She Builds Show

ABOUT STACI MARTINEZ:Staci Martinez is a passionate resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she leads a fulfilling and diverse life. With three daughters and a loving husband, Staci is dedicated to nurturing her family while pursuing her entrepreneurial ventures.Staci is proud to be a part-time fitness coach, sharing her knowledge and motivation to help others achieve their fitness goals. In addition to her fitness coaching, Staci also runs two businesses. Alongside her husband, she owns a wood flooring business where they work together and provide exceptional craftsmanship. Staci's expertise extends beyond wood flooring as she has also embarked on her own small business welding, creating beautiful metal art pieces and occasionally crafting custom furniture for a local home builder.While chasing her dream of becoming a full-time metal sculptor, Staci remains committed to giving back to her community. As the Secretary of The Hooded Heroes Foundation, she dedicates her time to offering support and assistance to struggling welding students by helping them obtain the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for their education. She finds tremendous satisfaction in this role, knowing that she is making a difference in the lives of aspiring welders.Staci's love for welding goes beyond her personal pursuits. She actively participates in local high school weld competitions as a judge, eager to share her experiences and inspire the younger generation. Speaking with students about her craft brings her great joy and fulfillment.In summary, Staci Martinez embodies the spirit of determination, entrepreneurship, and giving back. With her businesses, volunteer work, and dedication to the welding trade, she is a true role model making a positive impact in her community and beyond. CONNECT WITH STACI:•  Website: https://issuu.com/siouxfallswoman/docs/sfw_jj23-issuu•  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staci-martinez-2a241622a•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/605_shieldmaiden WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT MEGAN AND ERIK HAMMOND:Meet Megan and Erik Hammond, the dynamic duo devoted to helping families achieve their goals. Having successfully built multiple businesses over the past 14 years, while homeschooling their three daughters, Megan and Erik know what it takes to balance family life and professional success. They have a passion for empowering moms to take control of their lives, achieve their dreams, and become the best versions of themselves. Together, they wrote “The Happy Mom Handbook,” a comprehensive guide for moms seeking to create happiness and success in their lives through practical advice, real-life examples, and easy-to-follow tips. Join Megan and Erik on their mission to help families thrive, and discover the happiness that you deserve. CONNECT WITH MEGAN AND ERIK:•  Website: https://www.happymomhandbook.com/free-a•  Website: https://www.journeytofulfillment.com/inner-circle-jtf WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT JENNY CROZIER:Jenny Crozier is a woman of many hats. She is a wife, a mom, a builder, an influencer, a safety compliance manager, a tradeswoman, a writer, and a true Jill of all trades. She is from Mount Pleasant, Utah, Jenny is a proud co-owner of Crozier Construction Services LLC where she does general contracting with her husband on residential new construction, additions and remodels. She works as a safety compliance manager for Delta Valley Trucking, ensuring that the construction projects are safe for everyone involved.She is a member of the Utah Valley Home Builders Association, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Utah PWB, Utah WBC, Empowering Women In Industry, and is an ambassador The Crew Collaborative.Jenny received the 2022 Outstanding Women's Award with the Women's Builders Council, the Hamlet Homes Female Builder Grant, Star Trucker of the Quarter, and has been nominated for several other awards throughout her career including Trades Woman of the 2023 year with Empowering Women in Industry.Jenny comes from a long line of hard-working blue-collar generations, and her love for the trades is deeply rooted in her family history. She's a fierce advocate for women in the trades, and she uses her platform to showcase the awesomeness of trade careers to future generations.In addition to the  the construction and trucking industries, Jenny is an accomplished author, ambassador, and empowered woman who's passionate about empowering the next generation to find careers in the trades through fun tools and products. She's a gal in the construction and trucking world, building doors and breaking barriers in male-dominated industries.Jenny recently published the children's book: Jenny a Jill of all Trades, I am a Welder. The first in a series highlighting job opportunities in skilled trades. She believes in shining a positive light and excitement on hard-working blue-collar opportunities.In her spare time, Jenny loves to work with fun tools and products, create woodworking projects, and share her knowledge with others through writing and speaking engagements. She's a true Renaissance woman who's not afraid to get her hands dirty and make things happen. She loves working in both the construction and trucking industries where she continues to break barriers and recruit women and up and coming generations into skilled trades jobs. CONNECT WITH JENNY:•  Website: https://www.jennyajillofalltrades.com•  Website: https://thejaneschool.org/jenny-crozier•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommittedbuilder•  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-crozier-69923a24 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow 

ABOUT JAIME KINROSS:Meet Jamie Kinross, a 26-year-old interior decorator, content creator, and home décor social media influencer based in the beautiful state of Utah. Jamie and her husband share a passion for home décor and together, they love doing various projects to personalize their builder-grade home.Aside from her love for interior design, Jamie also enjoys the great outdoors and spending quality time with her family, including her adorable dogs. She takes pride in creating engaging and inspiring content for her followers on various social media platforms, sharing her insights, tips, and tricks to help people create spaces they will love.With her creativity and a keen eye for design, Jamie has quickly become a trusted name in the world of interior decorating and home décor. Her infectious passion for all things home design has earned her a large following, and she continues to inspire many through her content.Jamie's dedication to her craft and her friendly personality makes her a joy to work with. She is always up for new projects, collaborations, and partnerships that align with her values of quality, creativity, and authenticity. CONNECT WITH JAIME:•  Website: https://linktr.ee/Jamielee_designs•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielee_designs WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow 

WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT COLEEN BRENNAN:Colleen Brennan is a builder living and working out in Malibu, California. Originally from Chicago, where she started and owned an all female construction company Bad Bitch Builders, employing over 30 women. For 13 years she has been remodeling, and building homes. Currently in California she works on a crew of 20 men for Phelps Design Company. She has built/remodeled over six homes in two years with Phelps design. Many homes and clients will hire Colleen separately for her knowledge and abilities “hardening homes” a newer field which involves taking properties at risk of burning in California fires, making the changes necessary to eliminate dangers around and on property prone to fire.Colleen has also been involved part time with So Cal Fire Supply installing mass scale fire suppression systems on large properties. This company has successfully saved thousands of acres during one of the largest brush fires in southern California history the Woolsey fire. These automatic suppression systems change the game when it comes to fighting fire out in California, they have the proof to back it up.Out of all the trades that Colleen has become skilled in, Tig, Mig Welding, Carpentry rough and finish, as well as roofing and demolition are her favorites. She has become skilled in concrete, masonry, framing, iron working, installing doors and windows, insulation, drywall, tiling, electrical, landscaping, trenching, siding, etc... She loves it all.She hopes to start a trades school out here as well as continue to grow her company out here in southern California hiring more women in construction. CONNECT WITH COLEEN:•  Website: https://badbitchbuilder.com•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badbitchbuildersWAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow 

ABOUT CHAR MILLER-KING:Char Miller-King is a passionate woodshop teacher, who has found her calling in the world of woodworking and craftsmanship. Her love for woodwork began during her undergrad when she needed a bed. Char turned a simple bed platform into an exquisite piece of furniture, with intricate details and expensive vibes. It was the best feeling in the world to know that she built something with her own hands, which she could enjoy every night. She slept on that bed for the next five years. Char grew up in sunny California, where she would spend her days running on the sandy beaches and enjoying the laidback lifestyle. However, she eventually left and landed in Georgia. During college, she met an intelligent and sophisticated man, whom she decided to create a happily ever after with. They have since spawned four adorable children, with the youngest of the brood being twins. With her experiences as a woodworker and maker, Char brings a wealth of knowledge to her students. She has a keen eye for detail and enjoys teaching others how to develop their skills, so they too can create beautiful and functional pieces of furniture. When she's not working, Char can be found enjoying time with her family. CONNECT WITH CHAR:•  Website: https://www.thewoodenmaven.com•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodenmaven WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow  

ABOUT ANDREA MARTIN:Andrea Martin, a fall protection specialist at 3M, has built her expertise in the safety industry over the course of 18 years. She is highly regarded for her ability to assist customers in developing safety solutions for complex applications. One aspect of her work that brings her immense satisfaction is the resemblance between fall protection solutions and puzzles, where each piece must seamlessly fit together. Taking into account factors such as the product, application, and safety standards, Andrea is dedicated to finding the optimal solution that ensures the safety of workers and provides thorough training on product usage, handling, and maintenance. Operating within a predominantly male-dominated industry, Andrea actively addresses and overcomes gender bias on a daily basis. She emphasizes the significance of well-fitting safety gear for individuals of all body types. As a mentor to aspiring women in the industrial and safety fields, she serves as an inspiration for those interested in pursuing safety-related roles beyond the confines of a site manager. CONNECT WITH ANDREA:•  Website: https://premium.thesafetymag.com/ca-top-women-in-safety-andrea-martin•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safety_chick•  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fallspecialist WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow 

ABOUT MONICA MIRAGLILO:Aside from her professional pursuits, Monica is also a devoted mom and wife, a savvy entrepreneur, a skilled renovator, and a model with an eye for style. She approaches life with a positive attitude and takes it one day at a time, always enjoying simple pleasures like good food and good company. Monica is an inspiration to women everywhere who are looking to break down barriers and achieve their goals.CONNECT WITH MONICA:•  Website: https://linktr.ee/stylewmonica•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlbuild•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylewmonica/?hl=en•  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-miragliloWAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…•  Website: https://shebuildshomes.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes•  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT ERIN STETZER:President of Stetzer Builders Inc.Erin Stetzer is the President of Stetzer Builders Inc, a Houston-based construction company that aims to be the most service-driven builder in the industry. Erin is a highly skilled and experienced professional who has spent her entire career in the construction industry. She has a passion for creating superior products and providing a superior client experience. Erin is a mom, and she shares her experiences on her YouTube channel with the hashtag #MomTruths. She talks not just about being a mom, but also about being a woman in the construction industry. Erin believes that it's important to share her experiences and insights to help other women who may be considering a career in construction. Erin is a strong believer in the power of teamwork and collaboration. She knows that success in the construction industry requires a team effort, and she works closely with her team to ensure that every project is completed to the highest standards. Her dedication to her work and her clients is evident in everything she does. In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves exploring new things and sharing it. Overall, Erin Stetzer is a dynamic and accomplished professional who is making a significant impact in the construction industry. Her commitment to excellence and her dedication to her clients make her a true leader.CONNECT WITH ERIN:•  Website: https://www.stetzerbuilders.com/about•  Instagram: https://instagram.com/stetzerbuilders?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-stetzer-1a54975WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT KELLY IRELAND:Owner TPG Mechanical LLCMother of 2, 1 of 10, 4th generation plumber.Kelly first started 7 years in large-scale commercial plumbing with Philadelphia Plumbers Union Local 690 before getting a masters license and starting a residential service business in 2020.Kicked off with the help of Covid, she worked to expand her plumbing knowledge and transfer her love of large-scale plumbing jobs towards the intimate journey of helping individuals and families keep their homes sanitary and flowing properly. CONNECT WITH KELLY:• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075780617774•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tpgmechanical•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyplumbergirl• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ireland-tpg WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT CHLOE SMITH:CEO and Co-Founder of Mercator AIChloe Smith is the CEO and Co-founder of Mercator AI, a construction intelligence platform that delivers project insights for general contractors, engineering firms, real estate firms, and building project manufacturers. Prior to launching Mercator, Chloe developed market intelligence tools for business developers in the marketing and advertising space, where she helped reduce time spent on gap analyses.With a strong background in data strategy, big data, AI, and data monetization, Chloe was able to leverage her expertise to create Mercator. Today, Mercator analyzes millions of construction data activities—from conception to post-construction—to enable early project detection, uncover risk signals and surface competitive and client insights in real-time.Together with her Co-founder, Hogan Lee, who has a background in building high performing multi-disciplinary teams, Chloe is building a company that is at the forefront of industry intelligence and innovation. CONNECT WITH CHLOE:• Website:  https://www.steelpines.com• Website:  https://www.stackct.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steelpines• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcie-burroughs-8b592279• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/darcieinthesticks WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT DARCIE BURROUGHS:Content Marketing Specialist at STACK Construction Technologies and Owner at Steel PinesDarcie Burroughs is the Content Marketing Specialist at STACK Construction Technologies. She also owns a General Contracting and Portable Sawmill business in Edinburg, NY with her husband and is busy raising a three-year-old boy, and wrangling nine chickens, two horses, and a dog. Darcie is passionate about advocating for more women in construction, spreading the good word about the benefits of construction technology in a mostly laggard industry, and incorporating her professional life with her personal business. CONNECT WITH DARCIE:• Website:  https://www.steelpines.com• Website:  https://www.stackct.