Jillian Cates, a native of Conway, is graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in construction management along with a full-time job as a field engineer at Baldwin & Shell Construction Company.

While at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, she鈥檚 been dedicated to breaking down barriers in the traditionally male-dominated field of construction, participating in events like a panel with the National Association of Women in Construction and penning her support for Women in Construction Week in an .

After graduating from Vilonia High School in 2019, Cates first started working in an electrical apprenticeship, but soon received a shock that jolted her to reconsider getting a college education.

鈥淲e were working a job, and I got shocked by 277 volts changing a light out, fell down a ladder, and a perspective change happened,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to work in construction, but I knew I wanted a little more security than I had. I stayed with that company for my apprenticeship doing distribution gas work. One day I picked up a shovel, and I thought that I could be doing so much more with my life. I applied the next week and got accepted to come to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. It was a pretty big life change, and I fell in love with it.鈥�

While at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Cates has been involved in the student chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), most recently as president, Dean鈥檚 Student Leadership Board for the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and the Industry Advisory Board for the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. She鈥檚 also completed internships at Clinton National Airport and Baldwin & Shell, which has led to a full-time career opportunity.

鈥淎fter I finished my internship with Baldwin & Shell last August, they kept me on part-time as a field operations co-op,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 will be a field engineer, and ultimately, I am training to be a superintendent on a job site. I will be learning to coordinate with subcontractors and doing checks on job sites. It鈥檚 a very field heavy position.鈥�

Cates said that her biggest accomplishment at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has been the start of a new topping out ceremony to honor graduating students from the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. The first ceremony honored six students graduating during the fall semester, and the April 30 topping ceremony, which Cates was a part of, ballooned to celebrating 25 graduating students.

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Cates, a senior from Conway, will graduate this summer with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in construction management. As a passionate advocate for women in construction, she will be among a group of women sharing their experience about how to become a leader in the construction industry by enhancing their career through education. The National Association of Women in Construction will host the special breakfast panel event on March 6.

鈥淭he industry is not easy,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here will be times when you get discouraged, but I would encourage people to keep going. That is the beauty of what we do. You never stop learning. You should always work hard and keep your head up, especially the women going into this field.鈥�

Cates is partially following in the footsteps of her grandfather, who used to build houses and served as an inspiration for her to work in construction. After graduating from Vilonia High School in 2019, Cates first started working in an electrical apprenticeship, but she soon received a shock that jolted her to reconsider getting a college education.

鈥淲e were working a job, and I got shocked by 277 volts changing a light out, fell down a ladder, and a perspective change happened,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to work in construction, but I knew I wanted a little more security than I had. I stayed with that company for my apprenticeship doing distribution gas work. One day I picked up a shovel, and I thought that I could be doing so much more with my life. I applied the next week and got accepted to come to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. It was a pretty big life change, and I fell in love with it.鈥�

While at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Cates has been involved in the student chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Dean鈥檚 Student Leadership Board for the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and the Industry Advisory Board for the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. She鈥檚 also completed internships at Clinton National Airport and Baldwin & Shell Construction Company, which has led to a full-time career opportunity.

鈥淎fter I finished my internship with Baldwin and Shell last August, they kept me on part-time as a field operations co-op,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n my career path, I鈥檓 geared toward a superintendent position, but that will be five or six years out. This position is giving me a better understanding of what a superintendent does and preparing me for that position. I work very closely with the superintendents and stay glued to their hips all day. I get to ask questions and learn.鈥�

Cates said that her biggest accomplishment at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has been the start of a new topping out ceremony to honor graduating students from the Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering.

鈥淚t was my baby, and I watched the idea grow and became reality,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淐hancellor Drale is coming to the next topping out ceremony this semester, and it鈥檚 gratifying to know that we are getting recognition from the highest point at the university.鈥�

Cates said her second biggest accomplishment is helping to grow the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock AGC Student Chapter and getting it started back to what it used to be.

鈥淪eeing people like Jill in this program is what makes this enjoyable to me,鈥� said Instructor Stuart Scheiderer. 鈥淭o single out one thing she has done would slight other things, but she has taken the AGC student chapter from virtually nothing coming out of the pandemic to a strong student organization. She has organized several events to support local industry organizations, developed the topping out ceremony and coordinated the Mardi Gras event at Riggs Cat in February. Jill never hesitates to take on more responsibility or leadership and performs exceptionally well.鈥�

Cates said that it鈥檚 important to celebrate Women in Construction Week because women bring unique insight to a field that has traditionally been dominated by men.

鈥淚 think that women bring a perspective and so much to the table that is different than what men have traditionally brought, and I think that is something to recognize and celebrate,鈥� she said.

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The event was held Dec. 5 at the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas Building in North Little Rock. The event sponsors include the Arkansas Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Lexicon, and the family of Clyde Moore, who had a 50-year career as a foreman. Moore鈥檚 family says he would have been proud of the work being done at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the opportunities that they provide for students.

