As a nontraditional student, Smock, a native of West Fork, Arkansas, spent 10 years working in construction before deciding to return to school. Currently an estimator at , she credits her career path to an unexpected opportunity during a difficult time in her life.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 choose construction, construction chose me,鈥� Smock said. 鈥淎fter leaving the Navy, I found myself with nothing. My previous boss saw potential in me and took a chance. That鈥檚 how I got started, and I鈥檝e never looked back.鈥�

Smock鈥檚 experience in construction, from highway inspection at an engineering firm to estimating for one of the state鈥檚 largest contractors, has given her a deep understanding of the industry. Now, as president of the AGC student chapter, she is focused on connecting students with industry professionals and creating career opportunities.

鈥淚 spend a lot of time making sure students get the connections they need to start careers, not just internships,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e bring in guest speakers from the industry, partner with professional organizations, and put on networking events. Our students are getting real-world knowledge, not just textbook learning.鈥�

Through AGC, Smock has helped organize student events like trivia nights, crawfish boils, and professional meetups, all designed to introduce students to potential employers. In addition to the student chapter, Smock is also a member of Arkansas AGC, Women in Transportation, Women of Asphalt, National Association of Women in Construction, Construction Leadership Committee, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Industry Advisory Board.

Beyond building career pathways, Smock is also an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness in the construction industry.

鈥淚鈥檓 a massive advocate for suicide prevention,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ental health struggles are an epidemic in our industry, and we need to start talking about them. One of my biggest goals is to organize a suicide prevention event through AGC. To get people talking is the first step.鈥�

As the first person in her family to attend college and one of the few women in her field, Smock understands the challenges female students face in construction.

鈥淭his is a male-dominated world, not just industry,鈥� she said. 鈥淲omen in construction have to fight for a seat at the table. It鈥檚 so important to let girls and women know that their seat is there, and their seat is valid. We鈥檝e worked hard for it, and we deserve to be here.鈥�

For Women in Construction Week, Smock wants to send a message to young women considering a career in the field: keep going.

鈥淵ou will run into challenges, but it gets better,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are people who will stand behind you. This industry is what you make it, and you can make it something beautiful.鈥�

After graduation, Smock plans to continue her career in construction while taking some well-earned time to catch up on reading. She already has more than 120 books on her to-read list.

As she looks forward to finishing her degree, she remains committed to supporting future students and breaking down barriers for women in construction.

鈥淚 think Women in Construction Week should be a month, not a week,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 vital to celebrate the women who have stepped out of their comfort zone to take on this industry headfirst. It鈥檚 not an easy choice, but it鈥檚 one of the most rewarding choices you鈥檒l ever make.鈥�

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In honor of Women in Construction Week, the next Woman to Watch at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock of 2024 is Emily Mills, director of planning design and construction in Facilities Management.

Tell us about yourself and your background.

My name is Emily Mills. I have been in the Design and Construction industry for almost 17 years. Straight out of college, I joined the design team at Lewis Architects Engineers here in Little Rock. In my tenure there, I developed a passion for functional design. Our market in the industry was primarily K-12 and higher education. Stretching budgets has always been a strength of mine. Making big design impacts in a few key locations within a building allows for a client鈥檚 budget to go further. I definitely fine tuned this skill while working with the firm.

Quickly realizing my passion for building buildings that could be functional, easily maintained, budget friendly, as well as aesthetically beautiful, I began developing my professional resume to become a facilities director. My diverse professional background varies from interior architecture, commercial furniture sales, and healthcare design. Each of these experiences have allowed me to develop a unique skill set that led me to become the director of planning design and construction here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

I thrive in a team atmosphere. I have been a part of a team for most of my life whether it be in athletics as a high school student, a coach of peewee sports, a mother to a collegiate athlete, or just a diehard Beebe Badger. Through my athletic experiences, I have learned that successful teams are developed when everyone knows and owns their unique roles. First, you have the coach, who is ultimately responsible for everyone鈥檚 success and carries the pressure associated with this expectation. Then the players. They are divided into their specific positions. Some are the leaders or the star and some are the support players. Not one is more important than the other.