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steelpines• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcie-burroughs-8b592279• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/darcieinthesticks WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT SINEAD MOLLOY:Sinead Molloy has worked in the construction industry for over 10 years operating various different machines such as telehandlers, forklifts and cranes and after returning from Australia she was disappointed to see the lack of other women on the building site. She said while she was working in Australia it had become very common for females to be involved in the construction industry, particularly on the driving side with some female only driving firms finding a lot of success.Sinead said: “I was working in Australia for ten years driving machines, came back here and noticed that girls were not doing it here. I had a friend with a company out there with only female drivers and they found a lot of success with some big firms eventually growing to prefer them than others. “In Belfast there are very few women on the ground at sites, with them mainly being involved in health and safety or engineering. There is a stigma with females on site, but I know a lot of girls here who would be very hands on, they just don't know where to start or where to go to get into the industry.”She Built It NI, is a new training academy and recruitment company tailored for women who have a passion for construction and who may have lacked the confidence to pursue their dream. We support and strengthen the success of women in the construction industry, providing bespoke training and helping them to gain the skills, knowledge and tools to enter and progress in the sector and to fulfil their full potential. We assist contractors and clients to recruit highly motivated, trained and skilled women, helping to reduce skills gaps and promote gender equality in construction. CONNECT WITH SINEAD:• Website:  https://shebuiltitni.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuiltitni• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-built-it-ni• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/she_built_it_ni_• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sinead_molloy WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT PIPER STROMATT:Director of Design, Founder, PartnerA graduate of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, class of 2015 (Interior Design & Architecture). As a high school freshman, Piper started practicing interior design, at just fifteen years old, participating in two years of classes on the subject. Completing Design I & II, she knew her future field would be Interior Design. Piper says you can typically find her with her husband Tyler and black Lab, Miller. Her hobbies include working out, music, travel, and quality time with friends and family. Piper considers clients family by the end of every design process, and the meaningful relationships created with each of them hold a special place in her heart. CONNECT WITH PIPER:• Website:  https://boutiquelivingbycurate.com• Website: https://www.hartstudiochatt.com• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/curate-custom-homes• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/curate_boutiqueliving• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piper_thebuildingblonde WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT JENNAE LEISEY:I'm Jennae (pronounced Jen – NAY) – I have been a part of this crazy real estate industry for nearly fifteen years, lending has been my absolute favorite piece of the real estate puzzle. I started out in mortgage operations where cultivating relationships with underwriters, processors, and closers became my strength in getting loans through efficiently. Those relationships really shaped my understanding of guidelines and how to make loans go through the system faster! A few years ago my husband and I started talking about this CRAZY idea of buying land and living on the property with our family. Well that crazy idea became a reality last year and we have been having so much fun ever since! When we started thinking about this a few years ago we realized how hard it was to find lenders who offered construction financing. All I could find were sketchy websites and local banks where their loan officers had no real experience making helpful decisions that would affect our build. I decided it was time to be the help that I needed, but for others. So through that, JL Lends was born! I am SO excited to help you finance your dreams whether it be a renovation of an existing home, a beautiful custom home or an ADU add on. Let me know how I can help and let's build! CONNECT WITH JENNAE:• Website: https://www.jllends.com• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Jennaeleisey WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow 

ABOUT ROSA SANTIAGO ZIMMERMAN:RSZ Design + Development is a woman-owned, Latina owned firm, and at the helm of our firm, you will find the creative, multi-lingual, and grit-driven Founder and CEO, Rosa Santiago Zimmerman. Her firm is empowered by the diversity, dependability, and talents of outstanding partnerships with our suppliers, vendors, and contractors. Coupled with an outstanding internal team with world-class experience, our firm stands in a lane of its own.The RSZ team share 25 years of professional experience and collectively contributes a wealth of confidence and knowledge to every awarded project.RSZ Design + Development creates, develops, and builds with the intentional purpose of creating a WORLD our client's will love to live in! CONNECT WITH ROSA:• Website: https://www.rszdesigndevelopment.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rszdesigndevelopment• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rszdesigndevelopment• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hGj-_nouGxdE15CcXQDrw WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT CASSI NICOLAUS CROWLEY:Owner, New GenBorn in Northern California, my childhood was punctuated by the farming seasons. From spring bloom to fall harvest, I grew up amongst the trees, the equipment, and the elements. From a young age, I watched my father grow his almond and walnut operation, always willing to take on a new challenge. Truthfully, I had no intention of taking over the farm. For me, I have always been avid studier and lover of people. That passion led me to concentrate most of my professional pursuits in community-focused non-profits, and even a Master of Social Work degree. However, I realized that the farm had so much to give to the local community – sustenance, education, employment, security, and land conservation. So, for me, NicNut Farms is fulfilling a dream to serve others and preserve our ancient agricultural connection with the soil. Life these days is mostly family, farm, and coffee. It's a good life. CONNECT WITH CASSI:• Website: https://nicnutfarms.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicnutfarms• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicnutfarms WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT JULIE LAUGHTON:As a graduate of Iowa State University, she studied Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Mechanical Engineering and Interior Design. After graduating with a degree in Design, she moved to New York City where she spent five years working for two different architectural firms and top five developers in Manhattan. Properties included: Phillip Milstein's Windsor Court, Liberty Court and Normandy Court, Lefrak Property's Newport City, Landau Development's 990 Avenue of the Americas, Zeckendorf Development's Zeckendorf Towers, J.I. Sopher's the Monarch and Astor Terrace, Bank of America's 5th Avenue Corporate Offices, Citibank's Park Avenue Corporate Offices, David Webb Jewelry on Park Avenue, Weinberg Law Offices, Rizzo Law Offices and the historical Friars Club.When opportunity arose, Julie relocated to Los Angeles and quickly found her way to Laguna Beach. After adding Certified Custom Kitchen and Bath design to her resume, it was time to round out her credentials to include being a licensed General Contractor. Julie's vast expertise and experience is demonstrated through her portfolio. Her unique hands-on process and attention to detail have made her a favorite among homeowners who value a stress-free process, meticulous attention to detail and a flare for retaining the essence of your dream home. CONNECT WITH JULIE:• Website: https://www.julielaughton.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julielaughtondesignbuild• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieLaughtonDB• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/julie-laughton-design-build• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julielaughtondb WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT CHELSEA HUSUM:Chelsea Husum owns and operates American GPR & Coring in Denver, CO which provides core drilling and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) services.  She loves being involved in the thriving construction industry throughout Denver and Colorado and is passionate about her growing company and team.Chelsea is proud to sit on the Board of Directors for STEMblazers, Women of Asphalt and the Castle Rock Economic Development Council.  She is actively involved in the industry to help promote, inform and encourage the women. She was awarded the Up & Coming Award from the American Subcontractors Association of Colorado at the October 2022 Gala. She enjoys personal development, travel, and spending time camping and boating with her two young sons and husband.  She loves to spend her free time outdoors and be active with family and friends. CONNECT WITH CHELSEA:• Website: https://americangprco.com• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-husum• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseahusum WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  The first half of the book tells a story of three people and it's so engaging and it really hooks you. The second half of the book shares the principles of how you can own your morning and elevate your life. My biggest takeaway is that will power is a muscle, and if we don't exercise it, it gets flabby, I whole-heartedly agree. If we eat chocolate every time are weak, little mind desires and we don't practice the difficult task of saying no, the more we give in to our willpower muscle, the more we give in to our will power... The muscle actually atrophies. It gets weak. The same is true of the opposite, the more we say No, the more our muscle grows, I am absolutely obsessed with this concept right now because it gives me hope, it gives you hope that anyone can change... We are not genetically programmed to be failures, to not be morning people, we are not people who have to give in to every weak thought, we actually have the ability to increase our will power by simply exercising our willpower.  (01:56)•  Robin Sharma calls it the 20-20-20 formula for your victory hour. So in my calendar, at 5 AM, my appointment is titled victory hour, I love seeing that in my calendar, so the 20-20-20 formula is broken down into 20-minute sections of that first victory hour from 5 to 6 AM. The first 20 minutes is sweaty exercise, you rise at 4:45 and you start your exercise precisely at 5:00 AM. I get up, I put on my workout clothes, and I hop on my Peloton for 20 minutes. The concept is that there are so many amazing feel good brain chemicals released during the sweaty 20 minutes that you actually feel completely different at 5:20 AM then you did at 5:00 AM. Your mental state changes, and I've actually experienced this first hand, I'm tired and I don't want to get up, but after my 20-minute ride where I sweat, my mind and body feel completely different, try it.   (03:44)•  To think, to ponder, to understand yourself better. During this time, I meditate and I journal, my practice lately is just to keep my body still, I have heard that a body that cannot sit still is a reflection of the status of your mind, so when I go to meditate and all I want to do is stretch or move, it just gives me insight that there's growth still for me to continue on the road. So I sit still and I breathe, I repeat my mantra and I quite my mind, and I believe that the health of your mind determines the health of your life. So, I do my best to rid my mind of all negative thinking and to speak life and truth over myself. It's a beautiful 20 minutes. The final 20 minutes from 5:40 to 6 o'clock is what Robin titles growth. This 20 minutes is for expanding your knowledge, for reading, for listening to a podcast, for learning something new. I use this time to read. It's a time for you to pour into your mind to learn a new skill, to finish the book that you have never had the time to read.  (05:14)•   Now, here's the catch, you have to do it for 66 days. You cannot do this for five days and then stop, you cannot change a habit and have it reach the point of automaticity until you've conquered it for 66 days. So, buy a calendar and write a V over every day that you claim your morning, a V for victory. I know you can do this, I want to see you change. If you want accountability and you want to join The 5 AM Club, send me a message on Instagram @shebuilds.homes, I'd love to push you to become the person you want to be. Download The 5 AM Club or buy it on Amazon, Go to the bookstore. (07:06)WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT SUNITA RITESH:Sunita Ritesh believes a building and design process should be enjoyable and a trustful ride. Even though the nature of this business is a roller coaster ride, her zest to keep her clients' peace of mind and experience first and as uncomplicated as possible, has prompted her to develop excellent processes and communication methods for her company. After taking a break for family and being a stay at home mom for about 12 years, Sunita started her Interior Design Studio in 2019. In the year 2021 the company diversified into building and construction. Being a wife and mother, Sunita's core of her life is her family. She puts this same passion of family first into her client's projects and homes. For all the years of operation, Sunita has earned client's for her company solely based on word of mouth and client referrals, which she believes is a testimony to the quality of work her company provides. When she is not building or designing you will find Sunita with a book or writing something herself. She is an avid traveler and loves to explore architecture and designs all over the world. She also believes in sisterhood and supporting other woman owned businesses in whatever ways she can. Giving and being involved in the community work is personally and professionally an important criteria for Sunita and her company. CONNECT WITH SUNITA:• Website: https://mechkithh.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mechkithhinteriors• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sunita-ritesh•Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sunitaritesh• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mechkithh_designs_and_decor WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT KELLER HAYES:Program Director, Transportation and Construction Girl™Keller has spent a lifetime representing, supporting and understanding women and girls. Keller holds a minor in Women's Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Keller built the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) to the largest women's chamber in the country. And, she has 15 years in the construction and transportation industry. She has consulted for the US Department of Transportation, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Utah Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Department of Transportation to provide technical assistance to women owned and minority owned companies.In 2016, Keller looked at the representation of women in transportation and construction. She decided more needed to be done and created Transportation & Construction GIRL. Transportation and Construction GIRL is a pioneering effort in the transportation and construction industry to fill a void in workforce and provide sustainable careers for young women. This past September, Transportation & Construction GIRL Day had 1000 attendees. Six hundred girls came from 30 different schools to experience 50 interactive exhibits and make connections in this industry. One girl left saying, “Thanks for talking to us. I might want to have a job like you.”Keller combines mentoring, shadowing days, and events to open up the transportation & construction industry to young women. One graduate said, “Your work is inspiring and has an impact on people far greater than you'll ever know.”Today there is not only Transportation and Construction GIRL Day, there is also a video library – Superstar Women in Transportation & Construction - of women in the industry that young GIRLS can visit and listen to over 57 women in the industry on how they got started and advice they would give. It is a 24/7 opportunity to “See it to Be it.” Several weeks in the summer, Transportation & Construction GIRL provides Career Weeks for GIRLs. Over one week, girls – ranging from 13 to 20 years old – make five stops to engage with women, ask questions and tour work sites. Each company puts together a day long insight into their company and into the industry.Both U.S. Representative Diana DeGette and U.S. Representative Scott McInnis recognized her with a U.S. Congressional Tribute. The Tribute acknowledged: “As a result of her leadership, business women have become a more powerful force in our city and our state." July 15, 2004 was named “Keller Hayes Day in Denver” by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. The proclamation said “Keller Hayes is a role model to other women, encouraging them to achieve more than they thought was possible.” CONNECT WITH KELLER:• Website: https://constructiongirl.org• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TransportationConstructionGIRL• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keller-hayes•YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJtGF-keE3_ib2YNq9XbmIA WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