The ceremony honored graduating students Caleb Coffman, Steven Currence, Tabari Herron, William Hopkins, Naji Kattom, Andrew Payton, and Christian Salazar. Each graduate received a certificate and a commemorative 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock hardhat as well as signed a beam that will be displayed in the Engineering, Technology, and Applied Science Building at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for future generations to see.

鈥淭he topping-out ceremony was very enjoyable,鈥� said Payton, a graduating senior in construction management from Tualatin, Oregon. 鈥淚t is very fitting for our construction management program due to the size, specialization, and support of the industry. Great food, great speakers, and a great evening. I won’t be attending the official graduation ceremony, so this took its place in my mind.鈥�

The ceremony was attended by many industry professionals, including Howard Williams, one of the co-founders of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock construction management program, and Mike Tramel, the founding chair who served as the event鈥檚 keynote speaker.

鈥淭his ceremony reflects a desire for you to have a safe, prosperous career with nothing but good fortune in your future,鈥� Tramel said.

The ceremony is a way to distinguish the graduates of one of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 most successful academic departments. Students in the program are highly sought after by the construction management industry and have a 100 percent employment rate upon graduation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my desire and hope that this becomes a wonderful tradition for the graduates of this program,鈥� said Jimmy Alessi, chairman and CEO of Alessi Keyes Construction and chairman of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 departmental Industry Advisory Board.

The ceremony is a new tradition that was spearheaded by Jillian Cates, a senior construction management major and president of the Associated General Contractors of America student chapter at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淚 am humbled and amazed at the outcome of this first ceremony,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淚 can’t say thank you enough to the people from the university, both faculty and staff, and industry folks who had my back the whole way through this process. Getting the first one out of the way feels good, but I’m already excited for the next one. I hope the graduates and families enjoyed it as much as I did.鈥�

Among those in attendance was Cates鈥� mother, Cara Cates of Conway, who was exceedingly proud of her daughter for organizing such a unique event.

鈥淛illian has always been a leader,鈥� Cara Cates said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 innovative and wants to make other people feel special through the things that she does, which is very evident with the topping out ceremony.

Cates sees 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 topping out ceremony continuing to grow to become a milestone event for the department.

鈥淚 think it’s a great opportunity for our program to grow, and it shows everyone exactly what this program is about by honoring our graduates in a way that is unique to our industry,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淚 wish all our graduates the best and thank them for being a part of making my dream come true.鈥�

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The ceremony is the first of a new tradition for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas building in North Little Rock. Many members of the construction management industry will join the graduates for the ceremony as well as a celebratory dinner.

鈥淕raduation is a big day for all and to recognize students in a unique manner that is clearly related to their degree makes it even more special,鈥� said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. 鈥淭he Topping Out ceremony is a great way to provide special recognition for these great graduates. Thanks to Jill Cates for her leadership in establishing this new, excellent tradition for our Construction Management majors.鈥�

The graduating students who will be honored include Caleb Coffman, Steven Currence, Tabari Herron, William Hopkins, Naji Kattom, Andrew Payton, and Christian Salazar.

The graduating students will be honored with commemorative 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock hardhats and certificates as well as sign a beam that will be displayed in the Engineering, Technology, and Applied Science Building at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for future generations to see.

鈥淭raditionally in a Topping Out Ceremony in construction, all members involved with the project sign the final beam that will be placed on the building,鈥� said Jillian Cates, a senior construction management major and president of the Associated General Contractors of America student chapter. 鈥淪ince our graduates have reached this milestone in both their academic and professional career, we are having them do the same thing!鈥�

Cates is a member of the Dean鈥檚 Student Leadership Board and had the idea to begin the topping out ceremony at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after seeing similar ceremonies taking place at other universities across the country.

鈥淚 have been working hard to make this happen since the beginning of this summer, and I promise you this tradition is nothing short of amazing,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淚t will not only bring a sense of community to the graduates from our department, but will also bring an even greater love for this university for all who are a part of it. This is a way for us to leave our mark on the university.鈥�

The ceremony is a way to distinguish the graduates of one of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 most successful academic departments. Students in the program are highly sought after by the construction management industry and have a 100 percent employment rate upon graduation.

Ceremony speakers include Dr. Hank Bray, department chair; Mike Tramel, professor and founding past department chair; Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and Lloyd Webre, director of development and external affairs.

鈥淚 am excited about the first ever topping out ceremony for graduates of the programs in construction management and civil and construction engineering,鈥� Bray said. 鈥淭opping out in construction refers to placing the last piece of steel in a building or structure. It’s a milestone in a project that is widely celebrated by the contractor, the employees, and the owner. The last beam is signed by all the parties and lifted into place by a crane with much fanfare, often flying an American flag. It is fitting to recognize these graduates as they reach this milestone in their career – not completed, but well on their way. I am so proud of Jill for her leadership in starting this new tradition.鈥�

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