April 8, 2025 • 47 mins
The construction trades present an opportunity that is both lucrative and fulfilling; however, it remains a stark reality that women represent under 15% of this industry. In this enlightening discussion, Shelley Johnson and Kathy Tuccaro engage with Julie Lawton, is a trailblazer and pioneer in the design-build sector. Julie's illustrious career commenced in New York City, where she collaborated with leading developers, ultimately leading her to Southern California's custom residential market. Recognizing the need for enhanced communication and streamlined processes within construction projects, she obtained her general contractor's license to serve as a comprehensive resource for her clients. She is the owner of Julie Laughton Design Build and JLGC where she offers clients 5-star concierge service in the residential design-build industry. She is the host of the Julie Laughton Living Podcast. Throughout this episode, we delve into Julie's journey, the obstacles she has surmounted, and her commitment to making inroads for women in the construction field, illuminating the path for future generations.
https://www.julielaughton.com/
https://redcircle.com/shows/julielaughtonliving
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https://women-road-warriors.captivate.fm
https://womenroadwarriors.com/
https://womenspowernetwork.net
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
This is Women Road warriorswith Shelly Johnson and Kathy Tucaro.
From the corporate office tothe cab of a truck, they're here
to inspire and empower womenin all professions.
So gear down, sit back and enjoy.
(00:23):
Welcome.
We're an award winning showdedicated to empowering women in
every profession throughinspiring stories and expert insights.
No topics off limits.
On our show, we power women onthe road to success with expert and
celebrity interviews andinformation you need.
I'm Shelley.
And I'm Kathy.
(00:44):
The construction trades are aprofitable and rewarding career.
Still, national data showsthat women only comprise a little
over 10% of the industry.
Women have a keen eye fordesign and are naturally suited for
this career path, but many arenot encouraged to pursue it.
Julie Lawton has had a longcareer in the design build industry.
(01:06):
She was a trailblazer whostarted in New York City working
for the top five developers in Manhattan.
She eventually moved toSouthern California to enter the
residential custom home market.
While working as a designer,she realized there would be better
communication and a seamlessprocess for the homeowner if they
had one person to communicatewith on the project.
(01:26):
It was a perfect marriage anda logical choice since the majority
of women dictate buyingdecisions in a home.
Julie got her generalcontractor's license to become a
one stop shop for her clientsto solve their home building problems.
Her companies, Julie LawtonDesign Build and JLGC are well known
and well regarded in Southern California.
(01:47):
She's also the host of theJulie Lawton Living podcast.
Julie's here with us today totalk about her path, the obstacles
she's personally faced, andhow she's opened doors for women
in the construction industry.
Welcome, Julie.
Thank you for being on theshow and thank you for being a trailblazer.
You're welcome.
Shelly and Kathy, I'm so gladto be here.
(02:09):
Yeah, it's going to be awesome.
Oh man, we're excited.
This is so cool.
I thought we could begin withyou telling us your story, how everything
began and what you faced in amale dominated industry.
Well, I was drawing things andyou know, architecturally at 14.
And then I thought in collegeI, you know, thought I would go and
(02:30):
be an architect.
And then I thought, oh no, letme do a landscape architecture.
And I thought, oh no, let medo interior design, which is really
space planning andarchitectural interiors.
So my counselor at the time,who was a woman, kind of a strong
woman, says Julie need to picka degree.
Anyway, so she, what she didfor me is she got me shipped over
to New York City for Myinternship and I started working
(02:53):
for architects there and doingall these wonderful commercial spaces
and it was great.
But I was just the only girlin the drafting room.
But what happened is thisother woman found me in New York
City some.
I don't remember how I mether, but she was hooked up with the
five top developers and theywere all the top five.
And she was like a familyfriend and she did all their model
(03:15):
homes and some lobbies andsome other things for them.
So she had me as the head designer.
So I was at 22 years old,presenting to the developer himself,
Milstein, Goodstein, Lafreg,Second Zuckendorf, Silverman.
She would send me to themeetings with them.
(03:36):
And I was in my 20s becauseshe wasn't a designer, but I was
the head designer.
And then that, then I was alsothe draftsman.
So I go to the field in my1980s heel, skirt and heels and you
know, get, you know, talk tothe men and be on large construction
sites and you know, cat callsin the 80s.
So you always got that.
But I kind of knew.
(03:59):
Well, here's the deal.
I was doing this in my 20s andit was fascinating because I was
working with the largestcontractors and the largest construction
companies in the world.
So I just knew that somethingabout standing in the dirt did it
because to this day I still dothe same thing.
I make sure the plans areaccurate and I'm standing in the
dirt while, while I'm doing it.
(04:19):
So it's kind of funny.
So my career actually did is,you know, happen naturally from day
one.
So.
But this, the being 20something in New York City and dealing
with those major men andeveryone at the board meetings was
50 years old and I was 20 something.
I mean, she wouldn't even goto the meetings with me.
(04:40):
It was just, there's where Igot my experience and my, my cahoots,
whatever you call it.
My developers, she was Jewishand I was a shit skull.
It was hilarious, but just, itwas funny.
But that's where I got mybusiness sense in my, and my, you
know, I was scared andnervous, but that's where I got the
(05:00):
confidence because they, theyliked me and they actually dealt
with me and I, you know, I didtheir private homes too.
So it was fun.
So you just kind of jumped inthere like you said, you were scared.
It had to be intimidating.
First of all, you're stilllearning the.
And then you're with thesereally big operations.
Yeah, like she take me in hertown car to the meeting and I thought
(05:23):
we were going together Iremember this.
And she, I go.
And I, she opens the, I openthe door to get out to go into the
meeting and I go, aren't you coming?
She goes, nope.
And I was like.
And she just kind of gives mea shove.
It's sink or swim, babe.
You're going to sink or swim.
So I can.
And I just laughed.
And I went into the meeting by myself.
And I remember it was justlike, wow.
(05:44):
And, and scared to death.
But I, I can now say I swam inNew York City and, and it was wonderful.
I also had a very wonderfulnightlife and a lot of wonderful
friends.
I mean, the New York Cityexperience was wonderful.
And that's what put me on the map.
And really, you know, I cameto California with professional experience.
(06:08):
Like there's no other womanthat I know that can say she's an
architect, an interiordesigner and a licensed contractor.
Professional experience in theresidential arena.
So it's because some people doone or the other and then they have
other people do it.
But I truly am this one stop shop.
But we'll talk about that more later.
(06:28):
So you became a Renaissancewoman, essentially, with all of that
experience.
And what you bring to thetable is so essential when it's insane.
The amount of work that Imanage for a client because if they
had to hire the people that Imanage, it would be 11 at a minimum
for a residential project.
And, and I don't just hirethem, I manage them on for the client's
(06:52):
best interests.
