Women in Construction: Deborah Cole
Heart-of-gold Deborah Cole of Coon Rapids, MN is #goals
We’ll let her words speak for themselves:
“We have one green Cheek Conure parrot named Lou Reed, one Silver Lab, one Beagle, and way too many goldfish and koi.”
“With my husband Michael, we have seven children, all married or with significant others, 16 grandchildren with another coming in June.”
Whew! And we haven’t even begun to talk about her career yet!
Let’s get to it then.
What sorts of tasks do you perform?
Deborah Cole: My day starts up as making sure my pre-trip inspection is physically done and all paperwork is in proper order. My orders are placed on the board and I schedule by priority as efficiently as possible. Customer service has always been my highest priority, along with safety with everyone one the jobsite and surroundings.
I deliver containers to and from jobsites and if a demolition job happens to pop up I try and arrange my schedule to accommodate the demo, while making sure other customers remain pleased.
What challenges have you overcome as a women in this position?
DC: Approximately 20 years ago, after working in a factory, I decided I did not want to do that for the rest of my life, so I decided to go to school for heavy equipment and get my CDL. The factory decided at the last minute they were not going to hold my job for me, so I had to jump in with both feet and go for it and so I quit.
I went into heavy equipment training and received my class A license. Now it was time for me to face my new struggles: the bills and raising kids [on top of building my new career].
The first stop was at the 49ers to at least get on a list. My feelings were so hurt after I was told by the guy behind the counter that ‘it was really unfair’ that they had to hire me—a woman—over ‘someone who had the experience.’ But I know deep down, given the chance, I would have been able to do it.
“My feelings were so hurt after I was told by the guy behind the counter that ‘it was really unfair’ that they had to hire me—a woman—over ‘someone who had the experience.’”
After 10 years, it was time to move on to the next job that I thought would be my last, but the male workforce makes women constantly prove themselves, especially when you’re the only female on the crew. They think you don't know what you're talking about just because you're a woman.
Then one day, a “Facebook stalker” as my husband calls Missy now, reaches out to me to meet. Days later I get an offer from a new women-owned roll-off company to help things grow aka T.Scherber. It has been 8 months now, and the freedom to show them what I can do has been amazing.
We have come across some “dirt piles” in the path and WE GET OUT THE SKID STEER AND PLOW THEM OVER! and plow them down to keep moving forward.
I see great potential with this company, and the teamwork and respect everyone has for each other is amazing— I can’t say enough just for the chance to prove myself.
Describe a time when you totally kicked ass on the job:
DC: I once applied for a job as a working driver. In the interview, the business owner actually told me that ‘women don't make it in this business,’ but decided to give me a chance anyway. After a few weeks, the same guy told me he was going to only hire women from then on.
Anything else you’d like our readers to know about?
DC: Oh my god, I did some real searching with this [interview]. Put stuff out there I thought I would keep to myself, but so glad I did. Things happened that I didn't realize [impacted me as a woman in construction]. This was a real tear-jerker for me!
Follow Deb on her adventures through construction on her Instagram & mine to 😉.