A truly successful team also has an extensive support system. This could be parents of players, teachers in a school district, or community sponsors, etc. I carry this same structure into my professional life. The stars in education are the professors. They are the ones who are teaching and molding the next generation. I am here to play the support role. I want to provide spaces that inspire students and professors alike. Spaces that function for their desired use while being beautiful, and that will last.

I am married to the love of my life, Sean Mills, who recently returned home from a long 9-month deployment to the Middle East. Together, we have five children. Logan Babel is a junior on a choral scholarship at Ouachita Baptist University studying Worship Studies and Christian Studies with plans to serve in ministry. Joey Babel is a sophomore at Ouachita Baptist University. She is the point guard for the Lady Tigers basketball team and is studying kinesiology. Gavin Mills is a senior at Sylvan Hills High School graduating in May and will be attending 糖心Vlog传媒-Pulaski Tech. Grant Mills is a freshman at Sylvan Hills Junior High School, and Olivia Mills is in the first grade at Beebe Early Childhood.

What is your current position and professional duties at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock?

I am the director of planning design and construction. I oversee all things construction and renovation. From new flooring in an office space to a completely new building on campus, all construction runs through the facilities management department.

What brought you to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock? It was actually through professional relationships that I have developed throughout my career. When the position here became available, I had many phone calls from friends advising me to apply. They spoke very highly of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the team here. After doing some research, I got excited about the things that are happening here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and wanted to be a part of them.

What are some of the exciting projects that you are working on at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock?

I am working with Leslie Hutchison, associate vice chancellor of Facilities Management to oversee Trojan Way.

This month the COSMOS project is kicking off. It鈥檚 a renovation to the sixth floor of EIT.

Most of the projects we are working on at this time are maintenance related. Several buildings are getting new roofs, upgraded flooring, or just a cosmetic refresh.

What woman has inspired you the most and why?

Melissa Masingill. I had the privilege of working for Melissa for a short time. She was in leadership at a local healthcare institution. I will never forget the first time I saw her. I was sitting in orientation excited about the opportunity to work for an organization that I would soon fall in love with and in walks this beautiful woman. She had such a presence. Without even talking, she demanded your attention. Then she began speaking about the organization. She was vice president of marketing and communications and when she spoke you could feel her passion and pride. My desire has always been that when I walk into a room, I will have the confidence to speak with conviction and passion.

Fast forward a year. I eventually rose to a leadership position on her team. It was then that I experienced her compassion, professional guidance, but most of all friendship. Our journey as women, mothers, and wives was extremely similar and our professional paths parallel in many ways. It was during this time that I realized I could do it all. I can be a strong successful professional woman that sits at the table with men and holds her own. I can be a devoted wife who supports her husband in his professional journey. I can be an involved mother and not miss out on my children鈥檚 lives. I can do it, because I saw her do it.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

The only two things in life that you can control are your attitude and your effort. You cannot change what others say about you. You can control how you respond. You cannot control who likes you or not, but you can control how you treat people. You cannot control how hard others work or the time that they put in, but you can control how hard you work.

Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn.

At the age of 19, I bought a restaurant. I was the owner/operator for around seven years.

What is your favorite quote and why?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13.

My life has been filled with challenges and crises. This verse gets me through. It reminds me that I am not alone and that with Him, I have that strength to get through any challenge.

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Cromwell, which opened in 1885, has a long history of supporting construction management and engineering students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. More than 20 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduates work at Cromwell, and Cromwell employees serve on advisory boards, give guest lectures, and provide internships to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students. The company recently donated $25,000 to create an endowed scholarship for undergraduate engineering majors at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

Three of the amazing women employed at Cromwell who also attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock include Jenna Maness, construction administrator, Brittani Mitchell, structural engineer, and Tammy Siler, director of energy services.

Breaking barriers and defying stereotypes, these accomplished professionals exemplify a commitment to empowering women in traditionally male-dominated fields. Their success not only serves as a source of inspiration but also underscores the invaluable contributions of women in shaping the future of construction.

鈥淗aving visibility of women who are in construction will give other girls the opportunity to know that it鈥檚 possible to flourish in the industry,鈥� said Maness, who has worked at Cromwell for two years after graduating from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in construction management in 2020.

