Breaking Ground
edited by Cassidy Mantor
Being a female in a male-dominated workplace means I have to work harder, be more detailed, and show my role as leader and boss in a more dominating fashion.
–Whitney Watts, MW Watts Construction
Women comprise nearly half of the workforce but account for just over 10 percent of those employed in the construction industry, according to annual data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While that statistic may not be surprising for the traditionally male-dominated construction industry, WHJ scouted the local market to find out who some of these women are, with the goal of recognizing the immense value they’re bringing to our community.
The women we’re featuring are general contractors, architects, and designers. Some are Park City natives, others are longtime transplants drawn to the mountain lifestyle. They work smarter and harder, and their perspectives shed light on the unique experiences they bring to the job. We hope you enjoy getting to know them better through their stories – we surely have!
Beck & Engle Design
Beck & Engle Design is a residential design firm based in Park City, Utah, specializing in new build custom estates. As partners, Stacey Beck and Amanda Engle work synergistically and have found that their experience in construction and residential design has supported their vision to create a firm that focuses on all aspects of a design-build project. What separates them is their ability to combine creativity with organization. They believe that a successful project is built on a foundation of clear, concise documentation, in turn creating inspired interiors. Currently, the Beck & Engle team is working on several projects within Park City, Deer Valley, and the surrounding neighborhoods of The Colony, Tuhaye, and Victory Ranch.
Amanda enjoys spending time trail running with her husband, Matt, and dog, Griff. In her free time, she and Matt have been designing their own home in Midway. Stacey lives in Park City with her husband, Zach, and two children, Jack and Georgia, where they spend time tackling the mountains together and creating family projects.
whj: How do you navigate work/life balance?
We feel that implementing a work-life balance is essential to any business owner, but especially to those of us in creative fields. Work tends to become all-encompassing when we are constantly searching for inspiration or immersing ourselves in a project, so prioritizing our family, health, and down time is crucial. Our trick is to block out space on our calendars regularly and vacation in places where we can truly unplug and detach. In this way, we recharge our creative batteries and tend to be better designers for doing so. We also have a standing week off in August scheduled for the entire Beck & Engle office so that our team is able to have personal time for whatever purpose it may serve.
whj: Is there something you’ve learned professionally that you wish you could’ve told your younger self about your career?
At the time, as a young designer, working in an industry alongside seasoned professionals and some of our own personal role models, it’s easy to be swayed to perform or present in a certain manner. There were specific moments in time when the weight of other’s experience squashed a particular design idea or procedure we may have wanted to implement. Looking back, it would have been advantageous to have been more confident in our own abilities to access situations and take those creative reins where our instincts aimed. In other words, we should have trusted our guts earlier on!
whj: What advice would you give to someone else starting out?
Dig in and do the work! Gaining experience, knowledge, and success takes time. We love to see when a young person in the industry has tangible drive and unstoppable determination. Experience is the teacher of all things, and especially in an industry where no two projects are the same, it’s great to see when young professionals are asking questions and searching for answers. We recommend understanding the complexities of construction, studying balance and proportion, and being organized throughout the process.
whj: How do you enjoy Park City and connect with your community outside of work?
Park City tends to attract trail junkies and outdoor enthusiasts like ourselves, so we always end up connecting with our clients and vendors on that level. Everyone seems to have a vast appreciation for this incredible town and all the adventure it offers. Simply living here offers a built-in commonality with not only those with whom we work, but with the entire community. We are especially grateful for the sense of pride Park City has towards its female business owners, who tend to hold each other up. If sometimes it takes a village, we are very lucky to call Park City ours.
“We are especially grateful for the sense of pride Park City has towards its female business owners, who tend to hold each other up. If sometimes it takes a village, we are very lucky to call Park City ours.”
–Stacey Beck & Amanda Engle, Beck & Engle Design
Blackdog Builders
Amanda Evans, a Park City native, is no stranger to the design-build world. Starting at a young age, she was shown the ropes of construction by her father Todd Evans (owner of Blackdog Builders). Throughout her teenage years, Amanda worked for Blackdog and gained a love for the industry. After graduating from the University of Utah, she acquired expertise in the field while working for a custom home builder in Newport Beach, California, and HGTV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Amanda enjoyed her time away from Utah but missed her family and the mountains. Upon her 2019 return, Amanda and Todd collaborated and expanded the company’s services. Amanda is now the Principal In-House Designer and helps manage Blackdog Builders.
whj: How did you find your way to your current job?
