Finding an enjoyable niche in construction can sometimes prove to be a challenge, especially if you are just starting out.  However, Stephanie Beninati, the Owner and Broker of Strategic Insurance Services has found a way to enjoy the best of all the worlds she loves, in construction.  Stephanie’s insurance firm specializes in construction insurance, while offering structural warranties and certificate management concierge programs.  She has managed to find what she loves and turn it into something she thoroughly enjoys doing day in and day out.   Having the opportunity to interview Stephanie to find out how she fell in love with the construction industry and how she has designed her own path has been just as exciting! We hope you enjoy learning a bit more about Stephanie Beninati’s journey!

Can you talk a little about your own experience getting into the field — your education, early career and what brought you to where you are today?  How did you get started in construction? 

It started with my “Always show up” motto. In 2007, I went to a party I didn’t feel much like going to. I had the opportunity to meet a very special person who changed my life. This person introduced me to the homebuilding industry and I was hooked. I started selling 10-2 structural warranties for StrucSure Home Warranty and it was a natural progression into insurance. 

What was it about the industry that made it right for you? 

This is really a two-part question. What do I love about insurance and what do I love about construction that has inspired me to make this my specialty? I love insurance because I love helping people, especially small business owners. We are the backbone of this country and if I can help protect a business owners livelihood, if I can help them grow their business, then I am truly satisfied in my career. I love the construction industry because I believe in building communities, thoughtfully and responsibly. It is a remarkable thing to create a neighborhood that offers people a place to feel safe, where they can watch their children grow and build amazing relationships. That is the American Dream, and I am honored that I can contribute in some small way to that process.

How have you used partnerships within the industry to grow and succeed?

In 2008 I helped start The Construction Resource Group and I still sit on the Board of Directors. We are 20 small business owners that support the construction industry and our sole purpose is to help give-back to our community. We help each other grow our businesses through mutually beneficial alliances. From that, many of our CRG members have gone on to be successful in other areas. Our CRG members win industry awards, are recognized for their amazing contributions, start other groups and help other people with their journey.  I like to think that CRG is an inspiration for them to build on their own success.

What are you most passionate about within the industry? 

I am very passionate about helping people find their way into the industry whether it be through construction or insurance. I am also passionate about finding new ways to help our clients. For example, we saw our clients struggle, trying to get certificates of insurance from their subcontractors. They were also struggling with the 2-10 structural warranty products. They would get busy and forget to enroll homes. These are serious issues, so we created the SISCerts+ and SISWarranty+, concierge programs that help our builder clients manage through some of these issues. I am also passionate about helping my clients learn how to create and build a business that they can sell one day.

What difficulties have you faced during your career?  

Deciding to start my own company was incredibly hard. Well, not the deciding, but the actual doing.  There were a lot of people who were not on my side for a long time. Luckily, I focused on the people that were on my side and pushed forward. I had this strange feeling of confidence in what I was doing; I knew this was the right decision for me and I would not be deterred. Five years later, most of those people are my biggest champions and supporters. The other struggle was, I didn’t start my career in some large insurance agency learning from the ground up. I had to learn everything on my own. I had some help, but mostly it was trial and error. In the beginning, I constantly worried about how much I didn’t know, and unfortunately, I didn’t always know where to find the answers. Now, I am considered an expert in my field. I have been able to surround myself with brilliant people who supply me with knowledge on a variety of subjects, ranging from insurance products, construction defect issues, the economy, real estate, legislative actions and much more. I have a great network of very smart individuals who support and root for me on a regular basis.

What are your biggest strengths? 

I am a big proponent of “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. Yes, I am normal, and I get afraid, but I have a way of pushing through it. Plus, I am an incredibly hard worker. I don’t give up, I don’t make excuses and I always take responsibility for myself and own my mistakes. I wouldn’t say I was always this way. In fact, I was quite the opposite. So, people can change…if they want.

Thoughts on the Advancement of Women in the Construction Industry

As many of the women Strategic Insurance Services has highlighted this week, Stephanie also believes women “can do anything [in this industry], even working on the jobsite. We are resilient and there isn’t any position we can’t do.  Women in the industry need to bring the younger generation up, and we are. I was honored to have been asked to help start the Professional Women in Building through the Denver HBA. I stepped back a few years ago and although I am not directly responsible for its successful growth, I was instrumental in getting it off the ground. I was able to introduce a lot of amazing women to PWB. Groups like these, will continue to build a female coalition within the construction industry.”

