Sept. 16-20 is National Association of Home Builders Professional Women in Building Week. To help commemorate the designation, we did a brief Q&A with Greater Iowa City Area HBA member Katie Lammers, with remodeler Lammers Construction Services.
Q: What shaped your career choice to go into home building?
A: I got married to a home builder. I had no construction experience whatsoever until I met Dan.
Q: What unique skills do you feel like women bring to building?
A: I feel that sometimes the customer’s comfort level with having workers in their homes is better when the lead carpenter is a woman. Especially for elderly women clients. I have had both men and women employees for so long that there really aren’t a lot of differences. They are all good!
Q: What do you find especially encouraging about the progress of women in the building industry?
A: One of the most encouraging projects to promote women in construction is the annual Iowa Valley Habitat For Humanity Women Build house. We have enjoyed helping with these homes for many years.
Q: What would you say to young girls or women interested in home building or starting out their careers?
A: There are so many aspects in the home-building business that I would tell future women to find something they enjoy and go in that direction. In the remodeling business, the end results are very rewarding, and there is a lot of artistic talent involved in the process.
Katie with some of the kids for which she’s helped build Iowa Valley Habitat For Humanity homes through the Women Build program.