Besides the familial ties, I found my way here because I followed my “heart of hearts.” I have always been drawn to the arts. Whether that is the design-build process, dancing, photography, painting, fashion, etc. Yes, art is visual. But art is so much more. It’s expression of oneself, how we present individuality, and how we connect with the world. I love the design-build process…imagining, creating, executing, and then sharing. It is a beautiful thing!
whj: Who are your role models?
Other women in the industry! I am a firm believer in supporting those in the same field as me. The more beautiful spaces we can create out there, the better!
whj: How does your team factor into your professional success?
My team is everything. There is absolutely no way I could do this alone. We are a family at Blackdog. I am fortunate to be able to delegate to those I trust and learn from those who have been in the field longer than me. The construction world can no doubt be stressful. We do our very best to show our team how appreciative we are of them and try to have as much fun as we can along the way. There is a reason I have been with Blackdog for so many years; it is a great place to work and grow professionally.
“I love the design-build process… imagining, creating, executing, and then sharing. It is a beautiful thing!”
–Amanda Evans, Blackdog Builders
Design Collective West
Michele Wheeler is the owner of Design Collective West, a full-service architecture and interior design firm based out of Park City, Utah. Design Collective West focuses primarily on luxury residential and hospitality projects throughout the Rocky Mountain region and offers in-house professional architectural and interior design services, as well as a complete range of turn-key services including furniture selections, procurement, and installation. The company’s niche lies in its unique marriage of highly creative, innovative design paired with technical acumen. Michele founded the company with her husband, James, in 2015. As a licensed architect in numerous states throughout the country, Michele thrives on designing projects with the whole picture in mind.
whj: How did you find your way to your current job?
Upon college graduation, I relocated to Utah (from the Midwest) and began practicing architecture in 2004. After nearly 12 years of exciting (yet challenging) positions at two larger firms, I decided that my career path needed a re-focus, of sorts. Most importantly, a more flexible schedule that could allow for family time and personal time, something that would create a better quality of life for myself, my husband, and our two children. I also wanted more control over my projects, the creative aspects as well as the business-oriented aspects. From there, Design Collective West was born.
whj: How do you navigate work/life balance?
I am a true ‘Type A’ personality in every respect. This often makes it difficult for me to maintain a healthy work/life balance. However, the older I become, the more I realize how beneficial it is – for me, for our clients, and for our team – to periodically take a small pause from work and breathe. Stepping away for moments of family time and personal time allows me to see our projects from a new perspective, to take a 30,000-foot glimpse of what is really going on with the process of a project and come back with fresh ideas and renewed vigor.
whj: How does your team factor into your professional success?
As I mentioned, my husband James is the co-owner of our firm. As an ex-athlete, James is a huge proponent of team unity and team cohesiveness. He has taught me the importance of having the right people around you to succeed. Everyone on our staff plays a specific role and provides a unique contribution to each task at hand, and to each project. Every day, we strive to be in sync with one another. Our team’s synchronized approach not only produces successful project outcomes, but also cultivates a design process that is unparalleled – a streamlined collaboration of progressive thinking, problem-solving, strong project management, and thorough communication. I am grateful to be surrounded by talented individuals who make our firm better.
whj: When did you consider yourself a success?
‘Success’ is an extremely tricky word. I think once you start considering yourself a ‘success,’ you stop grinding and striving to be your best self, to produce your best work. I always want to be eyes-forward, looking to the future, continually climbing the ‘ladder of life,’ so to speak. I am very proud of the projects I’ve designed over the years, as well as the professional relationships I’ve cultivated. But, with that said, I am determined to live each day better than the previous one.
whj: What advice would you give to someone else starting out?
Take risks and dream big. Be fearless and don’t hesitate. Have the courage to try. You never know how far you will fly until you try. There will be some setbacks and fails along the way… but knowledge learned from failure is an essential part of reaching goals and achieving success. Don’t compare yourself to others. Your path will not (and should not) look exactly like anybody else’s. Everyone’s story is unique.
