Across the construction industry, and especially at PCL Construction, women are forging meaningful careers in roles they never expected to pursue. For some, it begins during a visit to a job site or in a college classroom. For others, it starts in a temporary administrative role. What these women all share is a willingness to explore, ask questions and follow opportunities as they unfold, all backed by a company that rewards curiosity with opportunity.

In recognition of the National Association of Women in Construction’s annual Women in Construction Week, here are the stories of three women whose career paths at PCL highlight the many ways the industry empowers people to grow, pivot and thrive.

In 2017, while exploring different career paths, Amanda Kelsey accepted a temporary administrative assistant position at PCL’s Minneapolis Buildings office. The role — initially meant to cover for an employee on maternity leave — unexpectedly opened the door to a fulfilling career in construction, an industry she hadn’t previously considered.

Supported by Minneapolis leadership, Kelsey pursued construction certifications to transition into an operations role. Today, Kelsey works as a project manager, leading projects that range from renovations at the Grand Casino Hinkley to the Ventura Project, an affordable housing development for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, a sovereign Native Nation.

Honestly, not really. Looking back, I can see small signs, like sketching out house layouts as a kid and getting excited about how things were built, but I never envisioned construction as a full career path.

My educational background in physics taught me to love processes and problem‑solving. When I arrived at PCL, I quickly realized how directly those skills could translate to real-world work in construction. That connection sparked my interest, and I found myself spending more and more time in the field, looking for ways to support project managers and field engineers in their day‑to‑day work.

I was fascinated by what went into the daily operations of a project. Shadowing the team and seeing their work up close is what ultimately kept me here. It made me want to pursue an operations role and eventually step into a field engineer position.

I decided the best path would be to earn a certificate in construction management from Colorado State University’s online program, CSU Global. That was valuable in helping me understand the foundational knowledge many of my peers had. The program, coupled with tangible exposure from PCL, gave me a meaningful foundation. In the office and on-site, I was provided significant exposure to contracts, contract language and how project managers handle their responsibilities every day. Seeing those concepts play out in real time and not just reading them in a textbook was incredibly important in building my confidence and understanding.

The biggest hurdle early on was that there wasn’t a clearly defined path from an administrative role into operations. PCL’s Minneapolis human resources team and executive leadership played a major role by opening doors for me and expressing their confidence in me. They advocated for me, believed in my potential, and opened doors that weren’t traditionally available to someone starting in an administrative role. 

They gave me the time and support to complete the construction management program I joined, while also providing mentorship and training opportunities within PCL. The company invests in people who work hard and show up as themselves. While there was no obligation to create a path for me into operations, they chose to do so.

At the time, a transition from administration to operations was uncommon, but their support made it possible. Now, I hope my journey can serve as a template for others who may follow a similar path. 

While working in health care, Leslie Szorcsik decided she wanted to make a change. PCL felt like a good transition, even if just temporary, since Szorcsik’s dad boasted a 15-plus-year career as a PCL superintendent. Szorcsik joined PCL’s Orlando Buildings office, working as an administrative assistant. While assigned to assist on the Naples, Ritz-Carlton project, Szorcsik was given several duties that required her to be on the job site. This sparked an interest, and a new dream was born — a construction career in the field. Thanks to the support from a range of mentors, including project managers, superintendents, and project and field engineers, Szorcsik transitioned into a field engineer role.

Today, Szorcsik works as a project engineer for PCL’s Solar Division, working on projects that have taken her across the country, including job sites in Washington and Ohio.

I stepped into operations with no idea what I was doing at first. I’d never used a tape measure, and terms like "as‑builts,’" "BIM," and "subcontracts" felt like a different language. A lot of what I learned in those early days was self‑taught, but I was also surrounded by incredible mentors.

My project manager would give me tasks, and from there I’d connect with my colleagues — a field engineer or project engineer on the job — and say, "Okay, how do I do this?" I’ve always had strong support from PCL leadership — they’ve never said "No, you can’t do this. We don’t think this role is for you," — but my peers have also played a huge role in helping me grow. That’s really the heart of PCL’s culture: there’s always someone willing to help, and no one wants to see a teammate struggle.

“I’d say give it a shot! It’s not nearly as intimidating as people imagine. Construction isn’t just about being out on a job site, if that doesn’t interest you; there are so many different paths. You can work in marketing, operations, administration, estimating and so much more. The opportunities are incredibly diverse.

I never pictured myself in construction, let alone in solar, and now I can’t imagine doing anything else. Solar is exciting; you get to travel across the country, see new places, and be part of projects that make a real impact. I love the work, and I love the people I get to do it with.

There’s something really rewarding about looking at a finished project and thinking, "I helped build that," or "I was part of that." So, I would say consider it, explore it, and don’t be afraid to jump in. The construction industry has so much to offer.”

Olivia Frick knew early on that she was drawn to the construction industry; she just wasn’t sure where her path within it would lead. That changed when, as a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, she attended a one‑hour session on career opportunities in construction. Inspired by the hands‑on, tangible nature of the work, she switched her major from Engineering to Building Construction.

After spending roughly 15 years in operations as an assistant project manager and project manager, Frick discovered her true passion: building meaningful, long‑term relationships with clients and partners. That realization sparked a transition into business development, where she quickly found her stride.

In 2024, Frick joined PCL’s Florida Buildings Group to support the company’s continued growth in Jacksonville and the broader North Florida region.

When I was working on active job sites, I loved the energy and the day‑to‑day collaboration. Over the 15 years I spent on the operations side, moving from an assistant project manager to a project manager, I realized how much I valued the collaborative element of my job, especially the relationships built with clients and partners. I was fortunate to work on some incredible jobsites where our teams were strong, connected and genuinely enjoyed working together. But, as is common in construction, once a project wrapped, everyone would head off in different directions.

When a mentor suggested I consider business development so I could focus full‑time on relationship‑building and team‑building, it just clicked. I decided to give it a try, and it’s been an amazing fit ever since.

One of the things I appreciate most about PCL is how uniquely collaborative the company is. For an organization of our size, the level of teamwork and willingness to help one another is pretty remarkable. I think a lot of that comes from our employee‑ownership model; we’re all invested in the success of the company, so we lift each other up. There’s no sense of competing against other districts or projects, because we’re all pulling in the same direction. Sure, there’s always a little healthy competition because of our personalities, but it’s never divisive.

The culture is warm, engaged and genuinely supportive. Many of our best hires come from employees recommending people they trust because they know PCL is a place where good people thrive. That sense of community is a big part of what makes working here so rewarding.

Construction is a fun, fast‑paced environment, and if you enjoy teamwork, creative problem‑solving, or challenging “the way things have always been done,” you can absolutely find your niche here.

For women, the industry looks very different today than it did even a decade ago. Women bring incredibly valuable strengths to construction; we’re strong managers, we’re organized, we understand budgets and timelines, and those skills are at the core of every successful project. What’s even better is that there’s now a real community of women in the industry. From the National Association of Women in Construction to groups focused on commercial real estate or healthcare construction, there are so many opportunities to learn, connect and find mentors. 

My advice is simple: explore, engage and don’t be afraid to jump in. The opportunities are out there, and they’re growing every day. 

 
Own your future, own your career.  
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