Women In Construction Week – Marilyn Swinford

Marilyn Swinford |Chief Executive Officer

“Women work hard to be given the same respect and opportunities as men.  If you were to look at my resume, you would not be able to tell that I am a woman. You’d only see my credentials and career path.”

Why did you get into the construction industry?

It’s a worthy endeavor to build or renovate places where people work, live, attend college, and recreate. Construction provides a challenging work environment, which I enjoy.

Why did you choose to work at Martin Horn?

Before I came to work here, I knew Martin Horn as a well-respected company with a lot of expertise and community involvement. It has more than met my expectations.

What unique skills do you bring to your job as a woman?

Women work hard to be given the same respect and opportunities as men.  If you were to look at my resume, you would not be able to tell that I am a woman. You’d only see my credentials and career path. That said, studies have shown that women can be particularly good at multi-tasking.

Are there women who inspired you along the way? Who?

My first job was at a bank and one of the commercial loan officers took an interest in me. She mentored me and inspired me.

Often, women entering the workforce from school assume that they will be treated equally. They shouldn’t forget the immense “dues” that women ahead of them have paid for that to have become a possibility.

What career advice do you have for younger women interested in construction?

In any industry, you must continuously add to your skill set and periodically add to your credentials.  Within companies, be sure to also work on your connections with management/owners and the way that you are perceived while at work (and by your boss and colleagues if they run into you outside of work hours).

Why do you think women should work in construction?

Not only is there the satisfaction of literally being able to see and touch the end product, but it’s a beautiful thing when people with a wide range of individual responsibilities work together.  Everyone has a role to play in the projects; everyone is important.