0:01 Welcome to the she build show, I'm your host, Stefanie Olson, a licensed general contractor who builds new construction, renovates and designs your vision today.0:12 More than ever we need raw, authentic women who are willing to rise above society's norms, break those glass ceilings and encourage each other to boldly build the life we were meant to live.0:24 So honey, what are you building?0:27 Welcome to the she build show And happy, happy new year 2023.0:33 I am so incredibly grateful to see this year to have a new fresh start.0:39 I just can't tell you how incredible it feels to have a season allow for you to restart something in your life or to give you new, fresh perspective.0:51 I really feel that way about January.0:54 I think November and December were stressful.0:58 We had some incredible time off with my family and I really checked out and I think I realized how much I needed that.1:07 It had been a lot that was going on and I sat down and I really reflected on what I want to change in 2023.1:17 Like, what am I struggling with, what is not working, what do I need to do better?1:22 How do I need to grow and I've just really set some goals for myself that I want to share with you.1:29 The first thing I do when I am starting a new year is I reflect back on last year and every single month, I take gratitude photos so I take a gratitude photo every day.1:43 But then I compile it into a monthly little photo collage, then I print them out and I put them in my journal and I sat down with my family and I showed them all of the pictures for every month last year just to remind them how much life they lived, what went on in 2022.2:03 It's just something that I love that a photo captures all of the memories because as soon as you see that picture, it's like bam! Yes, I remember that!2:13 I remember when you know my daughter sold her lamb at the fair or I remember when we went to Hawaii or oh my gosh, you remember when we went to Florida and it was five million degrees and awful and we just had a good time going around the table talking about the last year, you know when I started reflecting and then looking back and then also trying to move forward, I start with a word and a mantra and I get this guidance from Pamela Crim and the big life mentoring program, She really teaches you how to come up with your word in mantra.2:45 My word this year is momentum and I'm gonna share my mantra with you for 2023.2:53 Here we go.2:55 I will create consistent momentum in my life. I will prioritize my body mind and soul so that stress leaves my body, wake up early, love my family, momentum and health, wealth and freedom, let's go.3:11 So that's my mantra and why did I choose those specific words momentum to me is the small things that you do daily that add up and I need to be more consistent with my body mind and soul.3:30 And when, I mean my body mind and soul is, I haven't been taking care of the way that I want to take care of my body, I've been far too stressed out and I don't feel as connected spiritually.3:44 So I want there to be a daily reminder because I say my mantra out loud every day every morning, like it is on my to do list.3:51 Like I have to remind myself of the commitment that I made.3:55 So I want to create momentum with those things.3:59 It's not like, oh someday I will far out there change the way that I am, you know spiritually connected.4:06 It's no, I want to create momentum in those things.4:09 To me that means daily things that I'm going to do on a daily basis that is going to take care of my body, mind and soul and I really wanted the word stress and leave my body to be in my mantra because I feel like stress and overwhelm is an option.4:29 Like it's not something that I have to take on overwhelmed.4:32 It's not something that I have to be, I really feel like it is created in your mind and I think my mind and the pathway to like overwhelming stress in my mind is like a freaking ginormous Grand Canyon Valley, like the thought and the pathway is so set and so deep that I just immediately go to stress and overwhelm and there's not this, it's okay, this isn't stressful, I can get it done of course I can handle this and there's not a way of that, I feel reconnected to myself and balanced and calm.5:07 I get so outside of myself and so stressed out that I really want the word stressed and overwhelmed to be a choice in my life.5:15 Yeah, I'm choosing to be stressed right now, just like I'm choosing not to be stressed right now and so I want to be conscious of the momentum I make towards that goal.5:26 I want that Grand Canyon valley of that neural pathway of that habit of that thought to shrink and to dry up and to be recreated or replaced with a different one and so I want to be really conscious of the state of my stress, doe's that makes sense? It's like sometimes I just live in that stress all the time that I'm not even conscious of it until my husband's like you're crazy right now and I'm like, what I am? What are you talking about? And like I didn't realize it until I took the time off at Christmas and I was like, well I was found really, really, really tight and there was way too much on my plate so things that I'm trying to implement around that is because I am a people pleaser and I do not want to make anyone unhappy ever, I will say yes to things I shouldn't say yes to and so what I'm trying to do is implement a way for me to not feel pressured to say yes and for me that if I have an inquiry of a new client or somebody that needs me to go look look at a job or needs my attention or needs my time, that my assistant is scheduling that because she can say this is when she's available and she doesn't feel bad or feel the need to fit her in or make her schedule, you know, twist around backwards to fit that person in and stress yourself out.6:53 She's like, she's free on this Thursday in February.6:57 I just needed to be disconnected from that because I think I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to wanting to make everybody happy and then I've left nothing for my family, I've left nothing to take care of my home and to be there for my kids and my husband.7:15 The other thing in my mantra is to wake up early and love my family.7:20 To me waking up early means like success to me, I don't know, not success, but personal balance, that's probably a better word, personal balance for me, like it just works for me, it works for me when I wake up early versus when I don't wake up early, I feel so stress and overwhelm and like I'm behind, when I don't wake up early now granted, like on the weekends or days off, like I sleep in, it's not like a, you know, pedal to the metal every single day of my life, but when I have a lot of things going on during the day that need to get done, say, you know, most of the time my kids are up at 6:45am we're out the door at 7:30am. Say I don't get up till 6:30, like lunches, breakfast, I've gotten zero quiet time.8:09 I didn't journal, I didn't read, I didn't check in with my mantra and my daily goals.8:15 It's just chaos for me, internally, it may not seem like that on the outside, but internally I don't feel balanced and so waking up early means balance for me, it means like coming back to myself, checking in, it means dealing with that stress planning my day, knowing what's up ahead.8:34  I wanted that to be a part of my mantra that yeah, waking up early equals like happy Stefanie and I need to be consistent with that and I want to be reminded daily that that is something that I have found that works for me. And the second part of that wake up, really love my family. And to me love my family just means that I'm very intentional with them and I've set aside time in my schedule for both of my kids each week to do something special with them. Wednesdays are just play with Trey day, like from 3 to 5 Sonora goes to gymnastics, I just sit and I have nothing on my calendar and I say Trey, what do you want to do?9:16 You want to go to the park? You want to go ride bikes? It has to be something active.9:20 We agreed that, him and I. Then on Thursdays Sonora and I want to ride horses together and it's like, I want to love my family well. I want to be there for them. And we also decided that we have a family dinner night during the week, it's hard for us to sit down for dinner and on Tuesday nights nobody really has anything going on. And I want to have a sit down dinner with my family because even though it can be overwhelming to get dinner on the table to get everybody sitting down, once we're down and we're sitting and we're eating, we talk to each other, right?9:56 We always share our highs and lows.9:59 It's a time for us to connect and I don't want that to be once a month.10:03 I don't want that to be every other month.10:05 I want that to be weekly.10:06 I want my kids to know what's going on in my life.10:08 I want to know what's going on in their life and when we're honest with them about how we're feeling about what's going on in our lives, like they're able to relate and understand that like we're not just these like separate organisms existing together.10:21 We all need to take care of each other and if something's going on with somebody like we want to know as a family, the last part of it is momentum and health, wealth and freedom.10:32 My focus this year really is, as you saw earlier, is my health really.10:38 I just feel like my stress and my body and my soul in my mind have not been cared for in the best possible way I want to focus on passive income.10:47 That is 100% my and my husband's goal this year is to like, our goal is to increase our Passive income by $5,000 per month. That is our goal. And however we need to get there, we're going to get there.11:00 We signed up for wealth ability, which is a if you and your husband or you and your partner struggle with communicating about money and are in a place where you want to move forward with planning your retirement, planning your wealth strategy, planning your legacy, wealth ability is going to be the path for you.11:21 And so we signed up for that because we're just really like my husband is turning 50 on Saturday and we want to focus on making sure that like we are thinking about it, we're having conversations about it and we're having people guide us and we have a pathway to get there to implement and wealth ability is going to help us do that.11:38 And then I put freedom, and for me like financial freedom, freedom in my mind, I've been doing a lot of mind work about my thoughts, thought work and like doing thought downloads and taking thoughts and re-working them so that they are the truth about who I really am, and what I want to believe about myself, and what I want to do in my life.12:03 The last thing is always what Pamela teaches is to just like end it with a bang, like give yourself a like tiny little motivational speech at the end and exclamation and so it just ends up with let's go! To me, that is from Brooke Castillo, she is such a badass and she's always just like let's go, come on, let's go!12:25 I love that and I love that in my life that it's like no we're not going to stay stagnant, we're not going to just wallow here, we're not going to be like dumpster trash thought, people, let's go, let's get over it, let's move on.12:38 So that is my mantra and my focus and my intention for the year and I pray and hope that you have taken some time to think about what yours might be, and what kind of person you want to be, and what change you want to implement. Because I want to grow and I want to be better and I want to be surrounded by people who want to be like that.13:05 I just encourage you to take time to be intentional about what you want to happen this year and make effort at moving towards that and start to create momentum in your life.13:20 Thanks for listening to the She builds show, I so appreciate you and I'm so grateful that you're here listening.13:28 Thanks for joining me today on the She build show, my name is Stefanie Olson. My hope is that this episode leaves you feeling empowered and ready to boldly take that step into building the life that you envision, one 12 x4 at a time. And if you can do me a quick favor, please leave me a five star review on ITunes. I get giddy over reading the reviews each week and I will choose one special person to win some She Build Swag. Make sure you add your name to the review and I'll reach out if you're the winner. Thanks again for hanging out. Be sure to visit me at the shebuildshomes.com where you can ask me questions and share with me what you're building.WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•   I went to Kent State University in Ohio. I'm from Ohio originally. And my junior year, I interned for a general contractor, Hensel Phelps. And immediately I was like, what am I supposed to wear on the job site? Like I'm a 22 year old. I think I was 21 at the time actually. Going into the construction industry for the first time, I have no idea what to wear. So I ended up just getting like Levi's jeans, and it worked out. I finished my internship, got a full time job offer. And so I finished my senior year at Kent State and moved to Washington, DC to work for Hensel Phelps full time. And the same question popped up. What do I wear? So I continued to wear these jeans. I tried a couple different workwear options, including little boys pants. I just couldn't find something that would fit me. Those still didn't fit. So I decided to start Dawson Workwear to help out other women that struggle with this like I did. (01:34)•   Yeah, so I've kind of worked for both. So now I work for a small firm. But back when I was working for the GC, I was on one job site every day. And my job was mostly like coordinating with our trades people. So our subcontractors, overseeing them, if they have an issue, you know, I track it down to help them figure out what to do, how to move forward. Is it mainly residential? Or were you doing like, what type of projects? I was doing commercial, I was building a radiation lab for the government. It was a renovation project. So I really love renovations. That's what I'm doing right now with the development firm Orchestra Partners. At Hensel Phelps, we had our own craft people. So we did a lot of our own self-perform concrete. So I would help draw it up for them. So they basically drawing it so they can go out and build it, simplifying drawings from the architect and the engineers. So that was my favorite part, you know, interacting with the trades people, learning their backgrounds, learning skills from them. I was always like, hey, put me in, I'm here to help out.  (04:58)•  So quality is a big thing to me. And then the fit is obviously the most important. Like, I wanted it to be a high rise, you know, mobility, a little bit more room in the waist. So you're moving, your pants are moving with you, there's no gapping in the back. And then I also wanted them to be made in the USA, just kind of to tag on to that quality aspect. I wanted to have a lot of control over the development and the production of it and, you know, pay my workers a good wage, a livable wage. So that was important. So how did you go from Okay, so you got the prototype, you know, you tried it on, how many times did you have to go back to fix things before you were like, okay, this one's ready to go? Yeah, so we went through two samples, we got the first one so close that it really wasn't too hard to perfect it. But and then as we're now live, I'm taking feedback and we'll just tweak our tech pack to incorporate any changes that we need. Yeah, the tech pack gets you pretty close for the first sample. And they might just be like, hey, I want this pocket to be a little bit bigger. Hey, let's change this small, minor details, stuff like that. And then now who's making the garment for you? And how is it getting to the customer? They're made in LA. And then they're shipped to me here in Birmingham. And I kind of run my own little shipping department out of my guest bedroom in my apartment.  (11:00)•  So for the financial aspect, just find someone that believes in you and believes in your product, and that will help you get started. And then luckily, I'm at the point where my profits are going back into the company. So I'm not being paid at all right now. I'm just using this time period to invest in my product and come out with new products. And I also had to teach myself like marketing techniques, I had to figure out like my kind of market and how I could best advertise to them. So I've turned to social media, I think it will be the best aspect for me. And then the production was all new to me. Fashion design is all new to me. So it goes back to finding mentors in those areas that can help you through it. Has there been, you know, any one specific person or one specific like software or things that, something that you've done that you're like, this really, really helped me figure this part out that I didn't know how to do? Google is my savior. YouTube. Yeah, YouTube, Google, and then my production managers are super experienced as well. So they've kind of helped me, you know, tune in my pricing, where I need to be with that. And then just like, kind of customer support is also a tricky one. So they've helped me with that as well. So they're my go to if I ever have questions or anything like that. Who are those people? Are they somebody that, if somebody else had an idea, would you share that? Yeah, it's called The Accessory Think Tank. Oh, cool. Yeah, they do a bunch of different products, I'm their first workwear products so we've been learning together, which is nice. We can lean on each other for support. But they're awesome.  (17:08) ABOUT MORGAN DAWSON:Morgan graduated from  Kent State University in 2020, receiving her BA in Construction Management.  