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As we state in our Core Values, we believe we can’t succeed in the work that we do without each other. We’ve got a lot of amazingly talented and hardworking people on our team and so we’re starting an employee spotlight feature here on our social media. We’d like to introduce you to our first Employee Spotlight: General Superintendent, Homer Fernandez.

Homer’s the General Superintendent here at The Porter Co. on the piping/plumbing side. When we spoke, he was just hoping off the Austin FC Stadium and onto TxDot. Homer’s been crushing it in the construction industry since right out of high school and he’s been with The Porter Co. for nearly that long – just over 11 years! His dad was a welder so as soon as Homer graduated, he went straight to Local 286 and started his career as a pipefitter.

When Homer started with us, he was out at our pipe fabrication shop on Willow Springs working as a welder. Over the years, he’s worked on many jobs but says his favorite was University of Texas Chiller Station #7 because of the massive pipe builds. In the past three years that Homer’s been a Superintendent, the most challenging aspect of his role has been the balancing act of accommodating for all people while still being productive in the project timeline. Overall, seeing the projects come together and become part of the Austin skyline and industrial landscape is something Homer is proud to have accomplished in his career.

An avid Texas Longhorns fan, a hunter, a fisherman, and a father to two beautiful little girls, Homer is most proud to have been able to create a career with longevity and provide a good life for his family. We are so grateful to Homer for his leadership and reliability over the years and we look forward to many more!

The Porter Co. recognizes the need for more women in the construction industry and the unique perspective and skills they bring to the field. We’re concluding Women’s History Month by highlighting another one of the Women in Construction on our team.

Project Manager Denise Moon didn’t set out to have a career in the construction industry. With an education focused in International Business, she happened upon the chance to work for General Contractor early in her career. She worked for a handful of GCs and a Mechanical Contractor before joining The Porter Co. in 2016. In her role as Project Manager, Denise provides direction and leadership to the project team by working closely with the GC, clients, and suppliers. We reached out to her to tell us about her perspective and experience of being a woman in the male-dominated construction field.

⚙️What are some of the challenges that you face as a woman in this industry?
“It is no hidden fact that women are dramatically underrepresented in the construction industry. The last I checked, there was less than 10% female representation in the construction sector. The biggest challenge is unconscious bias and the typical gender stereotype.”
⚙️What do you think are some of the advantages of being a woman in the construction industry?
“As a female, we can build rapport with our colleagues and counterparts rather quickly and in turn prove our knowledge and build credibility with those individuals.”
⚙️What is something you’re really proud to have accomplished or been a part of in your career?
“There is always a sense of achievement after each project along with lessons learned which is applied to the next project. Especially if a project is fast paced and at the beginning you wonder if you can finish it within the scheduled duration. There are not many professionals in other industries that can point to a high-rise, hotel or manufacturing plant and say “I helped build a portion of that.”
⚙️What advice would you give to young women entering the construction industry today?
“You either know if you want to get into the construction industry or not; it’s a rarity that you just stumble onto it like I did. If you choose this career path then break free from the stereotype by being confident, competent, and open minded. Don’t be afraid to ask questions from the tradesmen and learn from those that have been doing it for half of their lives.”
⚙️How do you think the industry as a whole can help with the inclusion and advancement of women in construction?
“There is a critical labor shortage in the construction industry so there are plenty of opportunities to promote gender diversity to recruit, train, and retain skilled women. Offer mentorship and networking programs to assist in career advancement opportunities.”
⚙️What is an aspect of the construction industry that you’re excited to see develop in the future?
“The construction sector is somewhat antiquated in how work is completed so it will be exciting to see how integration of advanced technology into the current construction processes will assist in designing, developing, and building in a more effective manner.”