Like any other business, you have to pay your dues. There is no “Crying in Construction”, or “Woe’s Me” attitude. If someone asks you to do something that you feel is “Grunt” work…that is probably because you are the “Grunt” and that’s OK. I’ve been the “Grunt” many of times. It’s not where you start, it’s where you end and your journey in between.

In the beginning you should try everything. See what you like, see where you fit, see what fits you. In the end, my advice is to be a specialist. In my business, I know how to do everything, because I did it for a very long time. That is called “paying your dues”. Now I work on projects I enjoy and am passionate about and delegate everything else. You can know the whole anatomy of your business, but it is good to be an expert in one or two areas, so you can spend your time doing what you enjoy,

For me, hosting events and bringing people together is what I truly enjoy. I also enjoy strategizing and helping my clients find ways to improve their business. The actual insurance is the vehicle I use to get to do all these other things.

At the end of the day, the construction industry can offer several options. If you like to be outside and enjoy physical work, you can work on a jobsite. If you have a head for finances and spreadsheets, you can be the CFO, if you like sales you can be the VP of sales and marketing. There is a position for every single personality type and skillset waiting for you in the home building industry. Don’t let preconceived ideas stop you from enjoy an amazing career in this ever-growing industry.

Feel the fear and let FAITH be bigger than the fear! This is a motto that Tari Ensign, president of Ensign Shaffer, understands and  harnesses.  Spending the summers with her grandparents, Tari used to explore the country side of Montana and notice all the diverse sizes of houses and the way people lived, finding all the differences fascinating as a child.  In sixth grade, she was introduced to ‘drawing in perspective’, winning an award for her work, this is when she began to think about architecture. In 8th grade, Tari took shop, metal shop, and drafting, winning another award. She was the only girl in class, and thanks to her mom, she never thought that was weird.  She was always told “Just do it… if that is what makes you happy.”  During her high school years she participated in classes such as engineering and architecture. She even recalls taking a career assessment test which said she should be a general contractor.  It wasn’t until she was a Site Supervisor for a builder in Colorado that she realized the niche of construction was what truly excited her.  She fell in love with it and knew it was meant for her!

Working in a male-dominated industry, Tari expresses, “At some point I thought that I should wear more rugged clothing but I have not found that needs to be the case. If you are strong enough, you can be exactly who you want to be and you don’t have to put on a rough exterior persona.  Just be who you are… We all want to be thought of as smart and as qualified.  If you walk into a scenario, whether it is a group of women or a bunch of men, [and you feel you] have to put on a face that is different than who we are that is something that you have to work through, I think that [takes] experience.” 

“Women can excel at any portion of this industry, literally any portion of this industry, but not every woman can excel at every portion of this industry.” Tori explains, not all women have the strength to pick up a wall and move it to the other side of the room but then again, neither do all men.  “It’s not about what areas women should excel in [within construction], it’s [about] what areas a woman wants to excel in.  If she wants to work out in the dirt and the sunshine and cold and that is something that she loves doing there are a lot of different aspects where she can. Or maybe the limitation is that she needs to be a team, with someone, so that she can achieve the things she wants to achieve in this industry.  I think limiting women to different aspects of this industry is wrong.” Tori’s mindset is that anyone is capable of doing anything that they want to as long as they feel that they are good at it and have the desire and motivation to do it.  There should  not   stigma that should stop you from doing what you want to do. 

Within the construction industry there is awareness around the lack of experienced workers.  “Today it is nice to see that there is encouragement for girls in the STEM curriculum within schools.  We have to move past the assumption that girls want pink and babies because they also can like blue and trucks.  If we encourage people to do what they are good at and what they are happy doing then many women, and men, are capabale of pursuing whatever career path they desire.” Tari loves the fact that “Kids aren’t afraid of anything.  They will try a lot of things. When you think about the difference between a child trying something and failing, and trying something else and failing, and trying something else and succeeding, they have learned that if you don’t try you won’t succeed.  Whereas adults, especially if we have kids,  we have a tendency [to think] that the risk of failing is too great. I think this is a travesty because we learn when we fail, not that we ever want  to fail. Hopefully we will fail small and then gain big when we try the next thing.”  Not wanting to encourage people to fail, Tari, shares that there is a huge risk factor to failure that is worth it.  You learn something from it.