From there she moved to Washington DC, and spent two years working for a  general contractor as a field engineer. She now works in Birmingham,  Alabama with a real estate development firm. Some days are spent in the  office, while others are out in the field. She took her personal experience  and frustrations and built Dawson Workwear, a company dedicated to creating  the perfect workwear for women. The female body and the demands of the job  are at the forefront of every design so women can work confidently and  comfortably. Morgan is proud to be at the head of a woman owned and  operated company, with all products designed and manufactured in the United States. CONNECT WITH MORGAN:• Website: https://dawsonworkwearforher.com• Email: dawsonworkwearforher@gmail.com• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgan_dawson31• Twitter: https://twitter.com/morgandawson31 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  So this scenario with this project is bringing back grandparents with grandkids, and obviously parents with children, grown adults with their parents. And I think it meant that much to me because of the pain that I have in my heart about missing my parents so much and having them miss out on so much with my kids. And I think the depth of what it meant was because of the pain that I carry around that topic. And so for me to be able to do this for somebody else was actually really healing for me. I got to take this kitchen and this home where when the kids get dropped off at the bus, they can literally walk to grandma's house from the bus stop. They could ride bikes or the golf cart from their house to grandma and grandpa's house. And I could not be happier for their family because I used to have that with my parents where they used to be extremely close by to my kids where they could walk. And I don't have that anymore and being able to give that to both my friend, her parents and her kids, was just so meaningful to me because I value family so much. And being close by to your family is something that I will never take for granted again. (02:32)•  If you have a second, go to our Instagram page and check out the Estates Project. The kitchen just turned out beautifully. I also got to really incorporate a piece from their original home. It was a stained glass that the client had, I think, made for her mother-in-law and she had passed away. And then she had put this stained glass piece in her front door. She asked me, could you put this in my new front door? And her front door was set up with eight little windows and there were double doors and it wouldn't have worked. So I really wrapped my head around how could we incorporate this stained glass into the kitchen. And it was the day before we were supposed to turn over this project to them, and we finally got the tape lights. I wanted it illuminated. I wanted it off the wall. I wanted to be able to turn it on and off with a switch. And it got done like hours before we were supposed to turn over it to the clients. It is probably also one of the things I'm most proud of, to take the history of something that is so important to a client and kind of revamp it into this gorgeous focal point in their new kitchen. (04:21)•  I guess what I want to say for this Christmas season is that make an effort to be with your family or make an effort to thank your family for being there. Make an effort to spend time with them, to not be so busy that you can't just sit with them, because once those things are taken away from you, you really have no idea how much you'll miss them. I just want you to stop and take a moment and just hug the people that you love. Tell them Merry Christmas, because that's the best gift you could give them, is just your time and your attention and your ability to be present, not give them presents, but to talk with them and ask them questions and to show your love in a way that is intentional. And I intend to do that this Christmas with my kids. I intend to take two full weeks off and to just enjoy my family and to de-stress from the stress I've been carrying through the last few months.(05:51)•  Thank you for listening. Thank you for this beautiful year of She Builds Podcasts. This is the first full year that I've had this show going and it's one of the things I love the most of what I get to do. Because even though I'm sitting in a room by myself talking to no one, it's a way for me to process and to share and to give you maybe a glimmer of guidance or knowledge or hope. And I think for so long in my life, that piece was missing, that like depth, that importance, that creativity. You know? I'm so on all the time. So right brained, a detail oriented and never allow myself the space to see the other side of me, which is this. You know? Like just being vulnerable and sharing what I've learned and sharing what I failed at and talking to incredible women who are in the same industry, that I've got to get to know this year. And how incredible that has been for me to just be encouraged that there's other women like me and there's other women like you that can do hard things. And I'm just so impressed and so grateful and so thankful for all of you. So happy 2022 and Merry Christmas. (07:33) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT CHRISTI POWELL:Christi is the WBE (Women Business Enterprise) Lead supporting locations in the United States for 84 Lumber and has 27 years in the Commercial & Residential Construction field working in several key roles.She currently serves as a Board of Director member including the NY Women Builders Council, the Skilled Trade Alliance, the LIBI Associate Board of Directors, and the Greenville Chamber Board of Advisors. She loves making a difference for women in the industry and helping women and minorities feel welcome in nontraditional careers. She holds the 2021 GWBC award for the WBE Advocate of the year and a 2021 Women of Influence Award.Christi believes that people who are vulnerable, authentic, connected, and committed are the ones who will make a difference, no matter their industry. CONNECT WITH CHRISTI:• Website: http://www.fixinuptheplace.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fixinuptheplace• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fixin_up_the_place• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Fixinuptheplace/_created WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•   So I think this is actually like a viable way to help gain more trades, more labor and to just actually have more higher level business owners. Most of the men I come across are super welcoming, kind, they're really willing to answer questions if I don't know something. I think that within this industry is a combination, the key to be successful, I think, kind of infiltrating this male-dominated industry is two things. I think it's respect, and I think it's confidence. (01:55)•    But what I've learned about men in my life, especially with my husband, is that respect for them is tied to love, just like for us. Sometimes it can be words of affirmation or touch, just spending quality time can be connected to love for Women. Respect is deeply tied to love for men, so if you disrespect them, most likely they don't feel loved. They probably won't say that, but that's what I've learned. So if I disrespected my husband, it's probably directly tied to how loved he feels. So respect is mainly their love language, and I think it's just imperative to show them respect. I have found that truth in my own relationships and have really tried to practice it within my marriage. I also see it ring true for the contractors I work with being kind, acknowledging, hard work and asking questions to someone who knows more, I never pretend to know something I don't.(04:01)•    I don't ever come across as unkind, or demeaning or belittling to any man in my life, especially my husband. We don't nag, we don't demean, we don't belittle, it doesn't work, it doesn't work in my marriage, and it sure wouldn't work in my business. And for confidence, for me, that comes through the ability to make decisions and solve problems. I always say that the one constant in this business is that you can count on their being a problem to solve, so if you don't like critical thinking and having problems to solve, then girl, this business is not for you. That's what construction is, a constant wave of problems, some large, some small. And I think I accepted that a long time ago, that most of my phone calls that I get are issues and issues I need to solve. They aren't calling to check in on me, they aren't going to ask me how my day is. They're calling to tell me that they have a problem, and my goal every time is to handle that issue in that phone call and not drag it on. (06:37)•   I think it's a really good way to practice confidence is to start making easy decisions quickly. I want to make sure that you heard me say easy. When I have something big in life, I've learned to sit with it and to pray about it, but when they're easy decisions, I don't falter, I make a decision and I move on. So, start with dinner, make it easy decision, make it quick, move on. What clothes are you're going to wear? I just begin with the small things and be confident with the decisions you make don't waiver. Once I make a decision, I don't go back, I move on. Schluter's the answer. Good, done. Didn't think about it another second, I've learned to trust myself and my abilities. And the more success you have with making decisions, the easier it will be. (08:55) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  I hope today I find you well and even if I don't, I hope you take a minute to listen. I'll just start with that the last two months have been some of the hardest of my life and the last week was kind of a breaking point for me. So many things had happened and it had gone on for so long that even during my husband and I have just recently started therapy up again and I think more so just so we can communicate better. Nothing's essentially wrong. It's just, I don't ever want there to be anything wrong and if we could do better and communicate more and ensure our love, I want to commit to that. And I had a little meltdown in our session last week and the therapist immediately told me, because I was just crying like I hadn't had anybody ask me how I was doing. I haven't had a moment to express the pain, the sorrow, the sadness, the hurt that I had experienced over the last period of time and I had a moment and it just all came pouring out. (00:30)•  I've had a lot of external circumstances contribute to my inability to cope or manage or not feel overwhelmed. And so I decided on Friday that it was time for me to take this back. It was time for me to get out of this hole. I had maybe seen a bottom I hadn't seen in a long time, but it didn't mean that I couldn't see the light. And I had somebody say, you aren't in a well, you're just in a tunnel and just keep walking. The light is coming. And I'm like, you know what? They're right. I'm just going to keep walking. The light is there. I'm not stuck at the bottom of a well. It's just a little dark and I need to keep walking towards the light. And so I took my phone on Friday, and I just decided not to check my email. I decided to turn it off and just focus on my family. We had a really fun, incredible kind of family reunion celebrating both of my parents' 70th birthday party. And it was exactly what I needed. (04:03)•  And she spoke all those things that I had said to her back to me and it, it washed life over me again. And I was just so grateful for that moment because she's somebody that I hold so dear to my heart and somebody that even if we hadn't seen each other in far too long, the commitment of who we are in Christ and who we are as people remains foundationally strong. And that's what I needed to be able to see the light to guide me out of the darkness of the tunnel. And the other thing that happened, I think it was yesterday I had, you know, over the past few months, my routine, my normalness, everything that had been going on kind of been disrupted. And you know, when you feel out of control and you feel the drifting, I just was like, Stefanie, go back to the basics, get up early, even if you don't want to, because that is your time to feed your soul. That is your time that you need. And so I just got up and I walked out to the gym and I did not want to, I was exhausted. I was tired. And I just turned on the podcast that I normally listen to. And the message yesterday was about anxiety. (07:24)•  So I allowed the circumstances in my life that I am riddled with anxiety about, to be something I'm excited about. And so she just kept saying, tell yourself you're excited. And so I just screamed it. I'm like, I'm excited. I'm excited for the next chapter. I'm excited for the opportunities I've been given. I'm excited. And instead of being anxious, I just replaced it with I'm excited and walking into a room or going into the next circumstance. When I walk into my team meeting or with the people that I work with or I'm surrounded with and I'm excited for the next thing, you know what that makes them, it makes them excited and it rubs off on people and it helps them to come together and not be riddled by the anxiousness of what's coming, but to be excited. Wouldn't you rather go through life being excited than anxious about everything? And so that's my path this week is to recognize the anxiety, do the things that I know keeps me balanced and keeps me from drifting. So I went back to the basics of what keeps me healthy mentally, physically, and in my soul. (11:56) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT KELLEY ELMORE:Kelley Elmore works full time as a practice manager for a busy anesthesia group in Florida but recently started a company doing small room renovations and accent walls. She's always had a love for DIY and started a blog to show projects that she was working on. People seemed to really like what she was doing and started asking her to make over rooms in their own homes. Fixin' Up The Place, LLC was born and it has been nonstop projects ever since! She continues to use her Instagram and blog to teach simple home improvement projects anyone can do and to inspire others to make small changes to love their home. CONNECT WITH KELLEY:• Website: http://www.fixinuptheplace.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fixinuptheplace• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fixin_up_the_place• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Fixinuptheplace/_created WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  What's it like to be 11? Like I can recall turning 10 and thinking that was the coolest thing ever to be two digits, like I was nine and then I turned 10, and now you're in fifth grade and you're 11. What does it feel like? Can you give me... What is it you like compared to maybe being seven... When I was seven I was in second grade, and I'm older and in fifth grade.. Any difference? Do you feel the attitude coming on? You feel... No! Do you feel different? No! Describe to me what it's like to be 11. I miss... Like when you're my age, you just kind of completely forget what it's like to be a kid. Do you have a care in the world? What matters to you most right now? (01:01)•  What is most important to you about treating other people, how do you want to treat other people... What's important to you about that? Well, it's to treat people kindly. Do you feel like you treat people kindly... Yes. And is it important to you? Yeah. Okay, what if somebody's not being treated well, do you feel like you stick up for them or are you like, Oh, good luck with that? I would stand up. In what way? Give me an example. Say somebody's picking on somebody else, I would just say like, Hey, don't do that, it's important for you to feel like people... That you're a good friend. Yeah, yeah. What else is... Say something that you think you've learned about yourself in the last year. I care about other people a lot. Ok, in what way? If somebody, just like anybody, even somebody that hasn't been nice to me in the past, I help them do something. Yeah, so you have... Maybe your ability to forgive has grown? Yeah, that's good. I think that everybody deserves second and third and fourth and fifth chances because we're just never perfect and you can't just write people off unless they've completely proven to you that maybe they shouldn't be in your life. (04:06)•  Okay, what's something crazy you've done in the last week? The last a week? Yeah. I know what I've done in the last week that was crazy, that put me out of my comfort zone for sure. Well. What have you done? This morning I rode my horse at 5:00 in the morning. Yes, it was pitched black and you got up and I didn't help you. Well, barely. That is a little crazy. I don't think most 11-year-olds would get up at that hour... Wait...and ride your horse. Crazy in the last week... It's Monday Mom. What do you think mine is? Do you remember? Oh, do you remember mine? So I went and took an adult dance class. I was terrified, and I think doing terrifying things and putting yourself out of your comfort zone is something you should always strive for in life like... Yes, it scares me, and I'm going to do it anyway. I think that fear should never be something that stops you, and I was terrified to go embarrass myself, because I have not danced since before you were born, even though I did it my whole life. I went and I showed up in a room and there was 15 ladies and a teacher, and I was like, Girl hasn't grooved in a long time, and I went out there and did... And I was super proud of myself for doing something that I was terrified of doing, and so I'll always encourage you that even when you're scared... Do it anyway, right? (07:36)•  Do you get what I'm saying? That's their purpose in life is to teach you and show you the things and show you your short fuses, and show you the things that make you angry, and show you the things that make you impatient and go, Oh man, that's a glaring thing that I need to work on... Can you see it from that perspective? Rather than like, I'm angry with my brother. Any tips? It's a glaring reflection. I mean it's the thing, if you let the relationships, the close relationships in your life teach you, it will be the thing that helps you grow the most. Yeah, can you look at your brother that way instead of...? Maybe. But I think it's worthwhile and worth doing. What else would you like to tell the people of the She Build Show world? I don't know. Has anything I've done, like what She Build or like doing this show, does