In celebration of Women in Construction Week, we’re highlighting just a small handful of our powerhouse Preston women to gain some insight into how they began their careers in the construction industry and what they’ve learned along the way.

Meet Project Manager Jennifer Haller. Jennifer has been in the industry for 20 years and has been with Preston for 12 years, starting as a Project Engineer and working through the ranks. When Jennifer was promoted to Project Manager, she was Preston’s first female Project Manager at the time.

What motivated you to start a career in construction?

I actually wanted to be a structural design engineer early on in college. But when I started an internship with a construction management company, I was exposed to so many different field trades and loved being in the field. That contributed to my motivation but the biggest motivation for me was the team I was working with. The entire team was made up of women and they represented the owner to manage multiple general contractors and all of the sub-tier trades. Their teamwork, enthusiasm, and collaboration on the daily was inspiring. I always wanted to go to work because I didn’t want to miss out on the experience. This was where I was first introduced to Preston Pipelines and witnessed their work, which opened up a whole other side to construction for me and I wanted to be a part of it.

What is your favorite thing about working in the industry?

My favorite part of working in the industry is being a part of field coordination and working with our field crews. The pre-planning, problem-solving, and all aspects of the job coming to fruition as we make production is exciting. Working through those big or small journeys together with the team keeps the morale high and gives us all a sense of accomplishment. It’s what keeps my passion alive.

What is your advice for young women thinking about starting a career in the industry?

As I would tell any young person starting in this industry, absorb as much as you can and ask a lot of questions. Surround yourself with people that instill values, habits, or knowledge you seek to learn. Be confident in your knowledge when communicating with others in the industry, co-workers, clients, etc. If you aren’t sure about something, it’s okay to say that! Being humble and honest builds a trusting rapport with everyone you encounter.

What motivates you to come to work and excel every day?

Our field of work, our people, and my integrity. The work we do at Preston is a specialty and our clients rely on us to be the experts. It is fun and can be challenging. We all love the challenge of making every project a success! Our people and the enthusiasm they bring every day is infectious. It is that positive energy and the opportunities to train or mentor others that contribute to the daily motivation. For my own growth, wanting to continuously achieve success is what motivates me. I am always wanting to do better on the next job, always finding the opportunities to improve, and taking with me our lessons learned.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Always strive to be a better version of yourself and not of someone else. People often compare themselves to others around on how well someone else is doing. Finding the unique values of what you bring to the team is the best thing you can do for yourself and the team.