Arcoro is a proud member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). The association’s core purpose is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry. As a software company that’s focused on providing solutions for the construction industry, we share the goal of empowering women both in construction and in software.
An article was recently published in NAWIC Today Magazine about Jennifer Dungan, Arcoro’s Director of Product Management. It is reprinted below with permission.
Construction isn’t the only industry where women represent just a fraction of the workforce.
The technology sector has been and continues to be dominated by men. In 2021, just over a quarter of computing-related jobs were held by women. Of these only 3% were held by Black women, 6% by Asian women and 2% by Hispanic women.
But women have been making inroads, and Arcoro’s Jennifer Dungan is one of them.
Women as Construction and Tech Leaders
As the company’s Director of Product Management, she’s beaten tech industry odds and holds a leadership position in a software company. And it’s not just any software company, it’s one focused specifically on HR software for construction.
To a certain extent, Jennifer’s experience parallels what women choosing a career in construction face: She didn’t have many female role models. And there was an expectation that as a woman she would be content to stay in lower-level positions.
What Jennifer did have was support from a few amazing mentors—both women and men. “There were people who encouraged me, who saw my value and helped me to move forward and up in different ways,” she says.
Building a Career in Tech
She didn’t start out to pursue a career in tech. Jennifer began her professional life in human resources, where there were lots of women, but parlayed her strong skills in using HR software into a new direction.
It was a passion project. She enjoyed the technology and she was able to leverage her HR knowledge in a different way.
“The biggest hurdle is knowing what you want to do,” she says. “After that you just need to be unafraid and go for it. There’s nothing that can stop you if you’re passionate and focused.”
At Arcoro, Jennifer spends her days making sure our technology meets the unique needs of the construction industry. She talks to a lot of customers and even visits job locations to get a better handle of how contractors can leverage tech to work better.
“One of the main issues I hear a lot about is removing that reliance on paper and making sure information can be accessed quickly. Mobile solutions are key to that, but so is understanding what your needs are and finding the right technology to address it,” Jennifer explains.
NAWIC Supports Women in Construction
As a woman working in technology for construction, Jennifer has found support and camaraderie with other women in the industry. She’s a member of NAWIC’s Nashville chapter and she finds the opportunity to network and participate invaluable. “I have to travel a bit to get to the events so it’s half a day out of the office, but it’s so incredibly worth it.”
She suggests other women working in construction or allied fields get involved with NAWIC. “Work with them, volunteer with them, you’ll get a lot out of it,” she says.
As far as other advice for women in construction or an allied field, Jennifer suggests a few things.
“Find a mentor to encourage you and hold you accountable. A good mentor is able to see your worth and your potential and help you get where you want to be,” she explains.
But there’s also some sweat equity. Jennifer encourages women to actively seek and gather knowledge about the field. “There are tools available everywhere these days. Take online classes, look for ways to learn and get certifications. Don’t let anything stop you. Keep reminding yourself that you really want to do this and you’re capable of getting there,” she says.
In her experience, you’re likely to find help along the way, even if there are rough patches. And having a ready-made support system with NAWIC offers you a natural place to turn for encouragement and guidance.
Jennifer is excited about working in construction technology. “I see so much potential for women in this industry. So much progress has been made and there’s so much more to come. We collectively have a great deal to offer, whether it’s working in construction tech, as a project manager or a skilled tradesperson,“ says Jennifer. “I see women as the future in construction!”
Arcoro Was Built for Construction
Arcoro builds HR technology designed for construction. Our modular solution means companies can solve for their specific challenges with software that offers the best experience in the office and the field.
NAWIC members are eligible for 10% off software fees for Arcoro HR modules or ExakTime as new customers.
Want to learn more about Arcoro’s HR solutions for construction or see a demo? Visit https://arcoro.com/nawic or email carrie.gardenhire@arcoro.com.