it make you feel empowered for you could do anything? Because that is my hope. Yea. Like in what way does anything make you feel like you can't do it, or you're like, "oh man, mom can do whatever". Yea. Is there that little tiny feeling in there? (11:48) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  I had to break that news to my kids, and all I was trying to do, to kind of cheer up and lift up my daughter was tell her, let's find everything that we can be grateful for, like let's find ways where God showed up for us. And we had a kind of crazy thing happen at a different hospital and got discharged and in that moment, we were really, really, really upset, but then now with this new hospital and what we found out, we were like, Oh my gosh, God saved him from a surgery that could of been terrible for him. And so we were just trying to find all these ways to be grateful, and my daughter was just convinced that there was absolutely nothing good about what is happening now. I ended up needing to get an MRI CD and it was a crazy story, I ended up like... They were closed and I'm knocking and pounding on this door to try to get somebody to show up, and I'm literally in a ball of tears because I needed this MRI and I didn't want to have to drive back another hour and a half to where it was left. And, this lady walks out and she burns the CD for me after hours and slides it through the crack. (01:59)•  I try to tell her that if I could, just like out of all the things I know, out of all the things in the world that I've learned about business and investing in cash flow and money, and being a parent and a mother and a wife, and just taking care of my body and my home, all of the things that I invest in and all of the things that I do. I'm like, If I could only teach you this thing... That would be it. That is what I would choose to do. I wouldn't teach you how to flip the house, I wouldn't teach you how to be this or that, I would teach you how to manage your mind, I would teach you how to take care of your thoughts because... Oh my gosh, child, if you can capture that concept before you're 40, you're going to be light years ahead of me. (05:58)•  We never look inside of ourselves for the answer and really, truly everything that we want to offer to the world and add value, we already know. And we know how to be able to write down all of the ideas. I just listed off all of those things that could be inside that She Build School, and all my brain can tell me is I don't know how to do it, but I just gave you all of those things just out of an air that I want to do, so I do know! You do know. You do know, you know how you add value, and you know that you can do it and the possibility is absolutely available to you. Brooke teaches this crazy concept, which I still cannot wrap my mind around, of actually living in that time where you've achieved that goal, you've made that money, you've given that value, you've achieved it, and what does it feel like and you need to live there. I'm Stefanie and I created the She Build School. It's a massive success. I can't believe how many people I have helped, how many women now feel more empowered to take on things in their life, both personally and professionally, and just freaking taking care of crap at their house, and not feeling like they can't do something. And just, it's changed my life. So that's me just living as if it's come true. (12:20)•  We're on that road. We're on that path. I've made it, and the more you live there, it's like the dream feels more in reach and it gives you more confidence and just such a beautiful kind of journey I'm swimming through right now, you know? And I'm really trying to not completely lose myself and not completely let this dream I have dissipated because of the current circumstances of my life, with my husband and all of this doctor stuff. I haven't handled it well today, but I'm just trying to re-gather and re-focus and just went for a walk and hang out with my dogs, enjoying nature, listening to the birds and the Crickets, and re-grounding myself and go, ok, I'm going to love my husband well, I'm going to take care of him, and I'm also going to pursue my dreams and run my business and do it well, and love my kids, and take care of myself.  (14:17) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT MORGAN:Morgan at Palmetto Highway is an Architect turned DIYer. She was laid off in 2020 and used that as an opportunity to start her design business and renovate her home. With her experience in architecture, she is attempting to bring her home's design vision to life and to teach her audience everything she knows so that they can do the same. She is a stubborn optimist determined to turn her current home into her dream home on a budget. CONNECT WITH MORGAN:• Website: https://palmettohighway.com• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmettohighway• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/PalmettoHighway WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

ABOUT SARAH AHRENDT:Sarah's passion from an early age has been helping people. She grew up on a resort in Northern Minnesota where she learned the value of hard work and the importance of providing superior customer service. Her love of business was fueled by dinner table discussions where her parents openly discussed the inner workings of a small business.After college with bachelors degree in Nursing from Augustana University in South Dakota Sarah worked at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale and various other locations throughout the state, however, after struggling with the hours and burn out Sarah decided that a career change was necessary.It didn't take long for Sarah to realize she had found her dream job. In construction Sarah was able to combine all of her strengths and passions. She was able combine her hard work ethic, background in business and customer service skills from the resort with her critical thinking skills, ability to educate and compassion from nursing. CONNECT WITH SARAH:• Website: https://www.ardmorconstruction.com• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ardmorconstruction• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardmor-construction WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•     I just got done giving a speech at the Grow Tech Fest, at the Sierra Nevada Big Room in Chico. I've honestly had three of the roughest days that I've had in a while, my husband ended up in the ER locally, and then we had to go down to UC Davis to get him into the emergency room there because there's just no quick way to fix somebody's back that possibly needs surgery. And so we spent 30 hours in the emergency room, and then last night we finally got him admitted to the hospital and we just sat down and I said, Baby, I made this commitment to do this speech, I had been prepping for it for the last couple of months, I spent a lot of time on my Google slides that I actually created in Canva, practicing my speech, and I just really felt this pull of... Do I go? Honey, do I go do this commitment that I said I would... Because I don't feel comfortable leaving you. When he was in the emergency room, there was really no advocate for him, and I really wouldn't have left if he was still in the emergency room. But once we got him admitted to the hospital, he had people actually treating him like a human and caring for him, and we we're just waiting for the Neurosurgeon. And even in the midst of my husband's serious pain, and lying in the hospital, he's like, Go. You need to go. You have to go. You need to do this. You've been prepping for this. You need to go. And just the level of his selflessness and his level of commitment to me, to encourage me to do things that are scary to me that he knows that I will be good at, he was like, go. And it was like everything in me, to just even leave. (00:30) •    My daughter was like, Momma, but your anniversary, you're supposed to go to Hawaii or spend some time, and I go, Baby, don't worry, there's going to be so many more anniversaries for your daddy and I that, it's okay. Like, it's okay, we have each other and we love each other, and it's okay. And it was just a testament to our marriage and our commitment to each other, and we're not perfect, nothing's been perfect, we have a hard history, and a man, we've come really far. My level of commitment to him in this emergency situation, and then his level of commitment to me, and just encouraging me to do the speech. So I went to the Grow Tech Fest, which I really didn't know that much about it. Because my commitment this year to myself was if there was an opportunity that stretched me, that made me feel uncomfortable, that I was going to say yes. And it's really completely put me out of my comfort zone because... You know, I'm introverted, and speaking in front of the people makes me nervous, and being around a lot of people and having to talk about myself makes me extremely nervous. It makes me like barfey, I don't want to do it. But I also know that I'm going to encourage somebody and it's really not about me, it's not about how it makes me feel, it's not about any of that, it's about the people that I could potentially inspire or encourage. (03:26) •    When you become as She Builds client, you get to download your owner's portal from either your computer or your phone, you get to access the schedule, you could just see everything that we're doing. You could to look at the daily logs, which is like a requirement in our business that every client gets three daily logs per week, where they get photos uploaded in the description of what's going on in their project every few days, and they can comment on it. They can communicate with their project manager, their invoices are uploading there, and we really do use technology to make the service to the client so incredible. And that was the technology piece I was really trying to bring into my presentation. Then afterwards, after everybody went, which, these guys were just so smart and made the most incredible things, I was so impressed by them. They were like, Okay, we're going to vote and judge you, and we're going to give a prize to the winner, and I'm like, Oh my gosh, can I just leave now? That's literally how I felt. Can I just leave now? I don't want to know who wins because I'm a very sore loser and I had no idea this was a competition. so all the investors are huddling around the table, and they were deciding who was going to win. And they go, Okay, we're all done. And they start to announce it and they say they just want to give the person the award who gave the best story, who gave the best presentation, and they called my name and you guys... I don't know the last time I won anything, I think after you get out of elementary school, high school, you just don't get ribbons or awards anymore, and I got an award for the best presentation. (06:55) •    I was able to take that nugget of information from Brooke's teachings, because normally, I wouldn't have handled it that way. I just would have been swallowed up, swallowed up and consumed by all the things. It's just too much, it's just too much. It really is too much. Like my daughter called me crying yesterday because she hadn't seen mommy and daddy in three days, because we're down two hours away, it's just too much and... Yes, have you, I broke down a couple of times and had a really good cry, but I also know that we're going to be okay, it's not anything that we can't fix and move forward. And I'm just so proud of that shift in my mind, because normally I just would have swallowed up into bed and cried myself to sleep and not dealt with it. And so I just want to encourage you today, that really, it's your mindset. That changes the way you look at your circumstances. And if I could encourage you to do anything, it would be to listen to Brooke Castillo's podcast, she really teaches you how to look and think about your circumstances differently, and feel about your thoughts differently. And it is just like a work I'm going to be committed to the rest of my life, because I really think everything that we want to achieve to be, comes from the source of how you think and how you feel about what you think, and how you act about what you feel, and the results come from how you act. But it all trails back to you think. (11:23) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•   So before I even had the idea to do this, my background is in accounting, so I went to school... My major was accounting, then I moved on to grad school, got my MBA, concentration in Accounting and pretty much started working right away. I did that for a few years, I wasn't really loving it, but now it was like, Okay, I got my degree in this, so this is what I'm going to do for the rest of my life, this is just the path that I'm on. So whether I love it or not, this is just my career now... Right? And then my husband and I, we grew up in New York, we were born and raised on Long Island. We decided after we got married, we were going to move to Texas, his parents had lived here for about 10 years, and then... So we were like, Okay, we're going to pick up and move. We're going to try something new. So after moving, I said to my husband, I don't really think I want to do accounting anymore, new state, new me. I want to figure out something else that maybe gives me a little bit more freedom that I can go fly and visit my family when I need to, or just not having to take those days off work, something that's more just based around me, a little more flexible. So I was doing all this research, what can I do? What can I do? A little soul searching. A little deep dive into what makes me happy and what I would be good at, and then I was like, You know what? Why can't I do house flipping? (01:03)•   Yeah, so first I started following people on Instagram that were real estate investors that posted little nuggets of information on their pages, I started watching a lot of YouTube videos on it, listening to podcasts, like absorbing everything that I could. I had a whole notebook that I was taking notes on everything. And then there was somebody that I came across on Instagram who did a mentorship program, and that was kind of like what brought it all together for me, everything that I had been learning. Every day my husband would go to work and I'd pull out my laptop and I would just study all day... I mean, I went through a master's program, so I know how to study. If there's one thing I could do, I studied for years, so that's pretty much what I did all day, every day. And then that last little bit of mentorship was to bring it all together, to wrap it up, bring it all home and really give me that last push to start doing it. To get out of the analysis paralysis, where you just reading, studying... How much more information can I accumulate before I feel ready to do this? At some point you just have to go. You just have to do it. (06:21)•   My husband would come from work for lunch and he's like, What did you do today? And I'm like, Oh my Gosh, I put in an offer on a house. But now it's like I do it, I just send these offers like they're nothing, but it was really funny to look back. So that first house, it was actually the second offer I ever put out to... Where was it? It happened really quick. It was in Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. It was a cute little house, it was in pretty rough shape and had been vacant for three years... How did you find it? I found it just on Redfin, I was just zooming in on map, looking for trends, looking for a cluster of homes with a certain price point, and then maybe one or two that was super low, so I was just looking for something that stood out to me and the only reason I started looking in Memphis was actually because I had a really great conversation with this lender, like a hard money lender, that I was reaching out to all these different places to see what their terms were, and she had recommended me to an agent and Memphis, she was super helpful. (11:02)•   Yeah, so actually, this was my first one and it went on the market a month ago, so I got a handful of offers on it, but they were all creative finance offers, which I wasn't interested in taking, and that shows me that maybe they're trying to use it as a rental, and then I had a handful of Airbnb people come, and I was thinking like, hmmm... If everybody is looking at this for rental or an Airbnb, then why don't I just keep it? So I'm like, I've already taken out the hard part of how to flip the House, right? Why not just pull two birds with one stone and figure out how to Airbnb as well, which is a very good way to build wealth and cash flow and all of that good stuff. So that is where I'm at right now. I am in the process of doing a cash out refinance on... Okay, I'm just waiting for the appraisal to come back to see how much I can actually take out, which the numbers are really good, everything sells pretty high in the area, and I felt very comfortable with my assessment of it at the beginning. I also had my mentor analyze it and give me his number, and then my hard money lender on top of that, to lend on the deal, they had to tell me what they thought it was going to be worth. So I had three confirmations of this after repair value, so I'm pretty sure that after the cash out refinance, I'll be close, if not... Right on! So then you're going to... Are you going to move forward and make it into an Airbnb? (16:57)  ABOUT GIOVANNA RAMOS:Giovanna Ramos is the owner and CEO of She Invests, a real estate investing company. She earned her MBA in accounting and worked as the Assistant Controller of a midsize company for a few years before realizing it wasn't the right fit for her. After moving from Long Island, NY to Dallas, TX last year with her husband, she knew it was time for a change. She quit her job in accounting and decided to pursue real estate investing full time. The focus of her company is