WOMEN OF ASPHALT’S 23 IN 2023 Spotlight on Virginia’s Alicia Brooks Tigre J. Fortune, Member Relations Specialist, Virginia Asphalt Association According to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of women in the labor force is expected to increase to 77.2 million in 2024 and make up 47.2% of the total labor force. It is important to consider the women who were driven and steadfast in entering the labor force as a minority—despite the economic downturns, recessions, and historical offsets they faced over the past decades. They paved the way for women today, and the labor force gets closer to representing equality because of it. Today’s numbers reflect that men and women can work in equal shares, and this is especially key for male-dominant sectors such as construction and asphalt. Based on a study from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, women saw an employment percentage increase of 7% in construction jobs between February 2020 and March 2022. This percentage continues to increase year after year and, slowly closing the gender gap in our workforce. So, as more women join the workforce, what is the appeal in choosing a male-dominant industry? What value do companies gain by hiring women to work in “tough” industries like construction, infrastructure, asphalt, and engineering? These sectors have realized that their labor pool widens when they accept, if not encourage women to participate. Women also bring a fresh perspective, high competency, loyalty, innovation, and more to the workforce. VAA sat down with Alicia Brooks of KCI Technologies, Inc., a mentor and leader in the industry as well as Women of Asphalt Virginia’s Chairwoman, to hear her perspective as a woman in the asphalt and construction industry for over 20 years. VAA→ What led to your career in asphalt? What has your trajectory been since your early education days? AB→ After graduating high school in 1992, I attended Old Dominion University to become a marine biologist. Biology has always been a passion of mine. However, two years into the degree, the college changed the requirements of my goal to a five-year commitment, which seemed a bit too long and would incur more student loan debt. While sticking with the major of Biology, time and, of course, money were the deciding factors in my shifting to include a minor in Education. I began teaching until I could repay my student loans. Three years out of college, I unexpectedly became a single parent, and being a schoolteacher wasn’t a financially stable enough career choice to raise my child without any additional support. So, in the winter of 1999, I hit the newspapers and answered an ad for a nuclear gauge technician for a small family-owned asphalt company in Richmond, VA. I had no idea the job would entail testing asphalt and working in a lab. I had to interview for the position three times, as the company didn’t have the confidence that a schoolteacher would be interested or successful in maintaining longevity with an asphalt company, let alone as a nuclear gauge technician. However, despite the back and forth, I held my ground and was hired. I hit the ground running with my training and certifications. I took all the required training classes that would qualify me for testing, designing, and producing asphalt, and over 18 years, I advanced role by role within the company. I was an asphalt road technician, then a lab technician, then later a lab manager and asphalt field manager. After those roles, I oversaw the QA program and maintained the environmental permits necessary for asphalt plant operations. After leaving that company (which taught me everything I know about asphalt), I moved on to other great opportunities in the industry. Currently, I am a Construction Manager for KCI Technologies, Inc., overseeing various projects throughout Virginia, working closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation—and I still love what I do. For future generations of women in the asphalt industry, you will always have job security here. Roads will ALWAYS need building OR repairing. You can grow and shape your career in any way you want. Women of Asphalt will continue to be a voice and community for those inspired to join the industry. 20 FALL/WINTER 2023
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzc3ODM=