At PABCO Roofing Products, our mission is to build a culture where people matter. Industry sectors like construction, the trades, and manufacturing are traditionally male-dominated industries. So we are both proud and passionate about supporting our female staff members working in non-traditional roles.
March is National Women’s History month, where we shine the spotlight on women making their way. It’s also a time to advocate and encourage equity systems for women, especially women in business. Finally, it’s the perfect time to reflect and admire the work of our female leaders.
Laurie Jallo: Pursuit of Excellence
Laurie Jallo heads up the PABCO Roofing Products’ testing lab. We had the opportunity to catch up with her and talk to her about her career path. This is what she had to say.
Question: What is it like working as a woman in the roofing industry?
Answer: Working as a woman in the roofing industry is exciting and challenging. There are many facets of the roofing industry to learn and grow. For example, the building and construction aspect, the code and certification portion, and the mechanical and engineering part. In addition, the people and networking have all affected my experience in the roofing industry.
Question: What are some things you do or tell yourself to remain motivated for your job?
Answer: I don’t have to tell myself anything. I remain motivated for my job because I love seeing things being made. Knowing that what we do every day provides a product that makes someone feel like they are protecting their home, is very rewarding. I also stay motivated each day, because I am always learning something new.
Question: What is something you wish you could tell your younger self about where you are at now in your career?
Answer: I would tell my younger self that all the learning and hard work do make a difference as you get older.
Question: If you could give any advice to other women working within the roofing industry, what would it be?
Answer: I would say don’t be afraid to ask questions, expect respect and results, and be yourself.
Question: What is your favorite part about working in the roofing industry?
Answer: My favorite part of working in the roofing industry is making quality shingles every day with a team of people striving for the same goal. And to see that product out in the field, looking good and giving a customer the peace of mind their home is protected.
Rebecca Newman: Mentoring the future of Manufacturing
Rebecca Newman is PABCO Roofing Products’ Plant Manager and a long-time team member. Rebecca manages the production of the asphalt shingle line. As one of the top leaders on our team, she adds unique insight to the conversation.
Question: What is it like working as a woman in manufacturing?
Answer: When I first came to work for PABCO, only two women worked in the entire plant. A lab technician and me. Women worked at PABCO, but they were office individuals with desk jobs like administration and customer service. I grew up as kind of a tomboy. I liked sports, and I was comfortable competing with boys and men, so it wasn’t a massive shock to work alongside a primarily male team. But it was apparent that manufacturing was a male-dominated industry. The industry was lacking from a gender standpoint.
I consider the situation a challenge to some extent. I believe that ANYBODY is inherently capable of anything at any point, regardless of gender. We need to expose people to the fact that the opportunities in manufacturing are there – regardless of gender. We need to encourage people and women that we know and make them aware of the options in manufacturing. They may not be your typical opportunities. There’s a lot of value from that standpoint.
Question: What is your favorite part about working in the roofing and manufacturing industry?
Answer: The people motivate me. Making sure that everyone around me gets the same opportunity is vital to me. Mentoring is one of my favorite parts. I’ve had different mentors in the manufacturing industry. A lot of people took me under their wing when I was young. Being a woman in manufacturing was not the norm. Many people around me wanted to see me succeed. One of my favorite parts of my position in the manufacturing industry is to give back part of myself in that way. Encouraging other women is one of the favorite parts of my job. It brings me joy.
Question: What would you tell your younger self about where you are now in your career?
Answer: When I came out of college, I thought I wanted to be a coach for athletes, but I chose the manufacturing industry instead. When most people think of the title “coach’, they envision sports, but I am a coach. If I had to tell my younger self something today, it’s to be prepared to mentor others. My younger self probably didn’t equate coaching to mentoring others, and this role is all about coaching and helping people.
Question: If you could give any advice to other women working within the roofing or manufacturing industry. What would it be?
Answer: Be willing to listen and learn, have an open mind, and be ready to build upon your knowledge. Also, it would be best if you trust in relationships. You may have great ideas, but at the end of the day, if people aren’t buying into what you’re trying to do. It’s hard to move the needle. You have to develop relationships to get momentum and movement.
Question: What is your favorite part about working in the manufacturing industry?
Answer: My favorite part is that every day brings a new challenge. At some point, challenges can be frustrating, but when you solve a problem, the feeling of satisfaction is rewarding. Each day is fraught with some new challenge or hurdle that we need to overcome. In the last couple of years, there have been more challenges than we anticipated with the pandemic situation. I like the challenge aspect, and I love change. Having something new to deal with every day is exciting, and trying to figure out and solve problems as a team is invigorating. It works your mind like a puzzle.
Lori Jerome: Leading by Learning
Lori Jerome is PABCO Roofing Product’s Brand Manager. She is responsible for PABCO Roofing’s brand story and the marketing department’s activities. We asked her a few questions as well. Read her perspective below.
Question: What is it like working as a woman in the roofing industry?
Answer: My job doesn’t entail me being out in the field, but I do get to connect with many roofing professionals, and very few are women. I have to push myself to be curious and step out of my comfort zone to learn about this industry. I started marketing in the building products, manufacturing, and construction industries many years ago. It’s usually a man’s world. I am used to the biases and assumptions that come with the territory when you’re a woman leading in a man’s world, and I feel that I’ve overcome a lot of those roadblocks over my career. I have to be forthright, asking many questions to get information in an industry that I speak about but don’t physically work. A saving grace for me in getting to know and understand the roofing industry has been the National Women in Roofing organization. Being a member allows me to network with women in the roofing industry and understand their perspectives on our products and the people at PABCO Roofing Products.
Question: What are some things you do or tell yourself to remain motivated for your job?
Answer: I chose a path in marketing that is constantly changing and evolving – digital marketing and brand management. I tell myself, you either stay on the motivation treadmill or fall off. It doesn’t move slow; it moves fast. My career is my motivation. Marketing is in a constant flux of innovation, and so is the built environment. When I am not working at PABCO, I volunteer on the board for marketing associations, get certified for something new, or teach people how to use marketing tools and techniques.
Question: What is something you wish you could tell your younger self about where you are now in your career?
Answer: There’s time. Take your time and learn anything and everything you can. My motto is “Learn everything; nothing is useless.”
Question: If you could give any advice to other women working within the roofing industry, what would it be?
Answer: Again, I am a big fan of the National Women in Roofing (NWiR). It’s a great resource—such a fabulous way to connect with women in every aspect of the roofing industry. There is a great energy at all their events, and they form such a supportive environment and sisterhood. Even with competitors involved, the feeling is one of sharing, not competition.
Question: What is your favorite part about working in the roofing industry?
Answer: I am a self-proclaimed building products geek. I love being in manufacturing and knowing how something is made. My favorite aspect of my job in the roofing industry is being able to tell stories about people and projects. It’s so cool to drive by a building or see a picture and say, “The company I work for made that.” It’s the best part.
PABCO Roofing Products proudly supports women in the industry through various opportunities. Whether you’re working in manufacturing, as a roofing contractor, or in distribution channels, there are countless opportunities for women to get involved and advance in the roofing industry.