Because if you don't have aproject manager managing all these
people you would have to hire,it doesn't really work because the
clients don't know and what'sgoing on and who should be getting
along with who and who shouldbe done at what time.
They don't know.
So it's kind of dangerous forclients to be hiring 11 different
people and hoping they worktogether and play nice in the sandbox.
(07:15):
Sure.
And make sure they do the job.
Yeah.
Because you're going to get some.
I'm sure that if they can getaway with not working, they might,
you.
Know, and, and then theyalways point fingers at each other.
So I always tell my plans.
You know, I'm the only oneyou're talking to.
I can't point my finger atanyone because it's me.
The buck stops with me.
And I'm championing thisproject for you because I'm used
(07:38):
to being a project manager,more so in helping them because a
client can't understand unlessyou explain and give them knowledge
and explain why things are happening.
You know, it's a wholedifferent thing.
Being their project managerwith five star, five star concierge
service.
That's what I'm really doing.
(08:00):
Because, God, the playerscould be anybody.
Right.
But they're my players.
But it's that personalrelationship with the client where
you're constantly updatingthem and constantly explaining.
So they build the trust andthey're comfortable and, and they,
they understand.
Because most of my clients are busy.
They don't want.
They don't really want toknow, but they need to know, you
know, so it's a whole thingabout that balance.
(08:21):
Sure.
Well, they want the job donecorrectly, they want it done well,
and they want it to staywithin budget, too.
Yes.
And I can honestly say thatI'm always on time and always on
budget because I draw theplans and nothing gets in my way.
Except, of course, whenclients decide to make a million
change orders afterconstruction starts.
But that's a whole nother story.
(08:42):
And most clients are goodabout it, but some are not.
And that creates a lot ofdrama and stress.
But I hate to say it, but it'snot my fault.
Things happen.
Right.
It's just kind of called life.
Yeah.
People get excited.
And it's funny how theconstruction is because it's a very
creative process and, But.
(09:02):
And it's a wonderful process,like birthing a.
You're birthing a new home orlike birthing a child.
It's a.
It's.
It's fun because it's creative.
Right.
You're building something together.
But it's also the moststressful thing a woman or a man
can go through as a couple oras a person.
Other than death and marriage,I mean, it's up there on the Richter
(09:23):
scale because you have toparticipate and make decisions and
know what you want and, youknow, and then be able to keep up
with the payments.
It's.
It's very stressful and especially.
And if the players aren'tgetting along, good luck.
So it's a whole thing.
So did you ever run intodifficulties when you were trying
(09:44):
to supervise?
The credibility factor, wherethe guys are like, we don't have
to listen to you.
I mean, what kind of obstacleshave you run into?
Well, when I was only adesigner in New York, they would
just look at me funny enough,you know, check, you know, just is
the cat calls and whatnot,because I didn't have any power.
So when I did become thecontractor, the first couple of years,
(10:07):
it was funny because I wasstill young, it was in my 40s.
And they just couldn't figureout why this young chick, because
I look younger than I am, wasin there ordering them around.
So I was constantly challengedon my ability.
So they'd ask me trickquestions, you know, and.
And then.
(10:27):
And then anyone that didn'tshake my hand right or couldn't stop
looking at my ass, I justdon't work with those people.
So eventually I figured it outthat I can only work with men that
respect women.
And that took, you know, a fewyears to figure out.
There is just certain men youcan't work with.
And.
Because here's the deal.
(10:47):
Once you are a contractor as awoman, they don't care you're a woman.
Well, you know what you'redoing, so.
Because when you get on aconstruction slab, it's dangerous.
And if you don't know whatyou're doing, you're going to get
kicked out no matter who you are.
So that's all they want is therespect for what they're doing and
the knowledge that you, theleader, are actually leading.
And, and then it's all.
(11:08):
It's all cape.
All good.
You know, it's all copacetic.
It's good.
It's weird because managingmen is managing, you know, we're
managing knowledge.
And, you know, with, with knowledge.
It's, it's, it's.
It's.
Once you're in it, thenthere's the respect.
It's funny.
And, and there's no other.
But it took me a while tofigure out there's certain guys you
(11:30):
just can't work with becausethey, they're never going to respect
women and they're not professional.
So they're unfortunate.
But after the first couple ofyears, it became easy because.
Yeah, I had.
And I have a little test ofhow I know if the guy's going to
respect me.
Oh, what's.
What's.
Tell us more.
What?
Yeah, what's the test?
What's.
I want to know.
The test is how he shakes my hand.
(11:52):
Oh, okay.
If he shakes my hand firm,we're good.
If he shakes it like I'm.
Like he's asking me to dance.
I'm not going there.
Okay.
You know they grab your end ofyour fingers instead of shaking your
hand.
Like they're gonna.
Hand type thing.
That doesn't work for me.
It's.
It's kind of.
What.
But like, my.
My dad was in sales, actually,but he said if somebody shakes your
(12:13):
hand like a fish.
Yeah, there you go.
That's.
That's the one.
That's.
It that's what it is.
Yeah.
A handshake says a lot.
It really does.
And I'm the same somebody whogives me these weird, like, you know,
some hands are slimy almost.
I'm like, is that.
I have those.
Ew.
Slimy and cold.
Slimy and cold.
(12:34):
Yeah.
Like, no, thanks.
I'm out.
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Welcome back to Women Roadwarriors with Shelly Johnson and
Kathy Tuccaro.
If you're enjoying thisinformative episode of Women Road
(14:00):
Warriors, I wanted to mentionKathy and I explore all kinds of
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We feature a lot of expertinterviews, plus we feature celebrities
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(14:21):
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(14:42):
The construction trades offera world of opportunity.
It's a path that's not onlyprofitable, but deeply rewarding.
Yet despite this, nationaldata shows that women make up just
over 10% of the industry.
But here's the thing.
Women have an incredible eyefor design, and so many of the qualities
needed for success in thisfield come naturally to us.
(15:02):
So why Then aren't we beingencouraged to take that step?
This is what Julie Lawton isdoing with a powerful woman mentor.
She began her journey in NewYork City many years ago working
with some of the topdevelopers in Manhattan as the head
designer where she worked.
Her mentor taught her to sinkor swim.
And boy, Julie swam.
(15:22):
She was an Olympic championwho took charge where she needed
to.
The men she met then weretwice her age.
She faced many challenges in amale dominated world, but prevailed
and gained their respect asthe true leader that she is.
She went on to SouthernCalifornia where she dove into the
world of custom residential homes.
She customized her service tohomeowners and became a one stop
(15:44):
shop for them with a five starconcierge service with her firm,
Julie Lawton Design, Build and jlgc.
Julie is a proven winner whomanages an entire team and who shows
that women can naturally excelin the construction trades.
She's an example for all womenwho's gained the respect of everybody
and leveled the playing fieldon gender.
(16:06):
So Julie, would you say themajority of men have been respectful?
