Over the last two decades, the construction industry has slowly evolved as it promotes diversity in the workplace. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most male-dominated industries in the world with women making up just 10% of the total number of workers in the industry. At Dow Smith Company, we understand that women bring tremendous value to our team. Their fresh perspective allows us to find solutions to challenges we might not ordinarily find, and their attention to detail is exemplary. So, as we celebrate 2022 National Women in Construction Week, we want to introduce you to the women on our team.

Andrea Fall, Project Manager & Estimator

When Andrea Fall started working on construction sites in 2003, one of the roofers saw her and said, “Oh, you must be the boss’s wife.”

It was a comment that might have bothered some people, but not Andrea. With so few women in the construction industry, she chalked it up to him not knowing any better. Barely 10 percent of the construction workforce is made up of women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Back then, it was even less.

Since then, Andrea has spent nearly two decades making her mark in Middle Tennessee. The impact she’s had in the industry is unmistakable.

“I’ve always been in it so to me, it’s not a big deal,” Andrea says.

Andrea, who is an Estimator/Project Manager at Dow Smith Company, grew up being interested in architecture and construction. Her father, who worked in the music business, had books that had house plans in them. Andrea would draw what she saw in the books. As a teenager, she babysat for Preston Quirk, an architect with Quirk Designs. When she told him about wanting to draw, he explained that his firm used AutoCAD. So she started learning the program and went on to earn a degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from Nashville State Technical institute and then a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from MTSU.

At Dow Smith Company, she works on all sizes of church, healthcare and commercial projects. Even before a project gets started, Andrea will already be working on it. She can do preliminary planning and pricing, and get projects submitted to the codes department. She does in-house space planning and AutoCAD drawings.

“When people ask what I do and I tell them, they’re like, ‘Really? That’s so awesome,’” Andrea says. “I just think it’s normal.”

Andrea said she’s not sure why there aren’t more women in construction. On most job sites and in most of her classrooms when she was in school, she didn’t have a lot of female peers. She never had a female mentor. But that never slowed her down, she said. She knew what she wanted to do.

She’s never felt like her gender mattered one way or the other at Dow Smith Company. She’s mostly concerned with the work – and getting to do a job she loves.

“I get to draw in AutoCAD every day,” she says. “That’s still my most favorite thing I do.”

Shauna McConnell, Partner & Director of Accounting and Administration

There aren’t a lot of people like Shauna McConnell in the construction industry.

It’s not uncommon to find a friendly woman at the front desk of construction firms, but few of them can say they’re a Partner in the company.

Having worked in construction for 20 years, Shauna’s first job right out of college was in accounting at a construction/real estate development company. She’d been there for 10 years when she met Joey Rhyne, Partner and Design-Builder at Dow Smith Company. He told her about an opening at the company and asked her to consider it.

Four years ago, Shauna was named as a Partner at Dow Smith Company.

“I was quite shocked and quite honored by it,” she says. “It’s a great company. I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d want to be.”

Shauna says she believes her mindset contributed to her being promoted to Partner.

“I’d been there a while and I’d shown what they were looking for in leadership qualities,” she says. “I put the company first. I have the health of the company in mind when I’m doing things.”

Shauna says she’s aware there aren’t a lot of women in construction, but it’s not something she thinks about a lot. She is impressed with Dow Smith Company Estimator/Project Manager Andrea Fall. In Shauna’s entire time in the industry, Andrea is one of only two women she’s worked with who’ve been project manager or above.

“Andrea is great at her job and people really like to work with her,” she says.

Shauna’s hopeful that with high schools offering more classes geared toward construction, girls will be exposed to it earlier and realize “it’s not just swinging a hammer.”

Her advice to young women interested in construction: “I would say just do it. You’re fully capable. Don’t be discouraged because there are a lot of men. I don’t see women being treated any different by the guys who are here.” 

Holley Potts, Chaplain & Life Coach

Holley Potts is one of the few employees at Dow Smith Company who doesn’t wear a hard hat. But she has lots of tools she plans to use to improve the lives and careers of everyone in the company.

Potts serves as Dow Smith Company’s chaplain and life coach.

“I focus on how people are made and how they work together,” Potts said. “I want to help people achieve career-oriented goals, but also life goals. I want to help envision the life they want and how to get there. I’ll help Dow Smith Company work together better as a whole.”

President Dow Smith said he realizes it’s rare for a design-build firm to have a chaplain on staff, but that role is one that has been critical to the company’s culture. For six consecutive years, Dow Smith Company has been named a Certified Best Christian Workplace by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute.

Potts started her career in education before going into ministry. She’s been working with churches since 1995. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Martin Methodist College and a master’s degree in divinity from The University of The South. She has a Life Coaching certification from New Life University, which is connected with Branches Counseling Center in Murfreesboro. Potts is also an accomplished artist. Dow Smith Company purchased many of her paintings several years ago. Her work hangs throughout the company’s office at 205 Sam Hager Street in Smyrna. [Read more about Holley here]

“The best thing I can bring from my church background is understanding how groups can work well together,” Potts said. 

Potts works with Dow Smith Company leadership to determine how she can help them reach goals and then expand to everyone else in the firm. She leads group training, share messages of encouragement, works to connect with every member of the team, and put together resources for growth. She is also helping to plan Dow Smith Company’s 30th Anniversary celebration.

Potts says she’s excited that a position like hers exists, and she believes it speaks volumes about Dow Smith Company’s dedication to its employees and clients.

“I was impressed that he even has a role like this,” she said. “Who thinks that way? Who thinks forward to take care of his team’s needs like that? The fact that he thinks that way is very impressive to me.”