Celebrating Our Hard Hat Moms for Mother’s Day!

During the month of May, we took Mother's Day one step further, and dedicated time to find some "Hard Hat Moms" in our industry! These amazing women are shaping the construction industry every day while also having the most challenging, yet rewarding, job of being a mom! 

Kelly LaBrasca - Mascaro Construction Company, LP 

The construction industry is in Kelly LaBrasca’s DNA “From the time I was a little girl, I saw my dad’s hard hat in the back of his truck.”  So the Penn State Structural Design and Construction  Engineering graduate knew from the first grade she would pursue a job in the construction industry. 

During her career, LaBrasca has worked on prestige projects, such as U.S. Capital Building and the Smithsonian  Natural History Museum in Washington, DC.  Now, a Project Manager with Mascaro Construction Company,  LP,  she works on Pittsburgh-area projects for organizations like the University of Pittsburgh and The Pittsburgh Foundation. 

When she started in the industry fourteen years ago, she noticed challenges with clients and colleagues accepting women in the business. “I always know when a man I’m working with has a daughter, because he understands that women can do the job.” 

 Even  though times have changed, and more women are entering the industry, LaBrasca  is sometimes the only woman in a meeting or working on a job. Her advice to other women  – “be sure you know your stuff,  have faith in yourself, and you will earn the respect you deserve.” 

When her daughter, 18-month-old Sofia was born,  LaBrasca and her husband, Brandt, knew they had to work together, and “divide and conquer”  the responsibilities of parenthood. According to LaBrasca, excellent family support and teamwork are the keys to balancing everything, as well as  working for a company like  Mascaro Construction Company, LP where family is truly valued. 

Alicia Densmore, RA - AIMS Construction Company, Inc.  

Alicia Densmore is a Senior Project Manager at AIMS Construction, Inc. She quickly realized she was interested in all aspects of construction, including BIM-based processes, pre-construction services and estimating. In her current role, she  loves that every project and every day is different, and enjoys ensuring that the right team is assembled and working together to build the best project for the client. 

According to Densmore, “there is a stigma that construction is a male industry,”  but advises other women that “if you believe you can succeed you will.”  After ten years in the industry, she is convinced  that women are particularly suited to the multi-tasking, problem-solving and communication skills needed to manage and deliver a project that exceeds a client’s expectations. 

However, Densmore admits that becoming a Mom to 2-1/2-year-old Madison added challenges and complexity to her work-life balance. “It’s hard being a Mom, no matter what the circumstances. Motherhood affects your priorities, so you need to find your balance, the right company, and a personal support system to succeed.” 

“ I know I am successful in this balancing act because my husband, Ryan, and I are a team as parents, and I am fortunate to have wonderful childcare. Also, AIMS is a company that supports women and Moms in the workplace.” 

Among Densmore’s many  senior project management successes is a 2019 MBA Building Excellence Award for AIMS Construction work on  the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Cathedral of Learning on the 22nd and 23rd floors. 

Crystal Schafer - Massaro Construction Group 

When Crystal Schafer graduated from West Virginia University (WVU) with a degree in Business Management, she says “it led me to an unplanned twenty-four-year career in the construction industry.”  She also holds a Masters in Safety and Environmental Management from WVU, and serves as  Director of Safety for Massaro Construction Group, where she oversees the safety programs, training and site safety inspections. Schafer is also a member of MBA’s Risk Management Committee. 

  “When I got started in the business, site safety managers were a growing specialty.  I was offered the opportunity, took it and never looked back!  I enjoy the people, the variety in my days, and feeling like my work is making a difference. I joined Massaro twenty years ago, and couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with, and who are completely committed to the safety and health of all.”  Her first experience as a site safety manager was on the UPMC Hillman Cancer Project, a joint venture between Massaro and PJ Dick. 

Schafer emphasizes the importance of teamwork, building relationships, and tapping into the knowledge of everyone on a project. Her advice to other women and Moms considering a career in the industry-- “Give it a  try. Be confident, but leave the attitude at the door. Be friendly, fair, firm and open to other’s  perspectives.” 

Managing motherhood and a career is a balancing act. She is mom to two daughters, twenty-one-year-old Mackenzie, and thirteen-year-old Aleksey. “Every day is something different, with a to-do list that is never finished but I wouldn't have it any other way!“