“I always want to be eyes-forward, looking to the future, continually climbing the ‘ladder of life,’ so to speak.”
–Michele Wheeler, Design Collective West
LGD Construction
Jenn Lewis is the co-founder, general contractor, and operations manager of LGD Construction. Her construction career began in 2006, working for another local construction company in Park City. With over a decade of experience in the construction industry, she decided to start LGD Construction with her current partner in 2015.
Jenn’s background is in business and construction management, and bookkeeping, but she has fallen in love with the design and renovation process. Her favorite part of construction is being able to visualize a plan for a project and implement and experience the transformation after.
whj: Who are your role models?
I am inspired by the extraordinary women and men before me including my older sisters (Janice, Hellena, and Cheryl), civil rights activists Pauli Murray, Recy Taylor, Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, and Congressman John R. Lewis. Lewis is not only my personal role model, but an inspiration to my life. He has helped me to be a better person, to get in “Good Trouble” and to “Stand Up, Speak Up, and Speak Out.”
My other role models are the poet Maya Angelou, the amazing Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and my grandfather Zeke, who was a gentle giant. He was compassionate and kind. He taught me to be respectful of others and to love not only myself but everyone around me. And I have instilled that into my two sons as well, Zeke (named after my grandfather) and Zane.
My biggest and most important role model is my mom, Carol. Her boisterous laugh is contagious, and her advice is solid and sound. She taught me to be strong, independent, and to not take any s*** from anyone. She taught me to always pursue my dreams and to get up when I got knocked down. Because of her, I view the world through a lens of compassion and not judgment. She is my rock and as a survivor of domestic violence, I am so proud of her and the journey that she has walked. I can only hope that she is proud of the journey that I am walking now.
whj: Tell us about one of your biggest professional accomplishments?
I have always believed in giving back to my community. It has been my dream to pursue my philanthropic endeavors through a nonprofit charitable foundation. So, I founded The Jenn-Love Project. The goal of The Jenn-Love Project is to bring awareness to existing local and global humanitarian causes, while raising money to help people strive in their journey. This foundation is my heart and my passion.
I am also extremely proud of being elected Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Park City Area Home Builders Association (PCAHBA) and to become the first elected African-American woman to soon hold that position.
whj: How do you enjoy Park City and connect with your community outside of work?
Park City is not only where I work, it is also my home. I love the city’s atmosphere, culture, and outdoor opportunities, all within arm’s reach. I find peace in the calmness and beauty of nature, which also inspires me in my work. I love to hike with my two dogs on the local trails or grab a glass of wine and a bite at the Eating Establishment. I am an active volunteer for many nonprofit organizations in town, including the Swaner Preserve & Eco-Center and The Peace House. Additionally, as the active Chair-Woman of the PCAHBA Community Service & Event Planning Committee, I have been able to help organize many events in the Park City Community, including partnering up with the Park City High School, Nuzzles, Park City Recycling Center, People’s Health Clinic, Summit Community Gardens, and many others.
“My other role models are the poet Maya Angelou, the amazing Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and my grandfather Zeke, who was a gentle giant. He was compassionate and kind. He taught me to be respectful of others and to love not only myself but everyone around me.”
–Jenn Lewis, LGD Construction
Loomis Construction
Lisa Loomis was raised in first Northern California, and then in Southern California. After obtaining an AA in Interior Design and later a BS in Finance from San Diego State University, Lisa started her career in mortgages. Being the entrepreneur she is, Lisa opened up a mortgage branch in Park City, Utah, while simultaneously helping run Loomis Construction. The 2008 financial crisis was a clear motivation for Lisa to switch gears from mortgages and entirely focus on her passion as a licensed general contractor at Loomis Construction. Having always had a passion for the construction/design industry, Lisa has been a crucial part of Loomis Construction over the years, assisting clients throughout the entire building process.
whj: Is there something you’ve learned professionally that you wish you could’ve told your younger self about your career?