鈥淭here are certainly more women in all roles of construction now,鈥� noted Siler, who has 15 years of experience at Cromwell. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy for women to be intimidated in a male-dominated field so it鈥檚 important to show that women can be successful in this industry.鈥�

The alumni all agreed that the lessons they learned during their time as students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock helped them to be successful in their careers.

鈥淭he biggest thing for me was knowing that the professors had so much experience in the industry,鈥� said Michell, who has worked at Cromwell for seven years. 鈥淎nd the requirement that students have a certain number of work experience hours (800) before they graduate. That really pushed students to get out there and learn about different aspects of the industry.鈥�

Siler enjoyed the opportunity to learn different perspectives by taking classes in many different programs while she attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淚 had a lot of diversity in my classes, and I think that was of great benefit,鈥� Siler said. 鈥淚 learned a great work ethic while I was taking some of my harder classes. The math and physics background that I learned at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was the basis for my entire degree.鈥�

As women working in the construction industry, Siler, Maness, and Mitchell all learned valuable lessons that they wanted to share with college students.

鈥淓arly in my career, I was a little sensitive to being a female in a male-dominated industry,鈥� Siler said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want anyone to think I didn鈥檛 know enough. I learned it鈥檚 okay to ask questions, to be yourself, and to be confident. You don鈥檛 have to be something you鈥檙e not just because you are a woman.鈥�

Mitchell recently had someone tell her that women in the construction industry are the most organized people in the world. Mitchell thinks it all comes down to confidence.

鈥淢y biggest lesson is to be confident in what you are doing,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淗aving confidence and not being afraid to speak up and stand up for your choices is key.鈥�

Looking to the future of the industry, there is a great need for people to join the construction industry now to replace the experienced generation that will soon be retiring.

鈥淚 think anyone who wants to get into construction should go for it right now,鈥� Maness said. 鈥淭here is such a need in the construction industry. It is thriving and growing, and there are not enough younger people with the knowledge and experience.鈥�

Meanwhile, Mitchell advised women who want to go into construction to gain as much experience as possible while they are still in school.

鈥淢y biggest advice is to do internships and gain experience in different disciplines and areas of construction. It helps you to find out the route you want to take,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭here are so many different opportunities in the construction industry, and this experience helps you figure out where you want to go, what you want to learn, and to understand what happens in other fields.鈥�

The post Trailblazing Alumni Pave the Way for Women in Construction Industry appeared first on News.

鈥淚 plan to be a project engineer for a general contractor,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would like to work in Little Rock or anywhere in Arkansas would be great, and I鈥檓 also looking forward to traveling as the construction industry has a lot of opportunities to do so.鈥�

Carter will be graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in architectural engineering and construction management. As part of preparation for her career, she鈥檚 had multiple internships at great companies around Little Rock, including CDI Contractors, Iconic Consulting Group, and Platinum Drywall.

鈥淧art of the degree is that we get 800 hours of work experience before we graduate,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淚 wanted to get experience from everywhere so I would know what I would do in my career. At CDI Contractors, I worked as a project engineer, field engineer, and with the Pre-Construction Estimating Group. I worked on a project at the 糖心Vlog传媒MS Generator Building that had giant generators that produced massive amounts of energy.  I had never worked on anything like that in my life, and it was amazing.鈥�

On campus, she is a student leader who serves as a student ambassador in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 College of STEM, secretary of the Society of Women Engineers, and secretary of Arkansas General Contractors. She鈥檚 also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Sigma Lambda Chi Construction Honor Society.

When she鈥檚 not interning or studying, Carter likes to lend a hand to good causes. She鈥檚 served as a volunteer at Arkansas Children鈥檚 Hospital, Museum of Discovery, Arkansas Foodbank, Wildwood Park for the Arts, Chenal Elementary School, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock STEM events.

Carter feels that it鈥檚 especially important to honor women who have been successful in the construction industry to inspire current students like herself.

鈥淚 really love that there are women professors in construction management because  they can understand your point of view and perspective on certain things and simply make your college career so much better by having these role models like you,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淧rofessor Dr. Anne Turner has been so helpful throughout my whole college experience. I think that it鈥檚 great that we talk about Women in Construction Week. It鈥檚 good to expose everybody to the fact that there are women in construction who are successful and can get the job done.鈥�

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