Celebrating Women Who Move the Industry Forward
Women across ESS Companies (ESSC) are building impressive careers through grit, skill, and a strong commitment to the job — no matter how they started. Their experiences mirror what construction looks like today: challenging, rewarding, and full of opportunity for those ready to take it. This Women in Construction Week, we’re celebrating the women who move our industry forward.
Melissa Kelpe, Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS)
As a workforce instructor for ESS, Melissa plays a vital role in keeping equipment and hauling operations running safely. She trains, prepares, and tests the drivers who keep projects moving. Melissa takes personal responsibility for ensuring each driver is truly ready before earning their CDL. Melissa’s commitment to ownership and excellence helps build a stronger workforce.
Being a woman in construction is generational for Melissa. Her daughter is following in her footsteps at ESS. “My daughter is strong like I am,” Melissa said. “I told her: if you can get your foot in the door at ESS, you’ll have room to grow. ESS is a family.” That family connection runs deep. Along with her daughter, who works in safety, one of her nephews is a diesel mechanic, and two others will join as engineering interns.
Mentoring the next generation of women in construction is second nature to Melissa. “I mentor State Tech students, and I recently spoke on a ‘Build Her Future’ panel for women in engineering and construction,” she said.
“I talked about standing your ground, working hard, and showing up. There’s no reason [women] can’t move up in this industry.”
Desiree Garcia, Achen-Gardner Construction
Desiree, assistant health & safety engineer at Achen-Gardner, sees the momentum with more women joining the field and safety roles. “Go for it. Don’t doubt yourself,” she says. “Construction isn’t a ‘man’s world’ anymore. It’s a great‑paying career with benefits, growth, and networking. Women are supporting women.” Her advice for newcomers who feel unsure? Find your people in the industry. “If I ever doubt myself, my team steps in. I never leave feeling criticized; I always leave with a smile.”
Desiree grew up around construction. Her mom has spent more than 30 years in the industry. Her dad and brother work in construction as well. But despite that family influence, Desiree never saw herself in the field — until an office role pushed her into safety work, which she embraced without hesitation. “I didn’t know anything about safety, so I signed up for trainings, earned certifications, and fell in love with it.”
Two years in at Achen-Gardner and she’s certified to teach CPR, First Aid, AED, and Stop the Bleed. She’s also pursuing advanced safety instructor credentials. Desiree’s motivation is rooted in one thing: growth. She’s proud of how far she’s come and excited for where she’s headed.
“I have goals, and I’ll reach them. It’s not ‘if,’ it’s ‘when.’”
Amber Eason, Rummel Construction
When you meet Amber, safety specialist at Rummel Construction, it’s obvious that she’s honest, she’s strong, and she loves what she does. In the field for four months at Rummel, but with 20 years of mining experience behind her, Amber brings an impressive level of grit and real-world experience.
Amber knows the environment can be tough, but she refuses to take it personally. “Stand firm. Have grace. Don’t be offended by everything.” She believes a strong crew is a balanced one. “We need each other. Men are needed — and so are we.” Her dedication to safety keeps her motivated.
“I’m very passionate about safety. At Rummel, we play a big part in this company. I’m really proud of my job here.”
She came to Rummel because of its safety culture reputation, and she quickly learned it wasn’t just talk. “Everything I saw or heard about [Rummel’s] safety culture is true. That’s rare in construction.”
Caty Cline, Monks Construction
Caty Cline, an equipment operator at Monks Construction, did something most people wouldn’t expect: she kept running heavy equipment throughout her pregnancy. With full medical clearance and a crew that backed her, Caty powered through without stepping away from the work she loved. “I was scared at first,” she said. “People tell you to slow down, stay home — but my doctor cleared me, so I ran a haul truck.” She knows how rare that is.
“You hardly ever see pregnant women running equipment. I want other women to know they can do it.”
Caty has been in the field for six years, and construction is part of her family identity. Her dad has been with Monks for decades. Her brothers are operators, too. Caty didn’t expect to follow in their footsteps, but her brother convinced her she could do it. “When I first started, the equipment was different from what I expected,” she said. “People say it’s just like a car. It’s not.” Even through the learning curve, the work grew on her fast. “I love the machines. I love the people. I even love the smell of wet dirt.”
This year, Caty achieved a major milestone: her first project that she worked on start to finish. “I was there the whole time. I learned so much and got into different machines. When it wrapped up, I thought, ‘I got this.’” Caty’s “I got this” mentality is an inspiration for up-and-coming women in the industry.
Shelly McCarron, ESCO Construction
Shelly didn’t come from a construction background; she entered the industry as a busy, single mom with a business and accounting degree, simply looking for stability. What she found was a long-term career and a path for growth. While in an office manager role, leadership took notice of her skillset. “Just a little bit of encouragement went a long way,” she said. She ended up getting hired in the estimating department. “That opened up a whole new door for me.”
Shelly now serves as contracts manager, keeping projects in line. She reviews contracts, helps negotiate changes, and confirms all required paperwork is complete. Her work is essential to ensuring a project is safe and the company is protected.
Employee ownership gives her work added purpose. “It helps motivate all of us to do our best.” She’s clear about the value women bring to the table and why teams are stronger with balance.
“Women have a different perspective. We notice different details. And men notice things we don’t. You need both.”
Different paths. Same drive. ESSC women bring new points of view, serious skill, and the kind of spark every crew needs. Women aren’t just holding their own in construction — they’re raising the bar. We’re proud to celebrate and honor our women, each and every day.
