2022 Women in Construction: Stacey Dackson, Structure Tone

Name: Stacey Dackson

Title: Vice President, Operations Manager

Company Name: Structure Tone

What advice would you offer to other women getting into the construction industry?
The advice for women getting into the construction industry is: Be clear in your communication; know your worth; have the courage of your convictions; and, never lose your voice. And most importantly, when a seat at the table is offered, take it!

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months?
My greatest professional achievement in the last 12 months has been two-fold, keeping my team in a positive mindset during the whiplash of the pandemic and being promoted to vice president, operations manager just recently. Our cache of work in special projects was severely impacted, and as leader of that team, it was incredibly important to communicate positivity in the face of uncertainty. This, along with the commitment of Structure Tone, helped buoy the team and yielded a 100% bounce back in revenue for 2021. In my new role, I support the operations teams’ achievement of financial and construction success in each of our projects, with a keen eye on professional development and career path management. This is a role I have been seeking.

Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you?
What empowered me the most when starting out in the industry was being considered the underdog due to being a woman. I briefly resided on the estimating side of the aisle and evolved to the operations side of construction for most of my career. The jobsite can present uncertain conditions such as working from trailers and using portosans, no heat/AC, to not knowing when your day may end due to unforeseen emergencies or client needs. Many are of the mindset that women will not prevail under these conditions. I wanted to be the agent of change and to alter the face of construction. I believe I have helped change people’s minds of women’s role in the industry.

Why should women consider a career in construction?
My career in construction has been rewarding, both from a personal and financial perspective. People that are interested in real estate, architecture and engineering should look at the field of construction as a viable career path. It is dynamic and engaging. Continually presented with challenges to solve, from design to supply chain to municipal constraints to end dates that must be achieved. You are the problem solver and a multi-tasker. Who better than women to be in that role!