I wish I had followed my passion for the construction/design industry much sooner instead of focusing on a career I wasn’t as inspired by. The construction industry is harsh. Not only physically but mentally as well. Let’s focus on the mental side. There is this insatiable hunger from clients to achieve sometimes unrealistic expectations, making one feel that this has to be done NOW, not tomorrow, the next day, or the next week. After many sleepless nights and much more experience, I have gathered the skill set to manage client expectations with a much healthier mindset. The project will get completed at the fastest pace possible, and the finished product will be stunning and top-quality; much like a fine wine, construction takes time.
whj: How do you navigate work/life balance?
It’s not easy. Work gives me purpose, a reason to get out of bed every day. I decided to turn to my passion for construction and make it my life’s work while still making time for my family. It’s a delicate balance, but for the most part, I’ve made it work. I always made it a priority to expose my family to new and exciting experiences. We only have one life, so we have to make the most of every minute. When you are your own boss, you make the “rules.” If you want to take a week off here, we take a week off. If the kids had a soccer game, we were there. So, in essence, work/life are all beautifully mixed into one. I love what I do, and I will continue to do it for as long as I can.
whj: As A female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?
I am a woman in a leadership position working in an industry dominated by men. That should say it right there. There aren’t many women in construction, or there weren’t when I started doing this. I am thrilled to see more and more women getting involved in the industry. General contracting isn’t just “men’s work.” I would say that despite the immediate barrier, I think women make incredible GCs. Not to say that a man can’t have a good eye or keep a tight-ish schedule, but a woman, in my experience, just might do it a little better.
“There aren’t many women in construction, or there weren’t when I started doing this. I am thrilled to see more and more women getting involved in the industry.”
–Lisa Loomis, Loomis Construction
MW Watts Construction
Whitney Watts is a proud Park City native who considers herself lucky to have been raised in the mountain town. She experienced many things that others only got to enjoy while on vacation. During her early years, she could be found either ski racing or riding horses. When she was 18, she moved to Washington State and earned her B.S. in Business. However, the rain was not for Whitney and the mountains kept calling her back home – so she returned to Utah, which is when her passion for construction ignited. Growing up, her father was a general contractor and her mother was an interior designer. Even though she was exposed to the industry at a young age, she never really took a liking to it until her early 20s when she had the opportunity to be a jobsite foreman for a local design-build firm. On day one she knew that she had found her calling and has not looked back since.
whj: Who are your role models?
My role model is my father. I am beyond blessed to have learned the trade from him. Not solely due to his great reputation in the industry, but also because he is a great teacher, detailed contractor, and an overall patient and respectful man. Through him, I learned that there are no dumb questions and that it is always better to ask than to assume. He taught me that respect is earned and not given, and that in order to be a good boss and leader you need to be willing to listen to everyone involved in the process, no matter how minor their role. I have so much respect for what he taught me that to this day, when I get asked a construction-related question I almost always think, “Would Dad approve of my answer and the direction I’m providing?”
whj: Is there something you’ve learned professionally that you wish you could’ve told your younger self about your career?
If I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be, “Not all days are going to be great days, but the bad days are few and far between and good days always follow.” I have found when an off day occurs in construction it seems to affect every trade and sub-contractor on site. One small framing change can lead to window changes, which flow into finish detail changes and so forth. A small move can have a snowball effect on the project. I have found that it’s worth taking the extra time to call the subs, redo the drawings, and discuss it all with the client so that as a team you can fully grasp every foreseeable outcome. Even when you take that time there are still unforeseeable scenarios, and that’s ok too.
whj: As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?
Being a young female general contractor definitely did not come without its challenges. I entered the field when I was only 25 years old, which added an additional barrier when it came to respect and acceptance. I can’t tell you – even now – how many times I walk on a jobsite and get asked if I’m the interior designer or the owner. It’s almost comical. Most people are very taken aback when I say no and that I’m the general contractor and ask if they have any questions before we start our walkthrough and get their work lined out for the project. Being a female in a male-dominated workplace means I have to work harder, be more detailed, and show my role as leader and boss in a more dominating fashion. I constantly work to prove my abilities and show others that not only do I know what I am doing but I do it very well.
My role model is my father. I am beyond blessed to have learned the trade from him. Not solely due to his great reputation in the industry, but also because he is a great teacher, detailed contractor, and an overall patient and respectful man.”
–Whitney Watts, MW Watts Construction
