The Eleven Percent: Meet Jessie Cannizzaro, Plumbing Contractor

The "Eleven Percent" series by Family Handyman highlights the significant contributions of women in the construction and skilled trades workforce, a sector where they currently constitute only 11% of the total. The series features 19 women who have excelled in various trades, sharing their journeys, challenges, and successes. One prominent figure is Celia Reyes, a welder who was inspired by her father's work with Union Pacific Railroad. Despite facing skepticism and being one of only two women in her initial class of 150 at Tulsa Welding School, she persevered. For the past 11 years, Reyes has worked for John Zink Hamworthy Combustion, welding solutions to minimize carbon emissions, and she also teaches welding at Oklahoma Technical College, emphasizing the satisfying nature of working with one's hands and building objects. Schannon Yodice, known as "That Tile Chick," grew up with tools but initially pursued a career in accounting, which she found unfulfilling. In 2017, she transitioned to general contracting with her fiancé and later specialized in tiling, taking over a master tile setter's client list upon his retirement. Yodice highlights the varied and continuously evolving nature of her work, which prevents boredom and fosters skill development. Lydia Crowder, a drywall contractor, discovered her passion for the trade after finding college wasn't the right fit. Her father, a veteran drywall professional, and his employees mentored her. Two decades later, Crowder runs her own company, appreciating the freedom and problem-solving aspects of her job. Through her Instagram account @DrywallShorty, she shares industry tips and advocates for inclusivity and knowledge sharing within the construction sector. Jessie Cannizzaro, a plumbing contractor, initially resisted following her father's footsteps in the family plumbing business. After studying veterinary medicine and business in college, a family crisis led her back to plumbing, where she rediscovered her passion. She leveraged her business degree to launch Milestone Plumbing in 2011, specializing in residential remodels and repairs. Cannizzaro actively promotes trades to high school students and even created a coloring book to introduce plumbing to elementary-aged children. Renee Wilson, an insulation contractor and owner, developed a passion for insulation from an early age, helping her father with his family business. She eventually took over the reins of Rockweiler Insulation, focusing on new home construction and retrofitting existing houses. Wilson emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and curiosity in any career, advising individuals to ask questions and engage with industry knowledge. Kat Christie, a residential handyperson and founder of She Fixed That, transformed her childhood love for tinkering into a professional career. After earning a Handyman Certificate Course, she launched her business in 2019, which thrived during the pandemic by addressing diverse home repair needs. Christie notes a strong demand for women in the handywoman niche across different regions. Soph Davenberry, a sheet metal worker, entered the trades after a liberal arts degree left them without immediate employment. An apprenticeship in sheet metal proved life-changing, leading to 26 years of expertise in sheet metal and HVAC. Davenberry later pursued a second degree in applied science with a focus on sustainable building, appreciating how their nonbinary identity allows them to bring diverse perspectives to their work. Kelly Gannon, a contractor and founder of Kreate Construction, discovered her aptitude for construction as a teenager. Starting with roofing, she gradually learned various aspects of construction, eventually establishing her own company specializing in residential repairs and remodeling. Gannon encourages self-belief, stating that individuals often underestimate their capabilities. D'ondra Howard, a furniture maker and founder of Workboots & Glasses, started woodworking as a hobby. Her custom furniture creations, initially shared on Facebook Marketplace, gained significant popularity, leading her to establish her business in 2021. Howard now creates a range of custom pieces and advocates for welcoming diverse perspectives and learning styles within the trades. Gabriela Narvaez, a general contractor and owner of Guild Properties, transitioned into construction after working in foreign service, non-profit management, and finance. Despite her diverse background, construction was a family legacy. Her high-end real estate development and construction firm, Guild Properties, reflects her passion for the industry, and she consults with DIYers through Matriarchy Build. Ami Feller, a roofing contractor and owner of Roofer Chicks, gained her initial roofing experience in college. After a period in corporate management, she returned to the roofing industry, first with her brother and then by launching her own company. Feller also runs a YouTube channel, @rooferchicks, providing educational content for homeowners on roof-related issues. Nhu Nguyen, an auto technician and restorer, initially explored various careers despite a childhood passion for cars. She eventually returned to the automotive world, becoming the first woman to earn Porsche Classic certification and a Red Seal Certified Automotive Technician. Nguyen works at Pfaff Tuning, a high-end independent shop, and maintains an active Instagram presence, sharing her "beyond dreams" experiences. Samira Kraziem, a construction project manager at Suffolk Construction, stumbled into the industry as a receptionist while pursuing a master's degree in speech pathology. Intrigued by the field, she switched careers and steadily advanced to senior project manager. Kraziem emphasizes the critical importance of technical knowledge across all trades for effective coordination and problem-solving. Greta Bajrami, CEO of Golden Group Roofing, immigrated to the U.S. from Albania at a young age. Inspired by her mother's resilience, Bajrami became an entrepreneur, leading a successful roofing and siding company and developing the Rootless app to connect people with trade careers. She was recognized with the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2023, attributing