It's just a small minoritythat are jerks?
Yes, it's.
And the majority.
Yep.
And the ones that aren'tusually have their own personal issues
or having hard times.
So it's a whole thing.
Because, you know, in the realworld it like that's why I liked
commercial, because everybodywas respectful and you just followed
(16:28):
the rules and residential wasa little like wild west.
So in commercial, even thoughI was the girl on the job site with
high heels and a skirt becauseit was the 80s, it was still respectful
though because everybody knewthe rules, their roles and the rules.
Because there's a lot of rulesin union, you know too.
Oh yeah.
And, and it's so.
It's a big deal.
(16:48):
So I love that.
So when I came to residential,I had to create my own team of respectful
people and stay away from thebad ones.
So yeah, you had a wonderful opportunity.
Your first supervisor, if you will.
She, she was a mentor, she wasa champion and she just kind of threw
you out there.
It's like sink or swim.
And it really is true.
(17:10):
It is.
You learn to think on yourfeet and you learn to trust yourself.
Yeah, that's what it was.
Because.
Because what I was doing,funny enough, came naturally because
I had all the education andthe college experience and the talent.
Just like, I mean, I dream in color.
I see the projects done beforethey're built.
You know, I, I can walk intosomebody's house and see it done
(17:30):
in color when in the first 30 minutes.
So I have a gift from theartistic side, but that's what came
through.
And I'm a natural bornsaleswoman, which I didn't know until
I was moved to la.
And that's another story ofhow my actual business started.
But it was all there and itjust took a minute to develop.
You know, it's amazing untilwe're actually in a situation, we
(17:52):
don't really realize our strengths.
And it just comes out.
It comes out because.
Because you're like, my lab'slike, numb.
When I was doing thosemeetings, I was on autopilot, you
know.
Because you're nervous.
Oh, sure, yeah.
Then they're done.
That.
And when you think about it,just being able to give somebody
the opportunity, which I findit interesting that we're in the
(18:16):
21st century and theconstruction industry only has 10%
women.
Do you think that is?
Well, first of all, I do trulybelieve it's a fear of being.
Going into it, because Ialways thought, gosh, I can't do
it because I'm not a guy.
Or, gosh, I can't do itbecause I never saw a hammer.
So it was a.
There was that automatic thingthat you think, I don't belong.
(18:38):
Like, it's like joining a NFLfootball team.
They don't have girls.
So you just kind of have thatin the back of your mind that I don't
belong.
But when you're in it andyou're good at.
Took me almost 10 years todecide to get the license.
Just so you know, because Igot my feet wet and then I.
And then.
(18:58):
And I got good at it.
But it was funny because I just.
It was weird because I justthought, because, you know, designers
manage things anyway, andarchitects manage anything anyway.
And then the client hirestheir own contractor and you watch
them screw up.
So I was in it anyway, but itwas like a mental thing and a little
fear that I didn't belong, Iguess I never thought about it.
(19:19):
And then because I was workingas a designer and getting things
done, so.
And then one day somethinghappened where the responsibility
had to be taken.
And that was it.
Bam.
Bam.
And I said, that's me, let'sdo it.
I got my license.
And, you know, it changed my world.
I mean, it changed my incomeand my responsibility and my whole
world when that happened.
(19:40):
But.
And the clients were like, ohmy God, I have a one stop shop.
This is.
Wow.
And then everything wentsmoothly and no more nightmare scenarios.
Were you fearful with eachstep you took?
Oh, definitely.
Because when I Took thecontractor's test.
I studied like I was on acollege exam.
I overstudied and.
(20:01):
And I was really nervous abouttaking the test.
So I get down there because.
And they put you in a lockedroom, and they have cameras on you
so you don't cheat, andthere's somebody standing behind
you.
I mean, it's heavy duty.
So I'm in there taking thetest, and I'm kind of breezing through
it.
And none of the questions thatwere on that test were anything I
studied.
It was all stuff I'd learnedin the dirt in New York City, including
(20:21):
concrete slump.
Don't ask me how I rememberthat, but what is that?
It's how the concrete slump.
The.
The how.
How you can tell the thicknessof the concrete and the psi and the
slump.
It's called concrete slump.
And the firmness, there's aratio thing that tells you what it
is.
And I don't know how Iremembered this, but I remember that
(20:44):
was one of the questions.
And I was laughing because itwasn't on the exam books.
And so I got done with thetest, and I raised my hand, and the
lady came over and took my papers.
And then she came back a fewminutes later and says, by the way,
you passed, and you got a 98,and you took the test faster than
anyone in the history.
I think of this office, andI'm like, oh, my.
And I'm like, that was fun.
So I was like.
(21:05):
And then the next visit was tothe sheriff's office to get my hands,
my.
My palms print, you know, palm prints.
So it's, you know, then, youknow, you're getting into serious
business when they have thesheriffs to photo, you know, copy
your palm prints.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
So it's a big deal.
And.
And it was all fun.
And I had a lot of peopletelling me and helping me what to
(21:26):
do, and.
Because I had to get all theinsurances and.
And learn how to do billingand mark things up and all that good
stuff.
And then.
And then, you know, one year,five years later, I went from 1 million
in sales to 5 million in sales.
And then during COVID I wentfrom 5 million sales to 10 million
sales.
So I have this habit ofprojecting and jumping my sales because
(21:48):
I like to grow.
And now I'm.
I got a big number projected,but we'll see.
But I'm in this business,like, to leave a legacy and then
maybe give the business to theemployees, because I don't plan on
retiring until I'm in my 80s.
How's that sound?
That sounds terrific.
Why not 80s, the new 60anyway, right?
That's what I'm thinking.
(22:09):
Well, I'm thinking I stillfeel 40 and I'm 62.
There you go.
Ages is just a number.
And women, unfortunatelythey're pigeonholed.
It's like, oh, you know, it'sridiculous how we're conditioned.
We can do whatever we want todo at any particular age.
That's just it.
And that, that this, thesocietal conditioning is really horrible
(22:34):
maybe or bad.
And some people live theirwhole life without taking career
opportunities because maybetheir parents told them something.
Because my parents, I was bornin the 60s and my mom and dad never
said I couldn't do somethingbecause I wasn't a boy or because
I was a girl.
And my mom encouraged, youknow, don't get married.
It's, you know, do your career.
(22:55):
So the apparent, because Iknow other women my age whose parents
said you can't do that, youcan't play that instrument because
you're not a boy.
You know.
So just so you know, I'm, I'ma seven handicap in Gaul.
I was a tennis champion, askeet shooting champion, archery
champion.
And then I played the drums,the piano and the bass violin, the
big stand up bass.
(23:16):
And I still play and I stillplay the drums today and I still
golf.
And I also was a lifeguard forfour years and taught swimming lessons.
And I was the youngestcertified lifeguard in Iowa at 14
years old.
