Dee Davis Bio

Construction Project Management Expert | Educator | Sustainability Advocate

Dee’s career in Construction Project Management and Construction Education has spanned over 25 years.  

She embarked on her journey into the world of construction with a passion for building a better future, Dee started in the trades as a carpenter, and moved into engineering and project management.

Ever the student, Dee has a substantial educational background as well as years of boots on the ground experience that has built her wealth of diverse knowledge. She has a deep understanding of construction best practices, ongoing education, engineering, and sustainability, providing her with a unique multidisciplinary perspective that sets her apart from her peers in the industry.

Much of her construction career has been focused on large scale new construction life science and manufacturing projects ranging into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Meet Rebecca Heustess 

Rebecca has been a tradeswoman for over 16 years. Starting her career in flooring, getting into tile seemed natural. She started as a helper, working her way to finisher and eventually Journeyman Setter. With determination, hard work, literal blood, sweat and tears; she overcame being a women in the male-dominated industry. 

In 2020 she was awarded Tile Setter of the year for her company Grazzini Brothers. Where she's worked for 11+ years. Together with her husband, they run the Midwest. She is also the chapter President of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) newest Chapter, Dakota Prairies #394. She has worked side by side with many great women to become the fastest chapter ever established, which is something she's very proud of. 

Her hobbies include hiking (especially in the black hills) cooking for friends and family, hosting parties, and spending time with her 2 dogs. 

Favorite quote "If you see someone without a smile, give them yours." ~ Dolly Parton

Luisa Pardo, AKA, Luu the Mechanic came into the automotive industry naturally. Her parents, specifically her father, owned and auto parts shop in Columbia. She was literally raised playing with spark plugs! Tune into this episode and hear Luisa's amazing story and shares her positive outlook and love of all things mechanic. Follow her on Instagram at @luuthemechanic 

Throughout her career, Kristen U-jaz-dow-ski - who goes by “Perky” - has experience in a variety of sectors such as education, health-based consumer goods, agriculture, construction, and real estate where she…

• Stoked sales
• Built businesses
• Optimized operations
• Systemized strategies
• Re-imagined real estate
• Connected communications

Currently, Perky is the CEO of Awareness Generation, a boutique business development firm focused on Sustainability related projects. Her passion for plant-based construction materials, like hemp-crete and hemp insulation led her down a rabbit hole of innovative technologies where she landed on 3D-printed, concrete housing.

Through the lens of “Regenerative Development” Perky focuses on innovative ways of building a future that multiplies (instead of depletes) the capacity of our natural resources, improves society’s well-being, and creates collaborative support systems for all humans.  

In February 2023, she founded Built Right 3D where the focus is squarely on solving the affordable housing crisis in America—starting in Colorado. Perky has built three construction crews to scale the state and is now in a position to build the first all-female construction crew that specializes in 3D printing.

#womeninconstruction #tradeswomen #innovation #designbuild

This episode features Missy Pate.

Missy has been a welder at ADF International for 4 years and a NAWIC member for 3 years. She always wanted to get into welding and took some classes for it, but wasn't sure how to pursue a job in the industry. She saw an opportunity for a welder helper at ADF International and applied. They hired her and she moved halfway across her state to begin her welding career. Missy says it was the best decision she has ever made. 

This episode features Cory Fisk.

Cory has been involved in almost every aspect of the Construction Industry – Federal/Tribal, Public Works, Commercial & Residential projects, working as a Field Engineer, Construction & Project Manager, Facility Director Executive, Private Consultant, Facilitator and an Education Advocate for over 18 years as a College Professor. Cory is a graduate of Texas A&M University, Bachelor of Science & has a Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction. Cory’s experience lends her a unique perspective and well-rounded approach to building professional & personal life balance strategies with a focus on Self-Awareness, Transitional Skillsets, Mindset, Leadership & Construction Management Concepts.  Cory has used this industry knowledge to design the industry changing Curriculum for the personal development program - CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ONLINE. 