her success to her mother's lessons and the opportunities in America. Gretchen Avilés Piñeiro, a traffic engineer for the City of Madison, Wisconsin, chose her career based on a desire to ensure safe and efficient movement of people. She moved from Puerto Rico, falling in love with Madison's changing seasons, and finds her work important for the city's culture, contributing to a comfortable and safe environment for all commuters. Faye Hadley, an ASE Certified Master Technician, TV personality, and DIY automotive instructor, initially pursued a psychology degree from Harvard but eventually followed her true passion for automotive work. She owns Pistons & Pixie Dust, her repair business, and is a well-known figure on shows like "All Girls Garage" and "Motor MythBusters," as well as on YouTube and Instagram. Hadley emphasizes that car repair empowers individuals with autonomy and freedom. Tonda Thompson, a woodworker and general contractor, founded She Slangs Wood, a custom furniture business that also teaches woodworking skills to women. She views teaching trade skills as empowering, giving women confidence that extends beyond making money. Thompson advocates for community involvement and uses her platform to showcase her work and her students' achievements. Valerie Adams, an automotive mechanic, began her career almost three decades ago in high school. After a hiatus to raise children, she returned to the trade, working in an all-female auto shop and advocating for women in the automotive industry. Adams challenges employers to address workplace issues and value women for their skills, rather than perceived expendability. Samantha Pearl and Emily Pearl Reist, founders of My Handyma'am Home Repairs and Renovations, discovered their passion for home renovation during the pandemic. After undertaking several extensive renovation projects together, Samantha secured her residential builder's license, and they launched their business. They also created a Facebook group, "How to Handyma'am," to teach simple home projects and provide a forum for women's repair questions, highlighting the underserved niche of small problem-solving for homeowners. #WomenInTrades #SkilledTrades #ConstructionIndustry #FemaleEntrepreneurs #DIY #Welding #Plumbing #AutomotiveRepair #Woodworking

Gabriela Narvaez, owner and operator of Guild Properties, a high-end real estate development and construction firm in Washington, D.C., was born in Nicaragua to a civil engineer father and an architect brother. Despite her family's background, her career path initially diverged from construction. She moved to Virginia for business school, then worked for the Nicaraguan Foreign Service in Washington, D.C., followed by a role as events director for a nonprofit supporting Nicaraguan children, and ultimately spent a decade in Georgetown University’s finance department. The passion for construction, however, remained ingrained in her, stemming from childhood experiences visiting job sites with her father. Narvaez's journey into contracting began in 2008 when she and her husband purchased a townhome requiring extensive renovations. With limited funds, she sought guidance from her father and brother, embarking on the renovation herself. This experience, despite its chaotic nature involving a new baby, a dog, and a makeshift kitchen, ignited her love for the work. She subsequently started renovating and flipping houses for friends. The onset of the pandemic in 2020 served as a catalyst, prompting her to pursue her passion more formally. She obtained residential and commercial general contractors licenses and secured her first client by December 2020. Guild Properties specializes in renovating older, smaller Colonial homes, focusing on transforming existing structures rather than new builds or additions. Narvaez emphasizes making existing houses functional and beautiful while preserving their character and unique design sustainably. Her approach includes reusing materials whenever possible to minimize environmental impact, acknowledging that working with existing spaces can be more challenging due to unforeseen issues, but she relishes these challenges. As a woman contractor, Narvaez has encountered some unique challenges, such as clients requesting discounts, which she perceives as devaluing her work in a way they might not with a male contractor. However, she notes that her crews have always been respectful, and she herself often doesn't recognize her unique position as the only woman on a job site until others point it out. Notable projects include remodeling a house for a client with mobility challenges, which required thoughtful design considerations for accessibility and safety, and building a custom cat closet to conceal litter boxes. She finds it difficult to pick a favorite project because she develops strong relationships with her clients, often becoming teary when projects conclude, particularly missing their pets. Narvaez observes that material changes have significantly impacted the industry over the past decade. She highlights the evolution of luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring, which has transformed from an inferior product into an aesthetically pleasing and affordable alternative to more expensive options like tiling. She advocates for clients to personalize their homes based on their own tastes rather than following fleeting trends, encouraging them to create spaces that genuinely reflect their identity. For aspiring young women in the construction field, her advice centers on passion, resilience, and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities. She acknowledges that the work is often difficult, with only a small fraction being glamorous, but stresses that the rewards and personal growth achieved through the challenging process are substantial. Her essential tools include a laser measure for efficiency, a traditional tape measure for precision in tight spaces, and Excel for meticulous financial tracking. She also prioritizes investing in high-quality paintbrushes and using proper primer before painting, believing these steps significantly enhance the final appearance of a project. #ConstructionIndustry #WomenInConstruction #GeneralContractor #HomeRenovation #SustainableBuilding #Entrepreneurship #Tradeswoman #CareerJourney