When Tari started her architecture company it was instantaneous.  She had already done it before.  It was quick, it was painless, and she jumped right in… no big deal.  Then when she started the construction company, she thought, “Oh yeah, it should take me less than a year to organize things and get it up and running.” She failed big time! She realized that there were a lot of things that she hadn’t quite gotten to where she wanted them prior to launching this new company.  “That is where I had to except that I didn’t quite meet my goal.  Some people would call that a fail, but I eventually succeeded which is the most important part. I appreciate the effort that much more… Every experience is a stepping stone.  We didn’t learn how to walk because our parents sat us down on our feet.”

Finding Passion in Construction 

“I am very, very, very passionate about sharing knowledge. I believe that the phrase ‘knowledge is power’ has been warped to the point that people will keep that knowledge to themselves and only pass it on when they feel it’s good so that they can capitalize on the monetary sense of that knowledge.  Unfortunately, I think that has kept a lot of people from really making the industry move along, technology-wise, a little faster.”  An example Tari shared is of the infamous, Henry Ford.  “Certainly [he] wasn’t the first person to create a car but he was the first one to really mass manufacture it.  Imagine if he had not done the mass manufacturing, which in essence taught a lot of people to work on his cars, then we wouldn’t be quite where we are today with all the different versions of cars and all the different technologies that come from cars.  Sure there is going to be somebody who wants to build their own car… or their own house.  There’s always going to be those people who want to do it themselves, but they’re not going to be the majority of the industry so let’s share the knowledge of how to build a house, lets share the knowledge of how to be quality craftsmen. The people that are really enjoying themselves and really producing something of quality are going to stay in the industry.  They are going to excel.”

Tori realizes that the concept of construction has grown beyond just the physical product itself.  There is so much more to what individuals in the construction industry produce. “Today, people don’t buy the basic house.  They buy the company, their message, their quality, the style.  It’s more than just the basics, so why aren’t we sharing the basics.  When I first started in the field, I thought, ‘this isn’t the first house that has been built.  Why is it so difficult?’ It blew my mind and my assessment has been that we are not sharing the knowledge. During the downturn we lost so many quality people in the industry and they didn’t come back, so now all of that knowledge is just gone.  It has just vanished and it’s just sad.”  Tori feels that when you share knowledge with people the majority of people are usually grateful.

With this in mind, Tari is focused on giving back to the community, making it a huge part of what Ensign Shaffer is all about.  Tari believes that giving to the community sends the message to everyone who she works with and partners with to give back too.  “It’s a community builder that is very important,” to Tari and Ensign Shaffer.

To connect with Tari and Ensign Shaffer use any of the following links below:

Website:      www.EnsignShaffer.com
LinkedIn:     Linkedin.com/in/tariensign
Houzz:        Ensign Shaffer
Pintrest:      Ensign Shaffer
Twitter:       @EnsignShaffer
Facebook:   Ensign Shaffer
Instagram:   Ensign Shaffer
YouTube:     Ensign Shaffer

“Construction is the biggest industry in the United States.  There is so much opportunity and so many positions you can hold in construction.  There’s commercial and residential, luxury custom, affordable housing, bridges, and roads. Construction is so much more than building a house. There are so many different facets and I don’t think a lot of people realize… there are so many different elements in the construction world.” Owner of Alpine Consulting Associates, Christa Wickland explains. 

Christa started her career as a Labor Dispute Negotiator.  After taking a break to care for her children, she took a new career path and connected with real estate development and got a position with Esprit Homes as a contractor.  She eventually turned this into her consulting business.  Through that position Christa started an estate management division for Esprit Homes.  Christa’s focus is business development consulting and owner representative work for developers with her consulting firm Alpine Consulting Associates.  

Christa expresses that her experience in this male dominated industry “has been very positive.  At this point in history, being a strong woman is appreciated by many.  Those who feel threatened by women in the construction industry, can often be recalibrated.”