So I don't.
And my mom wasn't like pushingus to do this.
We're not overachievers.
But I did all that before Iwas 18 and, and so, you know, my
(23:40):
dad took me to the skeetshooting champion skeet shooting
range and he coached me how toshoot his shotgun.
And I won because he stood,you know, so it's not like I did
it all the time, but just witha couple days coaching.
I was fun.
I won.
I beat all the boys, all thefarmers in my town.
You go, why not?
That's great.
(24:00):
They weren't going to give youany crap after that, right?
No, they never did.
Because my dad and between mydad and my uncles, nobody messed
with me and my sister.
I love it.
Yeah, I was raised basically awoman can do anything she wants to
do.
That's makes a big differenceas long as it's legal, you know,
I mean my parents had someparameters there and that helps.
(24:24):
So that's wonderful.
So you had parents who werechampions and they encouraged you
as you weren't afraid to trynew things.
Oh no.
My sister was on the boysbaseball team, the little league
and she was the home run queenor whatever the first year.
So.
And we never thought twiceabout it.
You know, no other girl everdid it since, but she was on the.
(24:44):
You know, I never thoughttwice about it.
My grandpa loved baseball andtaught us how to throw baseballs
and curve balls, you know.
You know, so whatever it was,just never thought about it.
But that was, you know, herthing too.
So.
If a woman wanted to do whatyou're doing or even go into the
construction industry, do theyneed to go to college or can they
go to a VO tech school?
I mean, what do you.
(25:04):
You can.
You could go to a VO tech anddo a construction management.
There are colleges withconstruction management courses.
Or you can just get a job andlearn, you know, as a project manager.
But you need the experience.
You know, how does somebody goabout doing that?
I mean, just want.
Go to a.
A developer.
I mean, who do they seek out to?
(25:25):
You can.
You can work for a builder ora developer and the bigger the company,
the better.
Some of them might ask foreducation or experience, but you
can always go in as an interntoo and you know, and learn as.
Learn as you earn that projectmanagement is the way to go, in my
opinion.
And then you can decide if youwant to take the big next step and
actually become the contractor.
(25:47):
Because that's a whole deal ofgetting jobs and working, but working
for someone else.
As a project manager you learneverything from conception to completion
and how the plans work and thesubmittals work and then the project
and the budgeting and the scheduling.
So that's the best advice isgetting, you know, in that project
(26:10):
management as a woman.
And then the other one is, youknow, go ahead, be a carpenter, a
framer, a steel worker, drivelarge equipment like Kathy does.
Why not?
It pays good.
I mean.
Oh, I know.
Like I was really fortunate.
In Canada we have a nonprofitorganization called Women Building
Futures.
And one day if I can, I wouldwant to start one here in the states
(26:31):
because it did wonders what it is.
It's.
It's big companies thatsponsor programs into the non traditional
trades for women.
So electrician, you know,plumbing, carpentry journey woman,
crane operator, heavyequipment operator.
You get your class one, yourclass three, what, whatever.
And it's paid for.
(26:52):
And not only is it paid for,but the women that are.
Because usually, I mean it's for.
For people that are struggling.
Well, the.
The.
The one place in Edmonton hasapartment buildings, apartment apartments
in the same building.
So that if someone's comingfrom a different province that you
can stay there for a month orsix weeks or however long the course
is at, and you get your ownprivate place to do to stay while
(27:15):
you're learning.
I love it.
That's amazing.
But wait, there's more.
They even find you a job.
They look you up, right?
They have a whole list ofcompanies that work with women building
futures in order to helpsponsor these women.
I would not have this job had,had I not went there because I.
Just said you really, youprobably wouldn't.
(27:36):
Seriously, because it's goingout on your own and getting the job
and joining that boys club.
They probably wouldn't hireyou and blah, blah, blah.
So Exxon, they, they paid$18,000 per woman and there was 16
women that did the 12 weekcourse and Exxon hired 11 out of
the 16 and I got hired andyeah, it's been 11 years now and
it's been the best careerchange ever.
(27:57):
I tell everyone, like, oh myGod, you got to check it out.
Like just, you know, I love it.
And having that support,having that support really helps
because women, women gettingin there because over here I see
that there's like the shopclasses aren't coming back to high
school, but there's thevocational classes are available
after high school and there'smore women getting into that.
And that's, you know, kind ofwhere it's at for women too, is the
(28:20):
vocational for the actualphysical, like steel workers and
whatnot.
So it's good to see becausethere's more and more groups supporting
it, but women need moresupport because, you know, it's not
like the men don't want you,but you have to have the training
and the avenue and all that.
You have to have a door openfor you and get your feet wet.
(28:41):
You know, I do find itinteresting that VO Tech left the
high schools across thecountry, at least in the United States,
because that made thingsavailable to students so that they
could begin a trade beforethey leave high school.
And I know that there's atrend now where not everybody wants
to go to college.
Yeah, no.
(29:01):
No reason to waste that moneywhen you could go into a trade school.
Yeah.
And I think within the past,what, 40, 50 years, there was always
this shift to encourage peopleto go to college.
Well, not everybody is goingto be good in college.
That's not where theirstrengths are.
Not everybody wants to besitting in a classroom.
They're better with theirhands, they're better doing things.
(29:22):
And it Just made sense to haveshop and various other things available
in the junior highs and high schools.
Yep.
And you don't learn unlessyou're doing it.
Like I didn't learn my craftuntil I got out into the job.
Yep.
So yeah, I mean there's a huge difference.
You can read a textbook, butto actually apply it, it's a world
(29:43):
away really.
It's, it's amazing.
You know, I just need more,more people should be in the trades
and hopefully that trendcontinues because that's the only
way to get more women in the business.
And I know there's anothergroup I think I'm going to be speaking
to when I speak to women innational Women in Construction and
the, they're sponsoring innercity and you know, lower income groups
(30:08):
and, and focusing on women toget them to choose that instead of
college or any, or going toMcDonald's, you know, I mean, so,
so there's a whole effort onthat because, you know, they're not
going to college anyway.
You know what I mean?
So.
Right.
And why not go into aprofession that pays well, that's
rewarding.
People don't realize how wellit pays.
(30:30):
What would you, what would bethe average entry wage for someone
going into the construction industry?
I would imagine it depends onwhat they do, but depends on what
you.
Do because you know, the entrylevel unskilled is, you know, the
25.
And then as soon as you get alittle skill, especially if you're
in the union, that's all in a deal.
But when you get skill, you're45, 50.
And then once you're there,it's 85 an hour.
(30:52):
So you know, it's, the averageis, you know, 50 bucks an hour.
And then if you're like doingsomething like Kathy does, where
you're actually drivingequipment, that's a whole other ball
game and that's a whole notherpay scale.
When you're actually handlingequipment or welding, that's a whole
nother game of money.