flipping houses, she does these flips thousands of miles from where she lives. Long distance investing is a great way to find deals without limiting yourself to one particular market. Giovanna currently invests in multiple markets across the United States. She still considers herself a newbie since she started her company less than a year ago! She is learning as much a she can, growing a lot along the way, and taking it one day at a time! Giovanna is a big believer in creating your own reality. “Your thoughts create your feelings, your feelings inspire action, and action produces your results. It's never too late to start a new career path or learn a new skill, yet many of us put these limits on ourselves. People believe “they can't” so they don't but imagine living from a place of “I can” and “I will” … there would be no limits to what you can achieve!” CONNECT WITH GIOVANNA:• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she.invests.co WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•    So I decided, well, actually it wasn't really my decision, my husband along with a couple of my girlfriends suggested that I start my own business and just see what happens, because then I can pick and choose. Because with new construction, there are some weeks that we were doing 16 Ground Works a day, like 16 houses all underground, that's a lot of digging and it's hard on your back when you have a slip disc. When you don't feel your best. Yeah. So it just seemed like a better idea because it's like, Oh, you know, then you can just pick and choose and do all these smaller jobs that everybody wants and put that faucet in here and there... Yeah, well, I ended up opening my own company, and there was a whole story behind that as well, trying to get the name, but I've been slammed busy since day one. It really is. Yeah, I had no idea, but I live in a fairly small town where I grew up here, everybody knows me, so it was very easy. It was an easy transition to go from working for a company to owning my own. (11:56)•   I don't know, though almost eight years ago is... Not very long ago, and women in trades was very prevalent at that time. I still grew up in a time where it wasn't. When we started roofing, I was the only female on site besides some painters or whatever, so I kind of lived through all that where you're not... Supposed to be are here, you're not in a very welcoming environment to the type of person that you are, which is a woman, plain and simple... And not just a woman, but one that's barely breaking a hundred pounds. Yeah, you're like, I'm a tiny woman. You don't fit. The mold... Exactly. When did that change for you? When did that... Because your Instagram's called The Lady Plumber, right? So when did that shift happen for you where it was like, Okay, I'm ready for people to know that I own WestCom, was there a time where you felt comfortable or what changed? Honestly, I don't even really know when that happened... I do know that there was a time... I think it was gradual. I do know what it was, it was I think when I started winning awards. (21:23)•    Definitely my partner, I call my husband, we're not married, but we've been together for 15 years now, so he... I think in some degrees, has been my biggest supporter, mostly because he just puts up with my nonsense... He hasn't kicked me out yet, so. Nothing that I would say is 100% supportive. I have some very, very good friends. Some very, very good girlfriends, and I only really started hanging out with girlfriends, I would say, since I opened the company... Not before at all. Really, I had some people that I hang out with, but I wouldn't really consider them super close friends. But now, I have a very solid group of girlfriends that I hang out with and I talked to... And a lot of us are business owners, and that's how we met was through Women in Business, something through that route. I would say that my girlfriends. A supportive business. Not that they can relate to, what I'm dealing with in construction, but it's never actually the construction part that's a problem. Yeah, no. It's never actually doing the trade parts, it's all the other parts. That's the easy part, it's everything that comes along with that, which you know, I guess they can relate, because you're dealing with bad clients and bad employees and, you know, stress. And it's all very much the same thing, very stressful. I didn't know it would be this stressful, but it is stressful. (37:31)•    I think it's also the mentality of not giving up at the first hurdle to like the 25th hurdle because they just come at you and knocked you down. I just read this book called Win the Day, and he gave this example of this bird, it's called a King Fisher, and it's one of the most highly covenant birds in terms of fishing, like it has this incredible fishing finesse, one of the best birds at fishing and catching fish out of water. And the guys sat there and watched the King Fisher try to catch a fish, and it took him 37 tries. Like the best bird catching a fish. 37, it took him 37 tries to catch a fish. That's like if you would have given up at the 36 try, you would have been one away from catching the fish, and it's like... I love that. Failure is actually... I'm just constantly trying to teach my kids that failure is the catalyst for learning. 100 percent! Things like tenacity is so necessary, that it's like, you have to be willing to solve the problems and learn and grow, because failure is for sure coming at you. (44:11) ABOUT MARY-ANNE BOWCOTT:Born and raised on southern Vancouver Island, was not exactly on the path for a career in the construction industry, but as her time through academics carried on, not knowing what she wanted to do post secondary took her onto a path of exploring unconventional options. It was a struggle to find employment at the time as being petite female teenager, as employers didn't exactly take her seriously. But through persistence and determination and one employer giving her the benefit of the doubt, she landed her first job in the industry as a roofing labourer. Now 17 years later, a shingle roofer, Red Seal journeyman Plumber, Class B gas fitter and successful, award winning plumbing and gas business owner, she is paving the way for young women seeking a career in the building trades, showing first hand that you can do whatever you set your mind to with a little persistence, motivation and determination. CONNECT WITH MARY-ANNE:• Website: https://westcomplumbing.ca• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westcomplumbing• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_ladyplumber• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-anne-bowcott-232346138 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  I became a step-mother in my 20s, I was young and naïve, but I became a step-mom to the sweetest young boy. I became a parent to him before I ever had my own children, and I will say for sure that I stumbled my way through this and I probably did not handle it with the wisdom I would have handled it if I were to do it over again, knowing what I know. But you see, I grew up in a family where hard work meant everything, you never got through life being lazy or doing less. (00:53)•  I required my children to make their beds every day, and I don't just mean throw the covers up and call it a day, I teach them how to straighten their sheets and fold it down at the end of the head of the bed. I show them how their comforter goes and where to set their pillows and how to straighten everything once they're done, to look at their bed and notice if anything needs to be fixed. This isn't a type of punishment, I promise. I'm teaching them the notion, how you do anything is how you do everything. (02:52)•  I don't think I understood the phrase until I read Mark Peterson's book Win the Day. I knew I was teaching my children important things, but I didn't have the phrase to sum it up. I think this phrase, how you do anything is how you do everything also reminds me of the same, that you must be faithful in the small things to be trusted with the big things. I love this because there is no huge commitment here, there's no pressure, there is no looming mountain to climb, you wake up and you do the small things. (03:47)•  We can break it down into those small steps for ourselves and just do the small things well. That's if I'm faithful with these small things in my world, that I know that I can be trusted with the big things when they come later. They won't be scary, they won't be too big, I'll know how to handle it. So I just appreciate you that you took the time to listen today, I know this is short and sweet, but wherever you are, I want you to know how incredible you are and that you really are a blessing to this world. And girl, do the dishes and do the laundry with kindness in your heart, and do it well, do the small thing. (05:30) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  Because I see what's missing from my perspective from being a builder and the people I work with, but what did you really see was missing... A lot more hands-on things with the clients, like the mood board and the 3D renderings, like photos of the end design, and here in Chico, it's just too expensive for the clients, and a lot of people in Chico don't have the software on a computer to do it... So I just kind of wanted to offer that to Chico residents. We do it all the time in class, so I thought, Why not? Right, because if you think about it, most people can't really picture what their house and what the layout of their space is gonna be from a 2D floor plan. (02:09)•  I've always been a creative a person, and in high school, I prevailed in art and science, and then once I got out of high school, I kind of realized architecture is a mixture of art and science in a really applicable Art. And I was always inspired by my dad, who was a driller, and he taught me how to draft. Every time I wanted to rearrange my room I did it with grids and the squares on the grid. I always loved doing the site visits with my dad, I loved the whole process and being outside and all the fun stuff that they do out there and hard stuff. And then lastly, I really like the end result, how you literally make something out of nothing, and you really get to physically experience the space once it's completed. (05:37)•  I really like creating the spaces and doing the creative part of the site visits and traveling are always fun and inspirational, so I would love to travel and get inspired by other architecture and then come back and see what I could do with it. And then also shopping is really fun, going into a furniture store and finding the perfect piece that a client might like, or going to the granite store and seeing all the really cool unique pieces of granite and quartz and stuff like that. Yeah, definitely. I think that's why I want to encourage so many more women to consider this industry because we are so complex as women that this industry really allows for the complexity and to kind of meet that need of... Okay, some days I really get to be creative and design and make beautiful things, and other days I get to sit at my desk and just work on something a little bit more mathematic or more detail-oriented, and then go back to being creative and then go out to the site, and if you like to get your hands dirty, there's the ability to do that too. I just love the complexity of it. (07:33) • I feel like the system and software that are available now are one, more accessible to people like you because maybe they're not so expensive to purchase that software. But then it also just gives this better product, and I love the fact that even that you're really trying to make it affordable for people to use rendering, because I 100% agree that if a client that's just doing a simple kitchen remodel, most of the time, they're really overwhelmed by all of the decisions. The traditional interior designer is going to go in with all their swatches as things are being brought along during the construction phase, but I like the fact that it's like, let's get everything out in the open before anything even starts, and let's see what it actually looks like without having to have it created in front of you actually being built. So you can try on the blue paint color on the cabinet, you can try on the wall color, the counter top color and really visualize. (11:35)• I'm really proud of being in this industry where it's usually mainly ran by men and it's really tough on a woman, and the things the men say is really disheartening and discouraging, and I'm just ready to... To not have it be that way? Yeah, exactly. You know what, that's why I'm here is because there's more of us than you think, and we just need to keep finding each other and rally around each other because the industry will change the more we can link arms with one another and support each other. That's like when you reached out to me, I'm like, Heck yeah, we're going to talk, yeah, we're going to communicate because the more women we can get to come and provide a beautiful service, and not by putting men down or making them feel like we're better than them, that's not the case, it's just we need diversity in every industry, and we offer something different, we offer the ability to build something and consider the way you live in it and the way you feel in it and the way it looks. (16:58) CONNECT WITH CHASE: Website:  https://www.ccarrdesign.comInstagram: @ccarrdesign WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  So that is sort of like how it began... We started with the kitchen, I was able to do it. It turned out beautifully. I loved it, I loved the whole process, I even loved when it was demo and the space was a mess and no one in my house liked it, except for me. Yeah, because you can see what it's going to look like, right? Oh yeah, I could to see what it's going to look like, and I didn't mind living in a construction zone, even though we had... We were having babies, because not only one baby, two babies came back to back, you know? So that's how it started. So then we renovated her first house that way, we sold that one, made a lot of money and then bought our second house and so forth, and then we did it again. But then it got to the point I had no more houses to renovate. So I was like, What do I do? So we started investing in real estate in Arlington, and so we would buy... This properties had needed a lot of work, renovated them and sold them. Like we started flipping houses, and then eventually it grew into friends of mine would approach me and be like, Hey, I need to remodel a bathroom or a kitchen or whatever, can you help me? And I was like, I got you. (5:03)•  I think it's a combination of a lot of things Stefanie. Something that is a big part of my story is I became a teenage mom at the age of 18, so I had a baby as a freshman in college, and sort of like, I was very young, I was a baby with a baby, and I was introduced, I had to grow up really quickly, right? And it's sort of like a lot of people back in Nicaragua where I'm from, viewed it as this terrible, tragic thing that would happen to me... Right? In terms of my society, where I come from, I was pretty much like walking around with a scarlet letter on my chest... Yeah, an unwed teenage mom at the age of 18, but in a way, I didn't... It was hard, but I didn't view it that way, right? It was just like, in my head, failure, even back then, it was never sort of an option.  (10:01)•   Absolutely, I think just empowering other people to feel like, Okay, yeah, I can do this, and that's a thing, it's like... I don't know if you've heard of Matriarchy Build... Have you? Yeah, I'm on their platform. You are too, right? Yeah, yeah, I guess, I think you are. And I just love that they're just trying to put us, people like us with the experience, in the hands of anybody that wants to be able to go, Okay, I may not feel comfortable doing this, but there's a woman that I feel connected and easy talking to, and they have the experience and knowledge, and they're willing to share that with me for a pretty nominal fee, just to buy us for a little time, an hour or a couple of hours, and help them with their project. I think it's such a beautiful and smart way to empower other women to just try things... That's so cool. (24:36)•   It's been a beautiful thing, and also with this one client that I'm talking about, she really was involved in a lot of the design process for the renovation, and you know she was really scared to make the incorrect choice on a quote on quote, whatever, tile counter top. But I was like, You need to go with your gut. It doesn't matter what your mom or your next door neighbor. Their opinion is about what's going to go in your house, like this is your house, your remodel, and you need to make your eyes happy, your eyes are the most important eyes. No one else matters. Exactly. And she took that and she ran with it, and she was having so much fun and she was making all of these bold decisions, and she wallpapered, like... Let me just give you an example, it's not generally my aesthetic, but I'm also having so much fun because it was so different from me Stephanie. Yeah. She had this powder room and she really wanted a wallpaper of old school cassette tapes, black and white. I was like, Oh my God, and we were going with this sort of modern aesthetic and we did it, we installed these old school black and white cassette tapes, and this beautiful brass mirror and like a hunter green, really modern floating vanity. Oh, wow. (29:36) ABOUT GABRIELA NARVAEZ:Gabby grew up surrounded by the sounds of construction and design. The loud drill of power tools and conversations between contractors were a part of her normal life in Managua, Nicaragua where her father was a civil engineer and ardent developer. For Gabriela, real estate, design, and renovation has not only been a lifelong passion but also a constant part of her daily life.In 1999, Gabriela moved to the equally humid city of Washington, D.C. Over two decades later, and she has not left. She has found a newfound passion for the properties within the District and the ones that surround it. From the single-family colonials in Arlington to the federal-style townhouses in Georgetown, Gabriela sees potential in renovation everywhere.Demolition, development, and design excite Gabriela. As a fully licensed general contractor, designer, and real estate developer, she strives to create spaces where families can live both beautifully and joyfully.She currently resides in Arlington, Virginia with her husband, three children, and their lovable poodle-mix. CONNECT WITH GABBY:• Website: https://www.guildpropertiesllc.