This episode features Piper Grimm.

Piper has been in construction for just over 3 years now. Moving to this industry was a big change from where she started. At that time she was in school for molecular and cellular biology and was working in the complaints department of a call center. She was quickly losing faith in her degree and getting fed up with her dead-end job. She got talking with her husband about things she enjoyed doing and working with her hands was one of them. They looked into a few options, then welding was brought up by her father who had heard about a welding school. Piper checked it out and shadowed one of the students. After that Piper decided this was the place for her, so she enrolled. After 6 months and much blood, sweat and tears she graduated the top of her welding class. Piper was the first women at this school to do that which she am very proud of. After school, Piper went into manufacturing for a few months but the environment was toxic so she left and was hired by the company who runs the school she graduated from, United Group Services. From there, Piper was in the shop, then assisted with safety during covid. On her first jobsite the management noticed she had a knack for computers so Piper started helping everyone with their computer problems. The project manager noticed and needed a clerk so she was quickly moved into that position. Since then, Piper has won construction woman of the year, started a scholarship for other women looking to become welders and continued to advance her career. Piper is now working on becoming the project manager. She feels like she has found where she belongs, while Piper may not be “on her tools” she still works in the field and shoulders all the wins and losses with the crew. Piper says, “We are truly a team, and I wouldn’t trade that comradery for anything!”

https://eliteweldingacademy.com/

This episode features Lousize Azzopardi.

Louise has worked as a Mechanic for 7 years, becoming a field service technician and representing Australia at the world skills competition for heavy vehicle mechanics. She decided to become the person she wished she had. Louise is a life coach for Tradeswomen, coaching them through anxiety and sexism to become the most confident person they can be. She speaks on issues that matter to the Tradeswomen community. Not only the issues but the solutions as well!!

This episode features Irene Walsh Garcia. 

With over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry, Irene has experienced firsthand the challenges women face working in the construction industry. Although the road has been anything but smooth, Irene has figured out what it takes to succeed.

Irene entered the construction industry as an electrical apprentice for Local 134. After completing the apprenticeship, Irene was encouraged by her foreman to go into project management. In order to prepare for the leap into management, Irene completed a construction management program, and passed the Supervising Electrician's exam. With these additions to her resume, Irene was hired as a junior estimator for an electrical contractor.

Even though it was a big adjustment leaving the field for the office, Irene proved very quickly to everyone around her that she had what it takes. Within a year of being hired as an estimator, Irene became the project manager on a 60 story high rise. Although completing that project was one of the hardest things Irene has ever done, it fueled her passion for working in the construction industry. Irene has gone on to successfully complete many more projects since that first one.

Among Irene’s many projects are: the core & shell of 300 N. LaSalle, a 60 story high rise, the 462 room expansion and 800 room renovation at the McCormick Place Hyatt, many large tenant buildouts, including the CPS office relocation, and 8 years completing a variety of Healthcare projects at Northwestern Memorial Hospital which is where she currently finds herself. 

Irene is most passionate about helping women find success in the construction industry. 

This episode features Coralee Beatty.

After 25 years in the construction industry, and successfully selling her trades business, Coralee now shares her knowledge, experience and expertise with other women in construction and trades to build their business for greater profitability, flexibility and freedom. Coralee also offers fractional COO services, helping construction companies from the inside. She is a speaker and trainer, helping construction companies build a top quality company culture. In addition, Coralee advocates for women in trades to empower them to take control of their future in the industry, helping them start a business and doing so on the right foot, providing best practices for growth and success.  

Coralee recently published her first book “Hiring Secrets for Trades and Construction, The Ultimate Guide to Find, Hire and Retain Top Talent” and has been featured on many podcasts and other association stages where she shares her wide experience and the vast opportunities available in the construction industry, in hopes to encourage more women (and men) to enter the industry for a rewarding career.