prove him wrong.

I returned to my roots in the construction industry and rebuilt my life from the ground up. Over the last eight years, I went from having no income to building a successful six-figure career earning more than $128,000 annually—all without a college degree or even a high school diploma. That accomplishment means everything to me because every step forward was earned through grit, sacrifice, and relentless effort.

I also believe my success comes from my willingness to learn and perform every role in this industry from the ground up. I have dug trenches, performed underground excavations, operated bucket trucks, worked traffic control, managed projects, and completed inspections in the field. I earned my knowledge through hands-on experience and gained respect by proving that I could do the work at the same level as anyone else in the industry.

A special thank you goes to my father, Rick Soderholm, and my brother, Travis Soderholm, for the guidance, support, and knowledge they shared with me throughout my journey. Their mentorship and belief in me helped shape the professional and person I am today.

The best career advice I have ever received is to be honest and to always operate with integrity in everything I do. Honesty builds trust, strengthens relationships, and lays the foundation for long-term success. I have also been shaped by the example of my family—my father, and brother—who have been my main mentors. They own a successful business where I began my career, and watching their work ethic, consistency, and commitment to doing things the right way has influenced how I approach my own professional path.

My advice to young women entering this industry is simple: do it. Reach for it, because it's achievable. Just yesterday, I was watching a 23-year-old female traffic control worker who reminded me so much of myself when I was younger. I walked up to her and said 'I see you. I see you doing an amazing job. You stick to doing what you're doing right here, this is where I started out when I was 15. You keep doing this, you're gonna move up and advance.' I even gave her my boss's number because I think she would be great as a inspector like me. You might fail a couple times - I've felt defeated in this industry, like when a male co-worker looked me straight in the face about 2 or 3 years ago and told me 'You need to learn your place as a woman in a man's world.' I had to walk away because I was feeling feisty, but I came back and told him 'How dare you? A man and a woman, they might be a little different, but we are still capable of doing all the same things.' My message is: don't ever let anyone say you can't do something, because you're gonna do it, and you're gonna do it better than them. Women bring different things to the table, and if you just put your mind to it and say 'I can do it,' you will. This is a good career if you're willing to stick with it.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is overcoming gender discrimination and earning respect as a woman in a male-dominated industry. I'm usually the only female out here among about 35 workers across my three crews, and it's been a real struggle. When I transitioned from flagging and lower positions to project management and working with municipalities, it took me a while to get the respect I deserved as a female in a man's world. But now when I walk up to a job site, people know me and they respect that I know this industry. I've had male co-workers tell me to 'learn my place as a woman in a man's world,' but I refuse to accept that. Women are still capable of doing all the same things men can do, and we bring different perspectives to the table. The opportunity I see is for more women to enter this field and prove themselves like I have. When I see young women like the 23-year-old traffic control worker I mentored yesterday, I know there's huge potential for women to advance into senior positions if they just stick with it and refuse to give up. This is a good career for women who are willing to work hard and not let anyone tell them they can't do something.

The values most important to me are family, perseverance, peace, success, and creating a life built on strength and independence. Above everything else, my sons, my family, my spouse, and the sense of serenity I have worked so hard to create mean the most to me. They are my foundation, my motivation, and the reason I continue pushing forward every day.

Success to me is not just financial achievement — it is having peace in my life, strong relationships with the people I love, the freedom to travel and experience life, and the ability to look back knowing I overcame every obstacle placed in front of me without giving up.