Christa agrees that there is a stigma around construction but there are many successful women in construction, sharing how some of the bigger developers in Colorado are definitely women, “so it is not like there is necessarily a shortage of women.  It is definitely not 50%, but it is not 2% either, except in the trades.”

Her business philosophy stems from the practice that her “partnerships imply trust, which is the foundation of a successful business.  Where there is trust, there is opportunity for growth,” and she makes a point to put that at the forefront of her company.  Creating new projects, conceptualizing and facilitating the success of a project along with the implementation of trust is at the heart of Christa’s passion for the construction world.

“Women can excel in all areas of construction. There are no legitimate barriers to women excelling in construction. Many women may feel uncomfortable or unfeminine in a male-dominated industry.  [However], this will change with time, as have the legal and medical fields.” 

Christa’s stepmother transitioned from law school into real estate development which was unheard of for a woman to do during her stepmom’s time.  She recalls her stepmom having to deal with being called several unsavory names and how difficult it was for her stepmom to be in a male-dominated industry.  She also recalls how super success her stepmother was as well.  “Most of that attitude has changed, but it takes time… Ultimately if you are going to enter a male-dominated industry you have to be able to deal with it… things change over time, they are not going to change overnight, so there has to be some degree of, I have to adapt. Just like you have to adapt to any situation, you have to be able to adapt to working with men in a male dominated industry.” 

“Firefighting, that’s an example.  Women are firefighters.  I don’t want to be a firefighter, because I don’t feel like I’m big and strong enough. I can’t carry someone out of a house.  But there are plenty of women who can.  I think construction is the same.”

Christa’s personal experiences show that things are definitely changing for women in construction.  “It is a different world now and if you have the interest you can do it but you do have to deal with men.  It is male dominated.  If can’t interact with men then it would be tough, but there are plenty of female-dominated industries where men don’t fit very well.  It’s a two-way street…”

Advice for more Growth and Change in the Industry

“We need better vocational trade programs.  We have a serious shortage of skilled trades people… and they do well for themselves. So, I am not sure why so few are going into it.  But certainly, girls can be plumbers, electricians, AV people.  There are all types of things they can do and maybe promoting those trades in the schools [will help].”  

To connect with Christa and Alpine Consulting Associates check out the social media platform below:

LinkedIn: Christa Wickland

Currently the president of Anderson Marketing Solutions, Barb Anderson started as a realtor selling homes before entering the construction industry.

Originally from Michigan, she was amazed at all of the construction activity in Colorado. She began a new career as an onsite sales representative for a small builder.  The education that she gained from that experience was invaluable.  Learning basic construction skills like how to read blueprints and how to stake a property’s measurements based on a site plan developed her knowledge base in the industry. Over the course of 15 years, Barb advanced her skill set in various positions with this small builder leading eventually becoming the Marketing Director. Throughout her career she worked for various developers in new construction, including marketing and sales for Vail Resorts. These outstanding opportunities declined, as the recession soon caught up to the luxury market and layoffs soon followed.  At a crossroad, figuring out what to do next, Barb established Anderson Marketing Solutions. Now almost 10 years later, there’s no place she would rather be. 

Barb gives recognition to the Construction Resource Group of Colorado along with Jerry Gloss and Cheryl Schuette for being instrumental in championing her success.  Networking has brought her some of her largest clients, such as McStain Neighborhoods.

As you may have guessed, there are challenges that women face in the construction industry but it is more about perception than reality according to Barb. The first perception Barb acknowledges is that “women don’t really understand construction,” such as the basics of knowing how to read a blueprint or the physical aspects of plumbing, electrical and framing of a home. Another perception about construction is that the industry is “too tough for women and they don’t want to break a nail”. For Barb while these perceptions have been debunked over the years, there are still remnants of these thoughts that women still need to overcome in the industry.  It is experience and education that has helped Barb overcome a lot of these perceptions and develop her company into what it is today.

“Being smarter in your approach, as your competitors are a lot of men who also work hard, and showcasing that you know what they are talking about shows you are knowledgeable in the industry and your are more inline with understanding an approach.  Also, share ideas that you know have worked well on previous projects” Barb recognizes, “Even though it is a male-dominant industry, there are also women who are also not as supportive in the realm of construction and that tends to be some of the struggle as well.”  Overcoming all fears, pushing past all roadblocks, and becoming confident in who you are is so much more than just being a woman in the construction industry.  “Early on in my career I may have been intimidated by men, but they are normally very professional in their approach” than what is percieved.