(31:13):
So it's huge.
So just so you know.
Yeah, I, I, I do.
Well, we could just say I knowhow exactly how much you make.
Just kidding.
But I, I know from the pastbecause I had other friends and that
have done it men.
And they really enjoyed theircareer and the responsibility that
(31:34):
comes with it too.
Oh, you know, if I would eversee that facilitator who that career
workshop, I would give her thebiggest tackle hug ever.
It, it has changed not only mylife, but it has given me a backbone,
it's given me a Voice.
I got self esteem.
I got.
I mean, I want to get taller.
(31:54):
I stand straighter.
Because, man, you have no ideathat how.
How high I was cliff divingoff at the biggest dozer in the world
up that, you know, like what Iwas doing last week, like, you know,
upside down, you're likeripping and pushing and like doing
all these things.
Just the fact that you commandthat machine to do that and yes,
with skill, that's just likewinning the Olympics every day and
(32:14):
getting gold medals every day.
No, here's.
Here's what was winning theOlympics because I learned.
I mean, I've been trucking forthe last 11 years, and then I was
operating the biggest grader.
Well, these.
These equipment, they're so big.
It takes a year to learn.
I started the dozer last yearat the age of 54, and every single
person on my crew told me Iwas going to fail, that I would not
(32:36):
do it right.
And I'm like, oh, really?
Watch this.
And I passed.
Not only did I pass with.
With honors, with flyingcolors, the trainer, the head trainer
of the mine, he stood up andhe came and he shook my hand and
he says, I.
In all my 25 years of doingthis, I have never seen anybody turn
(32:58):
your.
Turn your training around andtake it by the horns and do.
Do as well as you did.
He says, congratulations, Kathy.
And I'm like, you know,especially at 54.
Oh, no, no, no.
It wasn't a natural.
No, no, no, no.
I had to really work at it.
There's a lot involved.
I mean, this equipment, thedozer itself is bigger than a double
(33:20):
car garage.
The blade, I mean, you got tolook blade control.
There's so many.
It's the job itself becausewe're ripping above.
These shovels are the size of ships.
And I'm pushing the.
Or the ore, the oil down tothe shovel and I'm.
You're at a.
Almost at a 60% incline, 12hours of the day.
Oh.
Oh, it's wicked.
It is.
(33:40):
It is.
Oh, my God.
That's scary.
That's scary.
Not only.
Well, no, no, it gets worsebecause you can't.
The blade is so big that youcan't see what's in front of you.
And we're working night shift.
You don't.
The only reason you knowyou're at the edge is because the
whole dozer tips forward, right?
And you know, you're at theedge of the cliff and you're like,
oh, no.
Oh, no.
(34:01):
And.
Or.
And then you gotta turn.
Turn this big sucker around.
And now you gotta back up tothe cliff, you gotta lower that ripper
hanging over the edge.
And then you gotta rip it.
And it's frozen ground becausewhat you're doing is you're ripping
it to make it softer for the shovel.
So.
But you don't know you're atthe edge because it's pitch black,
it's dark.
The only reason again isbecause you're going backwards.
(34:24):
And all of a sudden the dozerkind of kills over.
You're like, ah, oh my God,that's too much.
Oh my God.
Oh, it's intense.
It's very intense.
So needless to say, it gave mea back, it's given me a voice.
Now when I, when I talk towomen, I go to women's groups and
I go to women's shelters, I goto youth, I go to, you know, juvenile
homes.
I talk to these kids and Isay, you know, not everyone, like
(34:47):
you were saying Shelleyearlier, not everyone's meant to
be a doctor and a, and alawyer or work in the corporate world.
There are options, right?
That's right.
That's right.
That's just it.
Yeah.
Forget that pigeonhole thing,you know.
Yeah.
And I think we're getting outof that.
I think, you know, with theSTEM programs and various other things,
I mean, they're trying toencourage more girls to go into things
(35:09):
and consider them.
They have people coming to theschools to showcase what they do
to show these potential careers.
So we're making progress there.
But of course, I'm animpatient person.
It's like when, when, when, Right.
Uh huh.
Stay tuned for more of womenroad warriors coming up.
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Welcome back to Women Roadwarriors with Shelly Johnson and
(36:40):
Kathy Tucaro.
Julie Lawton believes manywomen have a fear of going into the
construction trades.
That could be why women onlycomprise under 15% of the industry.
Too often women feel like theydon't belong.
Nothing could be further fromthe truth.
Julie's proven it and she's anace at what she does.
(37:02):
She's a trailblazer andwonderful example for women in the
construction industry.
She's the highly successfulowner of Julie Lawton Design Build
and JLGC in SouthernCalifornia where she handles custom
residential homes and managesteams while offering a one stop shop
for customers with five starconcierge service.
Julie's been talking about thechallenges and the victories that
(37:23):
have propelled her to the topof her trade.
There isn't much that Juliecan't do.
As we found out, she's aninspiration to all women and the
host of the Julie LawtonLiving podcast.
Julie it does seem like womenare making progress in the trades,
but it seems to be at asnail's pace.
It's definitely a movement andif you dig deeper, it's there.
(37:45):
But it's sad that it's stillonly it's less than 15% in the trades.
So maybe it'll take a shiftwith the next generation.
You know, I started, I was thethird woman hired.
We the highest we've ever went to.
We had 180 people staff and wehad 12 women and now we're down to
(38:06):
120 because all our truckswent autonomous.
So we lost most of the drivers.
Well, all the drivers.
Yeah.
And.
But now we're down to sixwomen on my group.
That's it.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
And I hate to say it, but.
The people that they'rehiring, it's not.
Women, the us because they'reall lining up because they know it's
a good job.
And yep, the women aren'tbeing placed or helped and the women
(38:29):
aren't thinking of thisbecause they didn't go go the path
you did.
Yeah, there has to be thatpath for them.
Julie, how do we create thatpath for girls and women?
Well, you have to hook them upwith the right people like all the
other women podcasters.
Like women in construction.
Women talk construction thatare actually trying to reach out
to young girls in the business.
(38:49):
Trying to decide do I want tobe a designer or an architect or
a contractor and maybe Ishould be a project manager.
So There are girls podcast outthere and lots of groups across the
country that are getting womenin construction.
And I think there's a pinkhard hats in Iowa and there's a many
groups already out there.
(39:11):
So if you just check, checkyour local, you know, state there,
I bet you there's a group.
But they're all over theUnited States, not everywhere.
But even truck driving,there's just straight old truck driving,
there's more women gettinginto that.
So I think just to look up thewoman's group that supporting it,
a national woman inconstruction is really helping with,
(39:35):
you know, helping with what'snext for the next generation and
women getting into construction.
So that's a good group to look at.
And I would think that beingin construction, you're home every
night, right?
Unless you have to gosomewhere that's out of state or
something.
Nope, I never travel and Idon't have time and don't take vacations.
