Rafn is fortunate to have a dynamic, experienced, and dependable team. We are eager to collaborate, engage, and learn from each other, and most of all we are lucky to have some amazing women who we work alongside every day. This year for Women in Construction Week we are recognizing a handful of our team members who are an integral part of Rafn’s success.
Jen Oliver
The amazing Jen Oliver, Senior Project Engineer, has been with the Rafn Company since she was a student at WSU studying Construction Management. She is not only a great role model to young women who want to break into the industry, but she is a great role model to all of Rafn’s up and coming Project Engineers. Jen has a natural attention to detail and meticulous nature which makes her the go-to resource for many on the jobsite. She says her favorite part of the job is watching a two-dimensional plan set turn into a three-dimensional reality. Her biggest piece of advice to women wanting to break into the industry is “Construction may seem really intimidating, but it’s an incredibly rewarding industry. Women bring key strengths to the job—attention to detail, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, multi-tasking, and patience—all of which are essential to success in this field.”
Darcy Tsujikawa
With a positive mindset and outlook, you can achieve great things; just look at Rafn Project Manager Darcy Tsujikawa! Darcy overflows with positive energy and is a stellar role model for women in construction. When asked about her favorite part of the job, Darcy says she loves the development of the relationship with the project team. Not just the owners, architects, and developers, but the subcontractors, craftspeople, and everyone else involved in the project; it is the most enriching part of her job. Her advice to other women in the industry is “Never let the fact that you are a woman get in the way of your hopes, dreams, and aspirations, look at it as your strength.” Her infectious positive attitude makes it impossible not to have a smile on your face as you walk away from a conversation with Darcy.
Hattie Walker
Hattie Walker is efficient, knowledgeable, and confident, which makes her the perfect fit as Rafn’s Equipment Manager. Hattie came into the construction industry about eleven years ago after seventeen years in the Army. She brings a team player attitude and aspires to do everything in her power to uplift her team, be a leader, and make sure her voice is heard. Her biggest piece of advice to other women wanting to break into the industry is “Don’t be afraid to do it, it can be a very intimidating space, but the reward of seeing the end product and knowing you had a part in that building coming to life is worth it”
Dani Lyons
Pursuing your curiosities can lead to amazing things, just look at Dani Lyons, who has now been with Rafn for two years as a carpenter apprentice through CITC. Struggling with the decision on what she wanted for a career, she narrowed it down to medicine and construction and in Dani’s own words “only one of which allows you to hit things without causing a scene.” She says her favorite part about the job is when her skills grow, and she starts to feel confident in what she is doing, such as custom cutting paver stones, being a forklift operator, and demolition at a new job site. Advice she would give to other women wanting to break into the industry is “Be kind and forgiving to yourself. It’s not just the job you are learning, but also how to establish your place in this male dominated culture. You will be pushed; you will be challenged. But at the end of the day, when you can look back and say, ‘I did that’, the reward couldn’t be sweeter.”
Nikki Robancho
“Remember your reasons for being out here. Stay grounded, resilient, and humble.” Wise words from Nikki Robancho, Rafn Carpenter. Nikki got her start in construction from finishing ANEW (Apprenticeship Non-Traditional Employment for Women) which sent her straight into a CITC Carpentry Apprenticeship. Nikki is a seasoned pro now with 8 years under her belt, and her first one at Rafn well underway. She loves to learn from anyone who has been around the industry longer than her, experiences come with time! Seeing the completion and know she is turning over a quality product to a customer is what keeps Nikki excited about being a carpenter.