Barb’s Advice to Women Who are Interested in this Field

“Learn as much as you can about the industry. Spend time in the field to understand the process and challenges. Shadow a mentor to learn what the issues are and how to overcome them. And last but not least, you need be tough-skinned. Take emotion out of the equation and don’t take things personally.  We will all fail at some point in our career, but look at it as more of a learning opportunity that will help you grow into the woman you want to be.”  

There is a lack of awareness which contributes to the labor deficit problem in the construction industry.  Utilizing the resources that are available in Colorado is huge, Colorado Homebuilding Academy being one of them. 

Barb agrees, acknowledging that,”There are initiatives, too, more nationally through the Professional Women in Building [PWB], to get more women into the labor pool, that’s across the country.  Our local PWB is going to be taking the women of Hope House [of Colorado] to visit the [Colorado Homebuilding] Academy to see if there might be some interest in having some of these ladies go through the curriculum and obtain some of the skills to be able to get into this industry.”

Don’t be afraid to find your niche in the construction industry and focus on what it takes to make it your reality.  

Connect with Barb and Anderson Marketing Solutions on any of the following social media platforms:

LinkedIn: Anderson Marketing Solutions
Facebook: @AndersonMarketingSolutionsInc
Twitter: @BarbAndersonAMS

Audree Grubesic, owner of Modular Sure Site, comes from a background of engineering and publishing.  She eventually went into home sales and instantly connected with women.  They gravitated toward her asking her questions because they didn’t know much about building or what it entailed.  She shortly begin to realize that she would eventually have a connection to the construction industry, noting, “Home is where the heart is when you’re a mom and have children. It’s the place where everyone connects and it’s the place where you want to feel most comfortable.”  Audree loves being a part of one of the biggest purchases in someone’s life and helping them find a “home” resonates with her. 

Audree worked on the luxury side of the construction industry for many years and although it was great she could never afford any of those homes, at $600,000+, and neither could several of her clients.  After working with a client who owned land but became frustrated because they couldn’t build a house for $200,000-$300,000, it became clear to her that there had to be another solution.

The birth of Modular Sure Site came through the realization that there was a shortage of affordable homes that were currently on the market.  Through her own personal experience and lifestyle, knowing that the luxury of building a brand new home for $250,000-$300,000 would be wonderful, she began to look into the process of off-site construction and found that this dream could be a reality.  As she learned more about the process, she realized that there is a way for people to have a brand new, affordable homes.  “People can actually buy their land, through assistance programs, [and so many other options,]… they are just unaware of these options and don’t realize that they can have a brand new home and actually afford it.” 

Audree believes, “People are really interested in modular and want to know more but they are also leery of it.”  She expressed, “It is scary because it is not the norm, no one knows enough about it to know if it is a viable option or a good product.  However, in Europe and Australia close to 80% of the homes are built in factories.  So this is not a foreign concept.  It is common as the conditions outside don’t allow for the ability to get products to certain areas so they all have prefab or modular homes that are designed… The price point works.  You can purchase a home for $175,000 and it is brand new.  It is constructed with 30% more material, you still can pick out your own finishings and put your own touch on it.  It makes it affordable and it is now an option instead of renting.  You can have somewhere affordable to raise your family and live.”  

Currently Audree is working on a modular home project to in the ski area of Colorado.  These are usually multi-million dollar homes and now she is realizing that the idea of being able to build a custom modular home is an exclusive area is such an amazing concept to be a part of, eliminating a lot of the restrictions and constraints that come with building in these areas. At the end of the day, Audree realized that for builders this is even a smart way to plan in regard to budgeting.  After meeting with several builders on a project and learning from them and what they can do and bring to the her modular world, she realized that you can have these conversations and walk away knowing exactly what you are going to need to spend on a home based on the budget set.

Acknowledging a Shortage and the Willingness to Train Women to Understand Construction

Audree works with several women, many of them previous school teachers, who want a change in career.  She empowers and educates them through her personally designed Construction 101 courses. “I am personally on this mission to find amazing women that want to work, that are highly educated, that want to do something other than what they have done before, or have done for 20 years and they want something new to do,” Audree shares.  She wants to see more women excel in construction and realize that their skill set is definitely needed in the construction industry.  She also acknowledges, “the idea to buy a new home as a women is intimidating so being able to empower and educate women buyers is a great thing.”