I just have a second house andI still work when I'm here.
(39:56):
So my thing is I don't have anightlife because I get up at 4 in
the morning, so go to bed at 8.
So my life is my work.
So 4 in the morning till, youknow, 7 at night, boom, that's it.
So there is no more social life.
I don't and I don't need totravel for anything.
So.
So you got those conveniencesand if you don't mind being, you
(40:18):
know, up at the crack of dawnor before, that works.
So that might be an adjustmentfor some people.
But the money's good, certainly.
And if, if a woman is havingto consider daycare for her children
and that sort of thing,there's going to be the money to
pay for it.
A career?
Oh, yeah.
Once you make a certain level,daycare is easy.
(40:39):
Yeah.
So there are a lot of optionsout there.
Now, Julie, how do peoplereach out to you?
We'd like to talk a little bitabout your business and your podcast.
My website is just my name, soww.julielton.com and then I have
a cell phone on there, 714-305-2861.
But I'm always available,especially to talk to women who are
(41:00):
thinking of making a careerchange or just need a little advice
or, you know, pep talk aboutit so that I'm always available for
that.
And like I said, there's awhole list of places that are helping
women in the US here.
And I know four or five, soI'm always available.
And then my podcast is once a week.
(41:21):
And it's all about my journeyand my, you know, what I've basically
accomplished, but what I'vegone through and how to avoid a nightmare
remodel and the tips, like, ifyou're going to do this, if you don't
hire me, like, one person, yougot to hire, you know, 11 people.
And how do you hire them?
Who do you hire and all that stuff.
So I just try to give a lot ofadvice and guidance, because the
(41:43):
last thing you want is yourproject to go south.
You know, homeowners, whenthey're trying to remodel, it's hard
to find somebody who is goodthat wants to take it on, because
that's a challenging thing.
You're basically, what,reinventing something that's already
there versus starting from scratch?
Yes.
Remodels are a lot harder andcould be more expensive and especially
(42:04):
if you really want quality.
So.
But a lot of people arepassionate about their home.
So I think remodeling is greatbecause you're not tearing it down
and starting over.
You're preserving and makingit better.
So.
But you can get screwed upreally fast if you don't have the
people that have theexperience and the right people that
know how to work with the cityand they don't draw the plans well.
(42:25):
So there's a whole thing about it.
You have to have a lot of expertise.
Do you ever walk into aproject where somebody tried to do
it themselves?
Mm, that's my biggest petpeeve is owner builder.
Oh, my God.
I can't stand it.
And I still have clients todaythat want to interfere or hire people
while I'm working.
And I'm like, okay, we're notdoing this.
I.
Here's what's going to happenif you do this.
(42:47):
I mean, you're not the expert.
We are.
You hired professionals.
But anybody that thinksthey're going to do owner builder,
unfortunately, their motive isusually to save money.
But unfortunately, it alwayscosts more money and it always takes
longer.
Oh, yeah.
Do you want cheap or do youwant good?
Right.
That's my.
That's my thing.
You can do three ways.
Cheap, good, or fast.
(43:07):
And only two work together,and cheap is the only one you can't
do.
You know, when in reality.
Or I won't do.
But you can go good and fast,but it costs more, and you go good
and cheap, and then it's bad.
And then you go fast andcheap, and it's bad.
There's.
The only option is good andfast, but cheap doesn't.
It shouldn't be in the vocabulary.
(43:28):
I agree.
Absolutely.
So what is your website again, Julie?
It's www.julielton.com.
Excellent.
So women can reach out to youwith any questions about the career
field.
That, that's terrific.
And certainly anybody inCalifornia that would like your services.
You're.
You're licensed in California, correct?
Yes.
(43:48):
This is a terrific.
The fact that you're a woman.
And like I said in theintroduction, women make the majority
of the buying decisions,especially with the home.
It's just a per marriage.
I mean, you're talking to thehomeowners and you're relatable.
You know, I just think thatthe women, of course, as you know,
being in charge should have.
(44:09):
Should have a easy way out.
Because I always tell myclients, you know, I mean, well,
they tell me I'm their secretweapon because they got to report
back to the husband or theirpartner because there's always, no
matter who it is, there's oneperson in charge and then maybe another
person writing the checks.
But the point is the one yougot to make them look good, educated
(44:30):
and help them do their job better.
And it's always the woman inthe relationship or the one that's
managing the house.
So it's kind of funny becauseit's a no brainer that they should
work with a woman.
I'd say so.
This has been a pleasure.
Julie, you really are a trailblazer.
And I would love to see a lotmore women in the construction trades
(44:52):
because I think it's just anatural place for women to be.
You know, it is totallynatural because women not to sound
terrible, it's.
Women in general are bettermultitaskers, right?
Yeah.
And, and then some people aregreat multitaskers in general, but
it's really the womenmultitasking and then you got to
(45:13):
have the creative side andthis and that.
But it's just a no brainerthat more women should be in construction.
Mm, I totally agree.
Well, thank you for being atrailblazer and thank you for being
on the show, Julie.
You're an inspiration.
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
It's been wonderful.
I love talking to women whoare in the same similar industries.
(45:33):
Oh, yeah.
You know what it's like everyday and it's just kind of fun to
be a champion and.
Yeah.
And then you get the highfives and the guys and then they
all, you know, fall in lineor, you know, it's the whole thing
about.
Because when you're the boss,you know, not that my guys are afraid
of me, but there's a wholething about the respect, you know,
and that's what.
That's what it's all about, is respect.
(45:55):
Period.
And that's what women have to achieve.
And really, in any field, ifthey're dealing with men, they have
to achieve that respect.
It's not like it comes automatically.
So we have that additional challenge.
You have to earn it by showingyou can do it.
You can't tell them you can do it.
You got to show them.
Mm.
This has been great, Julie.
We hope you've enjoyed thislatest episode.
(46:17):
And if you want to hear moreepisodes of Women Road warriors or
learn more about our show, besure to check out womenroadwarriors.com
and please follow us on social media.
And don't forget to subscribeto our podcast on our website.
We also have a selection ofpodcasts Just for Women.
They're a series of podcastsfrom different podcasters.
(46:38):
So if you're in the mood forwomen's podcasts, just click the
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(47:01):
Thanks for listening.
You've been listening to WomenRoad warriors with Shelly Johnson
and Kathy Takaro.
If you want to be a guest onthe show or have a topic or feedback,
email us at sjohnsonomenroadwarriors.
Com.
This is Women Road warriorswith Shelly Johnson and Kathy Tucaro.
From the corporate office tothe cab of a truck, they're here
to inspire and empower womenin all professions.
So gear down, sit back and enjoy.
(00:23):
Welcome.
We're an award winning showdedicated to empowering women in
every profession throughinspiring stories and expert insights.
No topics off limits.
