PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — It’s women in construction week and right here in New England, Becky Lacey and Cheslie Sanon from the Medford Wellington Service Company are leading the way and setting the standard in the industry.
“It was hard at first,” HVAV Technician Becky Lacey said. “Getting a lot of pushback from guys and older gentlemen who didn’t think I belonged there.”
Lacey has been in the industry for 15 years and she said with time it’s gotten easier being one of the only women on the job.
“As long as you’re good with your hands and want to be out there, you can absolutely do this and love every minute of it,” she said.
According to a U.S. Commerce Department study from 2024, women account for less than 11% of the overall construction workforce and less than 5% of skilled-trades workers.
“We’re in a day and age where us women are getting more involved,” Electrician Cheslie Sanon said. “Back in the day we had that mindset that a woman’s place was at home and nowadays that’s not the case.”
Lacey and Sanon gave ABC 6 a full tour of the Providence Place Mall roof and showed what they look for when checking their equipment.
While Lacey and Sanon are the only two women at their company, they’re not letting that hold them back.
“You can do anything you put your mind to,” Sanon said. “When I started in this field I had no experience and no knowledge but it was something I really wanted to do and I just went for it.”