Women in Construction Spotlight: Tanisha Hudson

Our team members have an unmatched dedication to their craft. Tanisha Hudson, Laborer in our Civil Group, is one of these incredible Keeley’ns. She is hard at work on an exciting project in St. Louis and the monumental project would not be where it is today without her. When the pandemic hit, she stepped up and joined the project’s COVID-19 cleaning team so she could do her part to help keep every team member safe and protected. She continues to exceed expectations every single day.

Tanisha joined the L. Keeley family five years ago and she has had an excellent experience so far. She has learned a lot, both professionally and personally, taken advantage of the growth opportunities that L. Keeley has to offer, and has learned how to express herself and be comfortable and confident in the work she is doing. Her team members continuously support her and make her feel empowered in every aspect of her job.

“It is very motivational to be a woman in construction because most women don’t think that they can do it. It has made me appreciate everything that I do, no matter how small.”

Tanisha joined the construction industry for one main reason: to provide for her daughter. When she joined the industry, she was a single mother working multiple jobs. Her career in construction has allowed her to show her daughter what it means to strive for a better life and to work hard for it. This industry has provided her with a stable job, endless opportunities, and more valuable time to spend with her daughter. However, pursuing construction also meant joining a male-dominated industry. While it can be intimidating at times, Tanisha strives to do better every single day and works hard to establish and prove herself as an irreplaceable member of her team. If she could give one piece of advice to women starting out in the industry, it would be:

“Don’t give up. There’s going to be good days and bad days, so stay strong. Stay focused and do everything the safe way. Stay motivated and be ready to come prepared to work every day.”

Tanisha has learned a lot of valuable lessons during her years in the construction industry, but the most important one that she has learned is the value of safety and how crucial it is. When she first started, she was always fearful of getting hurt, but she learned to put a strong focus on being aware of her surroundings and doing what she could to keep herself and others safe. She continuously looks up to the journeymen on her jobsites, listens, and strives to improve and take steps towards a safer environment. Tanisha has been instrumental in continuing to shape our world-class safety culture.

Tanisha has also experienced incredible growth and is looking forward to the future. She is excited to continue to work on more project and make L. Keeley her career destination.

“My favorite thing about being a Keeley’n is knowing that I am truly cared for. L. Keeley genuinely looks out for their craftspeople.”

Tanisha, thank you for your positive attitude and dedication to safety! We can’t wait to see the amazing things you accomplish on this monumental project and many projects in the future.