On our show, we power women onthe road to success with expert and
celebrity interviews andinformation you need.
I'm Shelley.
And I'm Kathy.
(00:44):
The construction trades are aprofitable and rewarding career.
Still, national data showsthat women only comprise a little
over 10% of the industry.
Women have a keen eye fordesign and are naturally suited for
this career path, but many arenot encouraged to pursue it.
Julie Lawton has had a longcareer in the design build industry.
(01:06):
She was a trailblazer whostarted in New York City working
for the top five developers in Manhattan.
She eventually moved toSouthern California to enter the
residential custom home market.
While working as a designer,she realized there would be better
communication and a seamlessprocess for the homeowner if they
had one person to communicatewith on the project.
(01:26):
It was a perfect marriage anda logical choice since the majority
of women dictate buyingdecisions in a home.
Julie got her generalcontractor's license to become a
one stop shop for her clientsto solve their home building problems.
Her companies, Julie LawtonDesign Build and JLGC are well known
and well regarded in Southern California.
(01:47):
She's also the host of theJulie Lawton Living podcast.
Julie's here with us today totalk about her path, the obstacles
she's personally faced, andhow she's opened doors for women
in the construction industry.
Welcome, Julie.
Thank you for being on theshow and thank you for being a trailblazer.
You're welcome.
Shelly and Kathy, I'm so gladto be here.
(02:09):
Yeah, it's going to be awesome.
Oh man, we're excited.
This is so cool.
I thought we could begin withyou telling us your story, how everything
began and what you faced in amale dominated industry.
Well, I was drawing things andyou know, architecturally at 14.
And then I thought in collegeI, you know, thought I would go and
(02:30):
be an architect.
And then I thought, oh no, letme do a landscape architecture.
And I thought, oh no, let medo interior design, which is really
space planning andarchitectural interiors.
So my counselor at the time,who was a woman, kind of a strong
woman, says Julie need to picka degree.
Anyway, so she, what she didfor me is she got me shipped over
to New York City for Myinternship and I started working
(02:53):
for architects there and doingall these wonderful commercial spaces
and it was great.
But I was just the only girlin the drafting room.
But what happened is thisother woman found me in New York
City some.
I don't remember how I mether, but she was hooked up with the
five top developers and theywere all the top five.
And she was like a familyfriend and she did all their model
(03:15):
homes and some lobbies andsome other things for them.
So she had me as the head designer.
So I was at 22 years old,presenting to the developer himself,
Milstein, Goodstein, Lafreg,Second Zuckendorf, Silverman.
She would send me to themeetings with them.
(03:36):
And I was in my 20s becauseshe wasn't a designer, but I was
the head designer.
And then that, then I was alsothe draftsman.
So I go to the field in my1980s heel, skirt and heels and you
know, get, you know, talk tothe men and be on large construction
sites and you know, cat callsin the 80s.
So you always got that.
But I kind of knew.
(03:59):
Well, here's the deal.
I was doing this in my 20s andit was fascinating because I was
working with the largestcontractors and the largest construction
companies in the world.
So I just knew that somethingabout standing in the dirt did it
because to this day I still dothe same thing.
I make sure the plans areaccurate and I'm standing in the
dirt while, while I'm doing it.
(04:19):
So it's kind of funny.
So my career actually did is,you know, happen naturally from day
one.
So.
But this, the being 20something in New York City and dealing
with those major men andeveryone at the board meetings was
50 years old and I was 20 something.
I mean, she wouldn't even goto the meetings with me.
(04:40):
It was just, there's where Igot my experience and my, my cahoots,
whatever you call it.
My developers, she was Jewishand I was a shit skull.
It was hilarious, but just, itwas funny.
But that's where I got mybusiness sense in my, and my, you
know, I was scared andnervous, but that's where I got the
(05:00):
confidence because they, theyliked me and they actually dealt
with me and I, you know, I didtheir private homes too.
So it was fun.
So you just kind of jumped inthere like you said, you were scared.
It had to be intimidating.
First of all, you're stilllearning the.
And then you're with thesereally big operations.
Yeah, like she take me in hertown car to the meeting and I thought
(05:23):
we were going together Iremember this.
And she, I go.
And I, she opens the, I openthe door to get out to go into the
meeting and I go, aren't you coming?
She goes, nope.
And I was like.
And she just kind of gives mea shove.
It's sink or swim, babe.
You're going to sink or swim.
So I can.
And I just laughed.
And I went into the meeting by myself.
And I remember it was justlike, wow.
(05:44):
And, and scared to death.
But I, I can now say I swam inNew York City and, and it was wonderful.
I also had a very wonderfulnightlife and a lot of wonderful
friends.
I mean, the New York Cityexperience was wonderful.
And that's what put me on the map.
And really, you know, I cameto California with professional experience.
(06:08):
Like there's no other womanthat I know that can say she's an
architect, an interiordesigner and a licensed contractor.
Professional experience in theresidential arena.
So it's because some people doone or the other and then they have
other people do it.
But I truly am this one stop shop.
But we'll talk about that more later.
(06:28):
So you became a Renaissancewoman, essentially, with all of that
experience.
And what you bring to thetable is so essential when it's insane.
The amount of work that Imanage for a client because if they
had to hire the people that Imanage, it would be 11 at a minimum
for a residential project.
And, and I don't just hirethem, I manage them on for the client's
(06:52):
best interests.
Because if you don't have aproject manager managing all these
people you would have to hire,it doesn't really work because the
clients don't know and what'sgoing on and who should be getting
along with who and who shouldbe done at what time.
They don't know.
So it's kind of dangerous forclients to be hiring 11 different
people and hoping they worktogether and play nice in the sandbox.
(07:15):
Sure.
And make sure they do the job.
Yeah.
Because you're going to get some.
I'm sure that if they can getaway with not working, they might,
you.
Know, and, and then theyalways point fingers at each other.
So I always tell my plans.
You know, I'm the only oneyou're talking to.
I can't point my finger atanyone because it's me.
The buck stops with me.
And I'm championing thisproject for you because I'm used
(07:38):
to being a project manager,more so in helping them because a
client can't understand unlessyou explain and give them knowledge
and explain why things are happening.
You know, it's a wholedifferent thing.
Being their project managerwith five star, five star concierge
service.
That's what I'm really doing.
(08:00):
Because, God, the playerscould be anybody.
Right.
But they're my players.
But it's that personalrelationship with the client where
you're constantly updatingthem and constantly explaining.
So they build the trust andthey're comfortable and, and they,
they understand.
Because most of my clients are busy.
They don't want.
They don't really want toknow, but they need to know, you
know, so it's a whole thingabout that balance.
(08:21):
Sure.
Well, they want the job donecorrectly, they want it done well,
and they want it to staywithin budget, too.
Yes.
And I can honestly say thatI'm always on time and always on
budget because I draw theplans and nothing gets in my way.