Connect with Audree and Modular Sure Site on any of the following social media platforms:

Google+: Modular Sure Site
LinkedIn: AudreeGrubesic
Facebook: @ModularSureSite
Twitter: @ModularSureSite
Instagram: ModularSureSite

Every person has a connection to the construction industry.  We are all physically attached to some element of the construction world by the homes we live in, the buildings and stores we regularly visit, the many structures we admire from afar and residences we look at in awe of their beauty.  There is an amazing art behind it all that easily goes unnoticed every day. 

The world of construction is definitely something to fall in love with when we give it a moment’s thought. So, this Valentine’s Day let’s explore some miraculous architecturally constructed works of art from different parts of the world, along with some of the things we love about construction, that will make falling in love with construction effortless!

1. Vision – The wonderful thing about construction is that is allows individuals to conceptualize a project and see it through to the end.  You actually get to see your work come to life from the design just being an idea to the actual piecing together of each intricate part.  The experience is captivating.

2. Ownership – Construction allows you to create an environment that someone can fall in love with.  People actual occupy what you create and you realize that you affect peoples lives every day.  

3. Relationships – The relationships you build within the construction industry create forever-connections.  You meet and network with so many different people from builders, to architects, subcontractors, designers, project managers and more.  It is wonderful to have such an array of talent in one industry and watch it all come together.

4. Collaboration – Every project is different across the board and this is because of the collaboration from all the moving pieces and different players.  It makes each project exciting, new, fresh and fun.  Again, you actually get to see your teamwork come to life!

5. Legacy – Some structures leave their mark on this earth for quite some time, if not forever.  They are recalled and visited for years to come.  Construction always leaves a mark on the future because it is a piece of art that will more than likely be around for decades.

6. Cutting Edge – The future of construction is so vast.  The introduction of new technology is fascinating and the opportunities are literally endless as both fields, technology and construction, advance. 

7. Timeless – There is always a way to bring in the old and connect it to the new, and vice versa.  Together, the art of construction can emerge, grow, change, expand and become different and wonderful each and every time.  As long as there is a concept, it can come alive.  Anyone can be a part of the construction industry! 

These artistic masterpieces are just a few of the many stunning constructed works from around the world. Falling in love with this industry is fun and exciting with so many visual aspects drawing us in. 

What structures or homes are you in awe of every time you see them?  We would love to know some of your favorites.  Share them below!

Builder’s Risk Insurance, sometimes called Course of Construction is a form of insurance which protects a building where the building or insured area is being constructed. It can solely provide coverage for the structure or coverage for the structure and the materials on site waiting to be installed or even transported to the job site.  Typically, it is an insurance coverage most owners will expect every contractor to carry.

A builder’s risk insurance policy will cover damages up to the specified coverage limit, determined by the total completed value of the structure (materials and labor costs, excluding land value). Builder’s Risk insurance policies can be termed at three, six, or twelve months, depending on the length of the project. 

A new year brings about new motivation, new opportunities, the chance to build new relationships and grow current relationships, and the decision to learn new things.  As Strategic Insurance Services (SIS) starts 2018, we are thrilled to offer our clients, both current and potential, so much MORE! A new look, new programs, an amazing team, with customer service and relationships at the forefront of what the SIS mission, to be MORE than Insurance, stands for. This the inspiration behind SIS offering MORE!

Our SISBusiness+ program offers one of the best in all-inclusive business and construction insurance coverage.  Working in connection with our SISCerts+ and SISWarranty+ programs giving you the most comprehensive and hands-off experience for your business. Our concierge managers do all the work for you so you can focus on what matters most to you, your business!

Additionally, SIS wants to make sure we can provide coverage for everything you need and love.  With our SISPersonal+ program we are able to help protect you beyond your business with home, auto, life, plus disability coverage and so much more. 

To learn more about our programs please check out our website, follow us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter.

We can’t wait for you to be a part of the SIS family!

M – Motivation

O – Opportunity

R – Relationships

E – Education