The MAC Renovation team
VICTORIA – For over 40 years, MAC Renovations has been Victoria’s leading renovation contractor. During that time, the company has gone through many changes and diversifying the workforce, ensuring equal opportunity, has become a focal point in the company’s growth.
“I have been with MAC for seven years, coming up on eight in October,” said Azucena Saavedra, Senior Interior Architectural Designer at MAC Renovations. “It has been fantastic to see more and more women coming into the construction industry,” said Saavedra. “When I first started at MAC, there were mostly men working in the office and in the field, and now our female presence has grown significantly in both areas.”
Margaret Cormode, Senior Project Manager at MAC Renovations.
Saavedra acknowledges that communication and clarity have been crucial for this growth, and that MAC took tangible efforts to change by taking part in Crucial Conversations courses, team building, personal training and always advocating for learning.
Now, the presence of female workers has become a source of pride at MAC, and the company harbours an eclectic female workforce that heavily influences the way things are run at the company.
“I believe a dynamic team makes for a more balanced team,” said Margaret Cormode, Senior Project Manager at MAC Renovations.
“After 18 years in the industry, I see there is definitely more representation of women at the forefront, holding management and leadership roles. I also see a great presence of women on the tools which is very encouraging.”
Both Saavedra and Cormode are excited for the future opportunities in the industry for women and agree that there is more space than is generally realized in construction. However, recognizing the fundamental differences between men and women is also important.
“When you enter this industry, you have to be prepared to work with a lot of men and accept the reality that they might work differently,” said Cormode. “The work is very rewarding, but women naturally think and behave
differently than men.”
This fact can mean that women need courage when embarking on their career path, operating with confidence in their skills and abilities as there may not always be a clear direction forward.
“There is an incredible future for women in construction. As an industry with less structure than most, there are endless opportunities that may not be as readily available to women in a more traditional setting,” said Erynn Pawluk, Project Manager at MAC Renovations.
“When I first started in construction, I had no exposure to females in project management or leadership roles. As the number of females has steadily increased, I feel as though our valuable contributions have gained the recognition they deserve.”
According to Pawluk, filling the gaps will still require dedicated output, a commitment to change and to ensuring women can find the support and leadership that they need to advance their careers.
“Open and honest dialogue surrounding equality and female representation both on and off site are key to maintaining the progress that has been made so far,” said Pawluk.
“Openly celebrating those who have pioneered this shift in mindset and continuing to look for opportunities and provide coaching to move the industry forward, these are things that are encouraged at MAC Renovations, and we are happy to have a hand in this effort.”
By Tyler Nyquvest