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guild-Properties-GC-House-Flipper-105667304728331• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guildproperties WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•   The shopping is a big portion of it, we look at the price of the kitchen, the cabinets and the countertop, or would take up the majority of that cost... Right. So once they have that estimate, we then start show rooming, we go on a journey to find the things that they like. So second visit with American Dreamers is always in the showroom, and we kind of think of it as window shopping. Okay, so you're going to pick out what that door style looks like, the colors that you want, do you want custom colors? How custom do that you want them? Do you want them to be in the Sherman Williams pallet? We can use a code number or are you just going to bring me a Swatch or something that you found on the internet? How custom are we talking? What type of door style do you want? What kind of cabinet style do you want? We go through the whole thing. What kind of insights have you seen on Pinterest that you can't live without? (4:02)•   That is mostly the process and it is the longest process, especially because when you're looking at some sort of a CAD drawing or a 3D drawing, or something. We want it to be creative and we want people to think really in-depth about it and how it looks and what it's going to be and make edits. You know, go home, sit on it for a bit, don't just pull the trigger because we do want it to be spectacular. I have a few clients that say, Look, I only know what I know, I would like to do something different and unusual that maybe hasn't happened often or at all yet, what can we do there? And so in those instances, that gives us a chance to really be creative and there's only paper sketches and it doesn't get to go into CAD and I can't show it. (7:21)•   I think when you own a business, okay, you automatically start setting your kids up with expectations of your availability. And that's super important because we want their mindset to be that this is for them, although, that you aren't there all the time, what you're doing is building a future for them. And in order to do that, you can't be home every single day, right? And so I had the most interesting conversation, I heard amongst my kids, because I've got step kids and then I've got a daughter. Okay, so the boys were split, I have two boys, the boys were more of this belief that if you're not home all the time, then you don't love me as much. And my daughter had stepped up to bat that one day because, Brandis' youngest boy our best friends... Okay, which isn't always great to have your kids be able to team up on you, but nevertheless. And she says to him, Well, she goes, How do you think that we are going to be able to go to Disney World? And all, they call us the parents, because it's not exactly Mom and Dad, and she goes, how do you think the parents are going to afford to take us to Disney World and all these cool vacations if they don't get to work, she's like Dominic...They're out there making money so we can have nice things. (26:50)•    You can't just say, Well, I like to X, Y, and Z. Why don't we expand upon that? Okay, why do we have to focus so much on where the missteps are, because honestly, it drives us down as a whole... It does. So that has always been a really big mission of mine, it's my mission, on top of seeing more emails to be interested in construction... Right? That's always one. But yeah, I go to local tech schools and I talk about this, we want to build each other up, I said, You want to look around the room because you don't understand the person three chairs down could be a building inspector one day, right? And two chairs down, might be the foremost master carpenter in his industry and he may be looking for a job one day, and you'll have the inside scoop to scoop him up, because you know him, right? So watch what you say, try to really air on the side of being positive because it really is a reflection of our industry, not just us. (34:09) ABOUT MORGAN KUMPFMILLER:Morgan is an award-winning general contractor, interior designer, and the owner of American Dreamers Renovations – a boutique home construction and renovation company serving Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding communities. It's Morgan's mission not only to improve the construction industry through quality work and service but to build and grow the industry by inspiring women to pursue careers in trade. Morgan is rarely not working – she's either in the field, in the office, teaching classes, doing Mom things, or speaking at industry events – during that occasional down time, she's dreaming. CONNECT WITH MORGAN:• Website: https://www.americandreamersrenovations.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDreamersRenovations• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americandreamersrenovations WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•   You cannot eat healthy three days a week and expect to look and feel how you want. You cannot work on your business one day a month and expect to meet your goals. You cannot create that invention that you have dreamt about, by only dreaming about it. You cannot write the book if you don't start with the commitment to write one page per day. Discipline over time is how your vision comes to life. My vision, I want to change the construction industry, I want women on a job site to be... No big freaking deal. I want every woman who was like me, that likes to get her hands dirty, that likes to work hard, that has never really fit in with the girly girls, to find a beautiful home in the construction industry. I no longer want construction to be a place where customers get the short end of the stick. I want people who we work for to feel listened to, to be communicated with and to enjoy the process of their remodel or their new home build. I want the door opened, so so many women can walk through it, and they are welcomed with open arms.  (04:24)•   So I've ran a lot of businesses and I've done a lot of stuff that had no meaning to me, but made me a lot of money. This time though, with She Builds... I needed that to be different. I want to inspire, I want to encourage, I want to physically be the woman opening the door for the rest to walk through, I love people, I love real conversations, and I love helping you believe in yourself. I mean, don't ever come up to me and be like, Hey, how's the weather? Because I'm out, unless we're talking about real stuff, I get weird and I leave. If you have a vision, here's what I would tell you, first, write it down, make a poster, go to Michaels, get some poster board, get a white board, write it in large letters and put it on your wall where you will see it every day. Then I just want you to leave it there. Then, I want you to go to work on your discipline, if you are serious about achieving that vision, you need to grow your discipline.  (6:50)•  Discipline is a muscle. The more you say no to the temptation, the stronger and easier it is to continue. Start small. When you want to grow this muscle bigger than ever, then read The 5 AM Club and do the challenge. I mean really DO IT! Really do something different. What you're doing now is not working. You're just drifting through life and girl, you are meant for more. Develop your discipline, strengthen the muscle. Then when you are strong and wild on your vision, commit to it, stay the course and believe in yourself. You, my friend, are incredible, and we all have the power within us to build something life-changing.(08:13) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•   So, my background was working for two really awesome agencies, one in Florida and one in Southern California. And really... Advertising was my passion. And then when I came into the family business, it was really during a major market shift, 2006, and a lot of people of that generation were choosing not to come into construction and housing because it was a recession. And really part of that is why we have a labor shortage now, it's because basically all these people who would have come into the industry didn't come into the industry, and that's exactly when I came in. And because things were going more from print to digital, that was my opportunity to rebuild Group Two into a digital marketing partner for home builders, so we're an old business with a young heart. (2:26)•   So, the group of women, there were about 10 of them in the core group that started this idea to build an all women built home in Utah. And I know your listeners have already heard about the actual build... Part of that was the group had reached out to me as a woman-owned marketing company. So, my company named it The House That She built, and we did the marketing for their project in Utah. So, all their graphics, their social media, we did some graphics about the individual women to tell their stories, and we ended up getting some national publicity through the National Association of Home Builders, so we were really a part of the build and The House That She Built. And basically how I got pulled in was actually the other general contractor, her name is Christy Allen, our dads did business together, and Stephanie is second generation as well, you see that a lot in our industry. And actually, the three of us were talking about how all of us were brought into the industry by our dads, and now we're here, and it's like, Okay, we're here now, how do we bring in more women? (4:00)•   Those women just go to work every single day and maybe they have a social media account, maybe they don't, and so there's not a whole lot of light shed on the fact that, as a younger woman or a girl, seeing them in a place that is like, Oh, I just brought my mom to work day and shared their profession, we did back in the day. But in this alternative format, I just think it's so cool and so influential to just the young community, and I love that it was like a children's book and not an adult book. You know what I mean? That was very important because as I mentioned before, of course, we all know there's a labor shortage, the labor affects the entire US economy, so there is no one in this country who is not affected by the labor shortage, and these are really in-demand jobs and their noble awesome jobs. And I think if girls don't see that these are potential careers for them at a young age, we're missing such a major opportunity. (7:09)•   I always say this, one of the things that I learned during the build of The House That She Built, is that these women who worked on this home all have different backgrounds, different education, different skill sets, but they're all so valuable to the industry. And for me, it kind of made me think like, okay, I have never framed at home, I've never done plumbing, I haven't done that, but I do have a skill set. My skill set is on the marketing side, how can I use my skill set to help the industry? So for me, being able to tell this story that elevates the women who are doing these jobs, it's like, I think that they are the superstars, and I want them be like... Whenever I tell a school, if you meet a woman who's doing plumbing, have her sign your book, that is so cool. And so for me to get to use what I am good at in a way that benefits the industry and women in the trades has been just so cool. (11:04) ABOUT MOLLIE ELKMAN:Mollie Elkman is owner and president of Group Two, a full-service marketing partner for home builders. She is the author of the best selling children's book, The House That She Built, published by NAHB BuilderBooks in collaboration with The Professional Women in Building Council and NAHB's workforce development team. She was recognized at The 2022 International Builders' Show as the National Sales and Marketing Council's (NSMC) Sales and Marketing Professional of the year. Mollie is passionate about proactively sharing the successes of those in housing in order to diversify and grow the number of people in the skilled trades. She is currently doing this through The House That She Built Patch and Charm Program for Girl Scouts of America. CONNECT WITH MOLLIE:• Website: https://www.grouptwo.com• Book: https://shebuiltbook.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GroupTwoAdvertising• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grouptwoadvertising• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/group-two-advertising• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GroupTwoAdvertising WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  Why is saying no so hard? I think that maybe it might have something to do with our lack of connection to ourselves, that maybe when we say yes, when we really mean No, it's because we forgot what was a yes. And I know for us, we're so used to ignoring the internal voice that we just automatically and habitually say yes, without any check-in, I'm terrible at this, it literally causes me physical pain to let someone down to disappoint them to know I didn't exceed their expectation. It will keep me up at night. (02:38)•   So here's the tip if it's not a hell yes. Then it's a no. I use this in my business all the time, and I make sure I never say yes to a project without my entire team saying hell yes, this is like a safeguard for me. If we all can't feel the excitement and it's a no... Something better will come. To write something. It always does. Opportunity is everywhere. And what you seek is seeking you. If you want the best clients, the best projects in a healthy relationship with your work, say yes to only the things that are... Hell yes. Everything else is a no... One of my favorite quotes is from Warren Buffet, 'The difference between successful people and really successful people, is that, really successful people say no to almost everything'. Good point, sir. For my personal life, I use my spouse is a protection, just like in my business, I kind of have to use my team as a protection because this is not my strongest muscle, I'm not good at it, so I have to have these extra layers of protection.  (03:38)•  I think it's important to choose what we do with our time, it's such a finite resource, and I want to be intentional with every hour of my day. I want to be friends with people who breathe life into me, I want to serve this world, and I want to change it. I want to be world class, so girl, that means... No, might be appropriate. My business coach tells me, 'Good is the Thief of Great'. I want to be world class, and I don't want to settle for just good enough... Neither should you.  (05:46)•  On the other side of this coin is saying Yes, taking action. Saying yes to things that maybe you really need to say yes to. My friend has a saying... 'If it scares me, then say yes'. So if she's terrified, she jumps in both feet. I love this model because so much of us coast through life, we don't take the vacation, we don't jump out of the airplane, we don't trust our gut, we don't buy the investment, we live in such a world of fear. And You know what? I'm done with fear. It's taken a lot from me, it's kept me quiet and small for far too long. Take action, say Hell yes to the things that you want to do, and then put the work in. Stay committed. Be a powerful force. I just know you're going to change the world because you want to know why? You're astonishing, nobody else has the gifts that you have, nobody else has the ideas, and the forethought and the wisdom that you have, to say YES to the things that you've been pushing aside. Say NO when it's really a NO.  (06:20)WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•  If you're going to update the electrical in your bathroom, you need updated plugs, switches and cover plates, bathroom vent fan, cabinet hardware, vanity facet, tub, faucet and shower head combo, paint and grout colors, so that's kind of like a material and selection list is what I call it, and sub-contractors needed to do the whole job, if you just wanted to organize it and not do anymore, you need someone to do demo, plumbing, electrical tile, counters, drywall, paint and window installation.  Okay, now that we have a list of both of those items, you need to design the space, selections need to be made for everything on the material list, you need to pick out your tub, your title, the paint colors, the cabinet, the counter is the window, the facets the light in the hardware, the mirrors, and then you need to order it all, so that means you have to measure and order everything associated on that list. So right now it's taking me two or three months to get windows, and if you're going to have a custom vanity made, cabinet makers are booked out just as long, don't even get me started on appliances, that's why we're doing a bathroom example.  (02:50)• If you just have some drywall patches and it needs to be painted, so two weeks is usually plenty of time for a bathroom remodel, what's really not fun is living in a house that has been demoed and then just staring at it for a month. Anybody ever done that? Like, yeah, we're going to redo our bathroom, and then you find out that the title you want is three months out, you can't get a cabinet, can't get a window, and then you just stare at that empty demo bathroom for months. So no demo. Until everything's planned. No demo until all the stars aare aligned. So most cities would require a permit for this type of remodel, and I always get a permit no matter what, it's super easy to go to your local building department and just ask about the requirements, a lot of times they just appreciate you coming in and communicating with them what you're doing rather than trying to hide it. So go down there, ask what is required, and get the permit for this process.  (4:43)• I always allow days, not hours, I don't try to cram things into multiple days because sometimes you get there and you're like, Oh, the floor is not level, or whatever the problem is, to assign a timeline to each step on your calendar and then you can see what needs to be done and how long it's going to take, and if you're going to be doing parts of it, assign your timeline to your task, and if you're using subcontractors, you need to give them a minimum, at a minimum a week's notice when you will be ready for them, Hey, the tile is going to be done on this day, we'll be ready for counters. I give my sub-contractor a minimum of two weeks, it's crazy busy where I live, and I just like to give them as much notice as possible. So if I know when the cabinets are being installed on a certain day, I notify my tile guys and give them a window of time on the schedule after cabinets, and then I also notify my counter top sub so that they have plenty of time to put the job in motion, and they always know that I've already ordered all the materials, and they don't have to worry about anything, they just go pick it up and they install it. When I'm scheduling items, the most important thing you can do is plan, everybody has commitments and schedules, and no one likes a surprise or something unplanned. (08:04)• The work I do in the background to make sure everything runs smoothly, basically gives the impression to my sub-contractors that I respect their time and I appreciate their work, and if anyone comes to your house and they do a good job, give them donuts. I'm serious, feed them, give them a good review and recommend them and always be kind, be kind to anybody that comes into your house. Every single subcontractor talks to every other contractor, so if you treat one poorly and give them a snotty attitude, you will get ghosted because they all talk to each other, Hey, don't call that crazy lady back, that's what happens, because that floor guy is going to tell the cabinet guy. Now, with that said, this is just a little insight into how I run my jobs. This is just a tiny easy Hall bathroom. There's a lot that goes into construction, and it takes a lot of good planning to do it well, so if you're considering DIY, I hope this information has either empowered you or slap you in the face to hiring a contractor to manage the project, one or the other, you're either going to fall on one or the other side. (09:20) WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

• So, the name of my company is Under Construction Photography. I come from five generations of iron workers, and so they're kind of my inspiration, and what got me started into shooting construction. I worked in the office of IBEW and I worked at the Office of the iron workers doing compliance. And then I was a dispatch girl for 10 and a half years, and that also gave me a really cool connection with the members as well, or the workers. I had to deal with them on kind of personal times, because I was the dues lady, they had to pay their dues, but I enjoyed it, I enjoyed getting to know the workers on those different levels and... Yeah, it's perfect, just pushed me in that direction more and more. (0:44)• I had unfortunately lost my father 11 years ago, and his untimely passing was very tragic to me personally, because I idolized my dad a lot, and I watched him grow so much from being that worker to then being politically involved, fighting for his members. He took his oath so seriously, and so losing him tragically, unexpectedly, really, really then catapulted me into... Documentation of the workers. It was like the first job I went to, immediately, there was a couple old-timers out there, and they just started telling the stories about my dad, and I really, really enjoyed that because again, it was like, I got to see, or hear a different side of him in a way that I didn't get to experience, but these guys did, out in the field. So, it was their camaraderie, their brotherhood, I just... I don't know. Yeah, I really, really appreciated them sharing with me these stories, and that's what pushed me more and more in the direction of documenting them, listening to them, and it was like therapy for me when I first started, to kind of really hold that in and use that to just make me feel better, and they felt good too telling these stories. It was like a feel good all the way around, and I really appreciated the open arms, open doors and arms that these guys offered to me when I did come out on to the job site. (3:30)•  It was a few different things that kind of transpired in the process, and me eventually being hired, I started the sticker Challenge on Facebook, I had all these people send me their stickers, and then after that, I started creating t-shirts and I would put real photos on the back, with the members on the guys that are in the raising gang connecting the iron, and they loved to see themselves on shirts, they loved to to see themselves in general, be glorified like that. But, to have now on a piece of apparel, it was really cool. And that was kind of another direction I was thinking about going, I was just not sure on how to make money at what I do. You gotta throw somethings against the wall. Right, right, see what sticks. And the t-shirt stuff, that was really a full venture... I mean, I had a map in my room that I started pinpointing where I was selling the shirts to all across the United States and Canada, and that was really neat. But it was a long hustle and I just like... I had to borrow money to even get that started, and then I was just... I got laid off my job. And it was like, sink or swim. What are we gonna do? Well, I gotta figure this out you know, like right now. So, I borrowed money from my brother and I started the shirt, and that was really cool, but then I want to say, I was out in LA, the Sixth Street Bridge in Boyle Heights, downtown LA area, was going to be demoed and before they demoed it though, there was a rebar company out there, I want to say it was LA steel. And they were constructing these massive cages that they were going to be pile driving into the ground for the new bridge. And when I came up on this site again, I was just WOW! And it's that wow moment of what are these guys doing? These rebar cages were huge, huge! I'd never personally seen a rebar cage like that before. That was a first for me. So, the owner of that company ended up finding me, I think on Facebook, and wanting to purchase just one photo, and I think I sold it for 100 bucks or something. (12:48)•  My mission... That's a good question, is awareness to the construction industry organizing, bringing to the forefront who these people are, because it's just... I don't know, it's so emotional behind it, sorry. No, don't apologize at all, I love your passion. And that's what drives me. A lot of my decisions are emotionally made, I'm emotionally attached to my imagery, to all the work that I do in this industry, and I want people to feel how I feel about it, and I think I'm kind of weird though, because I'll drive by a job site with my daughter in the car with me, and I'll be like, I can't believe what they're doing! And she's like, you know... I think it's like a rule that children just don't think what you're doing is cool. My dad, my uncles and my grandfather, were all working in the construction industry, I didn't understand it like I do now. I didn't have the love for it then, that I do now. I loved them, but I didn't know what they were doing either. it tool me having to be exposed to it to understand the depth of the work that they're doing, and how important I felt it is. To recognize them. Absolutely. (21:11) ABOUT TARA GARNER:Tara Garner is the founder and creative eye behind Under Construction Photography, social media and marketing development in the construction industry. Tara knows the blue collar industry needs updated imagery and to bolster morale, she brings this to the workforce with her photographs. Tara's work is a way to connect the men and women in the blue collar industry with their communities and the rest of the world. As a social media and branding expert, Tara works with the best in the field to strengthen their brands. Tara is OSHA 10 certified and is up to date on job safety. She is also an award winning photographer and travels all over the country bringing awareness to the blue collar communities. CONNECT WITH TARA:• Website: https://taragarner.com•  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCPbyTaraGarner• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucpbytara• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taragarner81481 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

• Now, as you might know or may not know, I'm on a mission to try to increase my passive income, my cash flow through either fixing up properties and either holding them long-term and turning them into short-term rentals. Now, this book is written by Avery Carl, and it's super great for someone who is just wanting to put their toes into gaining knowledge about short-term rentals. So, I highly recommend it if you just kind of know nothing and you really just want to start digging deeper into, what does it look like to have a short-term rental? So, what I love even more than this book is the happy business woman behind this book, I wish I could have her on the show, so Avery, Ms. Avery, if you were listening, DME, I want you on the show. Not only did she write this book, she created what is called the short-term shop, and it's a real estate agency that only deals with investors who want to purchase short-term rentals. (01:05)•  Now they go above and beyond just being your real estate agent, once you're in escrow, and you pass your inspections and you've released your inspection contingency, you go to a meeting with her husband, who does what's called Management Monday, and they teach investors how to set up their Airbnb account, how to source local house cleaners and handyman, or handy women, and all the things that you need to get your short-term rental up and running. And they really focus on self-management of that short-term rental, they really believe that property managers really steal the profit from you, so they're teaching self-management of the type of investment to keep more money in your pocket. Ain't you smart? Like Girl, high five! (02:51)•   So, you may or may not know that I was an accountant for 10 plus years. I know traditional accounting, it's called GAP accounting, profit and loss statements and balance sheets are embedded into my psyche. But most of my life intuitively, I've done this weird cash bucket thing that my dad always just gives me a hard time about, because I have my little buckets all over the place. I have multiple bank accounts with basically no access to myself so that I could save money for various things, but not touch it, and it works. It works well for my brain, it works well for how I'm wired. That bucket is for a vacation, that bucket is for home repairs, that bucket is for college, and something else I've tried but kind of struggled with is Dave Ramsey's cash envelope system. I love the concept, and I love budgeting, but getting cash every month out of the bank is something I don't consistently do, because let's face it, we are a convenience type of society, and going to the bank every month to get cash is not super convenient. (05:21)• He suggests five key bank accounts. Yes, five separate bank accounts. Here are the bank accounts, income, OPEX; which is your operating expenses, taxes, profit, and owners compensation. How it works in the book, which you must read to get all of the juicy details and get way more information on how he actually suggests you break this down, is that each time a deposit comes in, you have percentages that are assigned to each account, and so that money, the money that comes into the income account gets divided up by percentages into each bank account. Yes, you actually transfer the money into each bank you account. Let me give you an example. When a deposit comes in, you allocate 5% to profit, 35% to taxes, 10% to owners compensation and 50% to operating expenses. So that means you only get 50% of that deposit to spend on your expenses, and yes, you're planning for your taxes, so when your taxes come, you have money in a bank account to be able to pay them.  (09:00) LINKS TO BOOKS:•  Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth• Profit First WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow

•   So after transitioning through multiple architecture firms, I ended up getting a job for a local home builder here and felt like they do kind of track homes, but they're on the higher end, so they're million dollars and they don't do thousands of homes a year. They do a few hundred, but they're all really, really custom and really beautiful, so I started working with them and then realized, well, there's other departments in this particular home builder that I wanted to try out. So I got a real estate license, started selling real estate for their model homes, I ran all of their marketing, and then I got to dabble a little bit on-site and just going out on site, checking on jobs, and kind of realize, Wow, that's a lot more exciting for me than it is sitting in the office. (2:27)•  Yeah, the house that She Built was a really cool project here in Saratoga Springs, so we started a Utah professional women in building Group, which is a chapter of a national group, a few years about here in Salt Lake City. And we've been lucky enough to have women from all over the state that have joined and that it is now a to state professional women in building Council. Cool, it's really cool. And we have more than 60 women that have joined and are paying members and are doing really incredible things for our entire community. But the house that She Built, we needed a project that we could do that it was going to be fun and exciting and attention casting. And throughout discussion back and forth, this project of building an all-female built home came up, everyone thought, Wow, this seems really cool, really exciting. (7:45)•  Yeah, and I think for me, I have a little different kind of crew, like all of my trade partners, they've known me since I was a kid, my dad, a very loyal contractor, he doesn't price shop, he picks the people that are good to him and he's good to them, and that's why they have these long-term relationships. So a lot of these people have known me forever and they really... They know that I know what I'm talking about, and they don't question me or give me a hard time on site, but the occasional time we do have new guys or new man that own companies that are coming out and joining our trade team. I do have to prove myself, and at some point I would like it would be great to not have that have to happen again, but I think for the next little while, we just have to continue to get the word out that women should be in this industry, it's a great place for you to be.   (13:36)•  I absolutely think construction is not for the soft heart, you have to have thick skin, even in a situation where I'm in, where most of the people I work with have known me since I was a kid, we still get into it all the time, I mean, we're in a crunch where the last minute I'm yelling at the plumber about something, he's yelling back to me about something, you have to have the skin... And you have to also be able to say, I'm wrong. And you have to also be able to... This is probably the difference between men and women, and I see this a lot on job sites as men are, my dad and the plumber or the electrician can get into it and then be best friends tomorrow.  (30:36)ABOUT STEPHANIE DAILEY:Stephanie is the current 2021 President of the Utah Professional Women in Building committee, and the 2022 Utah Valley HBA's 2nd Vice President. She is in line to serve as the first ever female president of the Utah Valley HBA. Stephanie began her career in construction at a very young age. At 16 she got her first job at an architectural design firm. After high school she continued her education in computer aided drafting. She became a licensed real estate agent in 2015 and a licensed contractor in 2019. She spent 6 years in architectural design both with Landforms and Walker Home Design. In 2012, she began work with Symphony Homes out of Davis County. She started in their architectural design department. After a few years she transitioned into real estate sales and marketing while continuing to help the drafting department. In 2017 she began working side by side with her father Steve Dailey. In 2019 she became a licensed general contractor and today they work together building custom homes across Northern Utah.Stephanie likes to spend her free time outdoors. You can usually find her out on the trails on a mountain bike or in her side by side. Most weekends she is camping or traveling and enjoying as much time exploring as possible. CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE:•  Website: https://stevendailey.com•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniebuildsit•  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephaniebuildsitWAYS TO CONNECT WITH STEFANIE…• Website: https://shebuildshomes.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shebuildsbetter• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebuilds.homes• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/shebuildsshow