Women in Construction week is the first full week in March. Currently, only 13% of employees in the construction industry are female, according to Construction Coverage. By highlighting women at Clyde Companies, we hope to increase the number of women who decide to begin a career in construction.
For Natalie Robinson, hard work and change have always been a part of her DNA. From early on in life, she’s known about sacrifice.
“I postponed going to college for a bit because my father passed away when I was 18, and we had a family farm to run,” Natalie said. “I gave up my out-of-state scholarships and instead went to Weber State so that I could be close to home.”
Working a full-time job, going to school full time, and helping run the family farm taught her the value of perseverance and hard work. Soon, Natalie married and was accepted into the nursing program at her college, but circumstances changed again when a difficult pregnancy forced her to withdraw.
Then, following a brief career in as an assistant to a controller, she accepted an offer to work in the construction industry for a mechanical contractor. After moving to the Salt Lake City area, Natalie found continued employment in the trade working for Kiewit, where she assisted on several high-profile projects, including joint ventures with WW Clyde.
“After 12 years of working long hours, and the possibility of having to move out of state,” Natalie said. “The pandemic and earthquake caused me to reevaluate my life. I really wanted to get back to normal hours and have a work-life balance.”
Natalie chose to quit her job at Kiewit and remain in Utah, where she quickly discovered an opportunity to work as an administrative assistant for the concrete division at Geneva Rock.
“I put some feelers out about the job, and I heard back pretty quickly,” Natalie said. “I wanted to have a better quality of life, and that’s what Geneva Rock has given me.”
Natalie loves construction and everyone she’s interacted with.
“Everyone I’ve met in the construction industry has been good to work with,” Natalie said. “They’re usually very direct, but if you’re honest and upfront, they’ll respect you.
“In construction, you meet people from all different backgrounds. This has given me the opportunity to have friends from all over the world. I love the diversity of the workforce, and I love the people.
“Additionally, I’ve worked with a lot of women in construction. They’re usually very strong and very capable of doing their jobs. They’re innovative and bring to light a lot of things that might be missed in the workplace.”
Even while dealing with various career moves and personal tragedies, Natalie has maintained a positive outlook on life and advises everyone to continue their pursuit of education whether it be in the trades or at college.
“A college degree can bolster you up and open opportunities that aren’t available to those without one,” Natalie said. “Don’t be afraid to try new things. Be assertive and innovative and learn everything you can. Jump right in, don’t stand back. Show people you can make a difference.”
Natalie has done her best to make a difference in the lives of those around her and appreciates the opportunity to work for Geneva Rock because of the integrity of the company and people.
“I love the people here,” Natalie said. “Everyone is really nice and friendly. Geneva Rock is a great company to work for. People are very accommodating, and I enjoy the interactions with the salesmen, managers, and those in the field. It has been a lot of fun.”