Women in Construction Spotlight: Chayse Richardson
The Building Group at Keeley Construction is expanding across the country and we would not be able to sustain this growth without our incredible team members. Our Project Engineers are out there every single day ensuring our projects are running smoothy and our customers are happy. Chayse Richardson is no exception and is hard at work behind the scenes to get her projects up and running.
Chayse joined the Keeley family back in June upon her graduation from Missouri S&T. She had summer internships in the construction industry, so she knew that was the career path she wanted to take. The hands-on nature of the job and the family atmosphere at Keeley made her decision easy. Since joining the Building Group, Chayse has felt incredibly empowered in her work. There are so many tools and resources at her disposal that allow her to grow her career and learn new aspects of the job. The team also continues to push each other to be the best that they can be which helps grow her confidence. Developing these positive relationships and receiving feedback has helped her feel that her voice is heard and her opinion is valued.
“It’s important to always ask questions. The confidence might not be there at the beginning, but after a few months I felt more confident. I truly love all the exposure I have been given from helping with pre-construction to going out in the field.”
One of the main reasons Chayse wanted to join the construction industry was to make a difference and pave the way for a better future for the next generation of women coming into the construction industry. Entering a male-dominated industry can be difficult and presents a unique set of challenges. If Chayse could give a piece of advice to women just starting out in the industry, it would be:
“Build connections and be confident. Don’t be afraid to speak up and, most importantly, be yourself. Be passionate about the work you are doing.”
Chayse may be at the beginning of her career, but she has learned a lot of valuable lessons that will help guide her. The most important lesson she has learned is to be a sponge and absorb as much information as she can. She has seen firsthand just how valuable it is to step up and always be ready to learn something new. Having an open mind and accepting challenges will show a willingness to grow while helping the team succeed. This mentality is evident throughout the entire Building Group and Chayse is extremely excited for the future.
“My vision for the future is to continue to grow our company while maintaining the family culture. I want to grow my knowledge and experience in the field. I love that there are so many opportunities for growth and can’t wait to see what is to come!”
Chayse, thank you for your excitement and passion for the Building Group. We are so grateful to have you in our family and we know you have an incredibly bright future ahead of you.
