Kent Companies Celebrates Women in Construction Week 2021
What can you build on the Kent Companies team? The answer goes far beyond our job sites.
Visit any one of our offices, and you’ll find construction industry professionals who are solving complex problems and developing solutions that position our team and our customers for success.
We’re sharing insight from five women on the Kent Companies team who are striving to Build Something More every day.
These profiles are a part of Women in Construction Week, a national initiative to highlight the contributions of women in the construction industry.
Laura Mendias, HR Generalist
In three years on the Kent Companies team, Laura Mendias has carved out a dynamic role in Human Resources. While she’s based in the Dallas, Texas office, Mendias often supports employee communications for teams across the country. She did this by “being open to helping anyone, at any time.”
Mendias is widely recognized as a go-to resource for employee programs, orientation and HR processes. She intentionally developed her translation skills and attention to detail, building a reputation as a go-to resource for critical communications. Mendias challenges others to be open-minded to change. She shares, “I’ve grown my leadership skills, problem-solving and confidence at Kent Companies. If you want something, this is the place to go for it.”
Kachine Creg, Project Manager
As a Project Manager, Kachine Creg coordinates between customers, suppliers and field operations. She says that communications skills are highly valuable in helping the team deliver successful projects every day. She shares, “Successful project delivery requires the entire team to communicate clearly and work towards the same goal.”
Creg is celebrating five years of service at Kent Companies, and she’s committed to building on her knowledge base of job planning, budgeting and cost analysis. Creg noted, “You can learn a lot from all of the leaders around you simply by speaking up and asking questions. There is a lot of knowledge at Kent Companies; you have to find your own way to take advantage of it.”
Mindy Curtiss, SHRM-SCP, HR Director
Mindy Curtiss leads Human Resources initiatives for Kent Companies across the Midwest and Southeast. She shares, “I came into the construction industry with very little knowledge about our trade, but I knew a lot about people from my years of experience in Human Resources. Kent Companies offered transparency and flexibility to try new ideas. They valued my perspective from day one and were willing to look through a different lens as I offered insight into fresh ideas for our teams. I’ve always felt like my opinion was valued.”
Curtiss develops Kent Companies’ recruitment strategy for skilled trades, and she’s passionate about matching individuals with a the right team. “I’ve always had a strong appreciation for the trades, considering my husband has worked in skilled trades for nearly 25 years. Our kids are now charting their own paths, and I’m excited to be able to share with them the careers and growth opportunities that are available in our industry.”
Laura Mason, Accounts Payable Specialist
Laura Mason is a member of of the accounting team in Dallas, Texas. Prior to joining Kent Companies, Mason spent 20 years in the service industry. She is breaking barriers professionally, and she’s energized by it. “Not many women are in the construction field, much less Hispanic women like me. I know my work demonstrates how we can bring value to the operation without ever stepping a foot on a site.”
Mason delivers the Four Hallmarks of Safety, Productivity, Quality and Customer Service every day. “Serving others is my passion. It’s what I was created to do, and I bring that to Kent. Customer service starts with my team and extends to everyone that I come in contact with; employees and vendors alike.”
Laura Armstrong, Administrative Assistant
Laura Armstrong’s construction career spans over 23 years. As the Administrative Assistant for Kent Companies’ Ohio office, she supports administrative, accounting and business development processes. Laura’s role requires her to wear many hats, and that is her favorite part about the job. “I love that my job changes daily. I work with people across many offices, and I tackle a new challenge every day. It’s also nice to see a new building and know we had a small part in its construction.”
To learn more about career opportunities at Kent Companies, visit Why Join the Kent Family.
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About Kent Companies:
Kent Companies is a 3rd-generation family-owned business with expertise in commercial and industrial construction, mixed-use construction, multi-family housing, tilt-up concrete, post-tensioned cast in place structures and a full range of concrete-related specialties.
Kent Companies is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has operations in Detroit, Michigan; Dallas and Austin, Texas; central Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina and St. Louis, Missouri. Kent Companies employs over 1,600 concrete construction professionals nationwide, and the organization is ranked as the 10th largest concrete contractor nationwide by ENR Magazine. The Kent Companies team has built a reputation as “Leaders in Concrete.”