Except, of course, whenclients decide to make a million
change orders afterconstruction starts.
But that's a whole nother story.
(08:42):
And most clients are goodabout it, but some are not.
And that creates a lot ofdrama and stress.
But I hate to say it, but it'snot my fault.
Things happen.
Right.
It's just kind of called life.
Yeah.
People get excited.
And it's funny how theconstruction is because it's a very
creative process and, But.
(09:02):
And it's a wonderful process,like birthing a.
You're birthing a new home orlike birthing a child.
It's a.
It's.
It's fun because it's creative.
Right.
You're building something together.
But it's also the moststressful thing a woman or a man
can go through as a couple oras a person.
Other than death and marriage,I mean, it's up there on the Richter
(09:23):
scale because you have toparticipate and make decisions and
know what you want and, youknow, and then be able to keep up
with the payments.
It's.
It's very stressful and especially.
And if the players aren'tgetting along, good luck.
So it's a whole thing.
So did you ever run intodifficulties when you were trying
(09:44):
to supervise?
The credibility factor, wherethe guys are like, we don't have
to listen to you.
I mean, what kind of obstacleshave you run into?
Well, when I was only adesigner in New York, they would
just look at me funny enough,you know, check, you know, just is
the cat calls and whatnot,because I didn't have any power.
So when I did become thecontractor, the first couple of years,
(10:07):
it was funny because I wasstill young, it was in my 40s.
And they just couldn't figureout why this young chick, because
I look younger than I am, wasin there ordering them around.
So I was constantly challengedon my ability.
So they'd ask me trickquestions, you know, and.
And then.
(10:27):
And then anyone that didn'tshake my hand right or couldn't stop
looking at my ass, I justdon't work with those people.
So eventually I figured it outthat I can only work with men that
respect women.
And that took, you know, a fewyears to figure out.
There is just certain men youcan't work with.
And.
Because here's the deal.
(10:47):
Once you are a contractor as awoman, they don't care you're a woman.
Well, you know what you'redoing, so.
Because when you get on aconstruction slab, it's dangerous.
And if you don't know whatyou're doing, you're going to get
kicked out no matter who you are.
So that's all they want is therespect for what they're doing and
the knowledge that you, theleader, are actually leading.
And, and then it's all.
(11:08):
It's all cape.
All good.
You know, it's all copacetic.
It's good.
It's weird because managingmen is managing, you know, we're
managing knowledge.
And, you know, with, with knowledge.
It's, it's, it's.
It's.
Once you're in it, thenthere's the respect.
It's funny.
And, and there's no other.
But it took me a while tofigure out there's certain guys you
(11:30):
just can't work with becausethey, they're never going to respect
women and they're not professional.
So they're unfortunate.
But after the first couple ofyears, it became easy because.
Yeah, I had.
And I have a little test ofhow I know if the guy's going to
respect me.
Oh, what's.
What's.
Tell us more.
What?
Yeah, what's the test?
What's.
I want to know.
The test is how he shakes my hand.
(11:52):
Oh, okay.
If he shakes my hand firm,we're good.
If he shakes it like I'm.
Like he's asking me to dance.
I'm not going there.
Okay.
You know they grab your end ofyour fingers instead of shaking your
hand.
Like they're gonna.
Hand type thing.
That doesn't work for me.
It's.
It's kind of.
What.
But like, my.
My dad was in sales, actually,but he said if somebody shakes your
(12:13):
hand like a fish.
Yeah, there you go.
That's.
That's the one.
That's.
It that's what it is.
Yeah.
A handshake says a lot.
It really does.
And I'm the same somebody whogives me these weird, like, you know,
some hands are slimy almost.
I'm like, is that.
I have those.
Ew.
Slimy and cold.
Slimy and cold.
(12:34):
Yeah.
Like, no, thanks.
I'm out.
Stay tuned for more of WomenRoad warriors coming up.
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Share your story and what youlove about trucking.
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(13:40):
media.
Learn more@truckingmovesamerica.com.
Welcome back to Women Roadwarriors with Shelly Johnson and
Kathy Tuccaro.
If you're enjoying thisinformative episode of Women Road
(14:00):
Warriors, I wanted to mentionKathy and I explore all kinds of
topics that will power you onthe road to success.
We feature a lot of expertinterviews, plus we feature celebrities
and women who've been trailblazers.
Please check out ourpodcast@womenroadwarriors.com and
click on our Episodes page.
We're also available whereveryou listen to podcasts on all the
(14:21):
major podcast channels likeSpotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon,
Music, Audible, you name it.
Check us out and bookmark our podcast.
Also, don't forget to followus on social media.
We're on Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube
and other sites.
And tell others about us.
We want to help as many womenas possible.
(14:42):
The construction trades offera world of opportunity.
It's a path that's not onlyprofitable, but deeply rewarding.
Yet despite this, nationaldata shows that women make up just
over 10% of the industry.
But here's the thing.
Women have an incredible eyefor design, and so many of the qualities
needed for success in thisfield come naturally to us.
(15:02):
So why Then aren't we beingencouraged to take that step?
This is what Julie Lawton isdoing with a powerful woman mentor.
She began her journey in NewYork City many years ago working
with some of the topdevelopers in Manhattan as the head
designer where she worked.
Her mentor taught her to sinkor swim.
And boy, Julie swam.
(15:22):
She was an Olympic championwho took charge where she needed
to.
The men she met then weretwice her age.
She faced many challenges in amale dominated world, but prevailed
and gained their respect asthe true leader that she is.
She went on to SouthernCalifornia where she dove into the
world of custom residential homes.
She customized her service tohomeowners and became a one stop
(15:44):
shop for them with a five starconcierge service with her firm,
Julie Lawton Design, Build and jlgc.
Julie is a proven winner whomanages an entire team and who shows
that women can naturally excelin the construction trades.
She's an example for all womenwho's gained the respect of everybody
and leveled the playing fieldon gender.
(16:06):
So Julie, would you say themajority of men have been respectful?
It's just a small minoritythat are jerks?
Yes, it's.
And the majority.
Yep.
And the ones that aren'tusually have their own personal issues
or having hard times.
So it's a whole thing.
Because, you know, in the realworld it like that's why I liked
commercial, because everybodywas respectful and you just followed
(16:28):
the rules and residential wasa little like wild west.
So in commercial, even thoughI was the girl on the job site with
high heels and a skirt becauseit was the 80s, it was still respectful
though because everybody knewthe rules, their roles and the rules.
Because there's a lot of rulesin union, you know too.
Oh yeah.
And, and it's so.
It's a big deal.
(16:48):
So I love that.
So when I came to residential,I had to create my own team of respectful
people and stay away from thebad ones.
So yeah, you had a wonderful opportunity.
Your first supervisor, if you will.
She, she was a mentor, she wasa champion and she just kind of threw
you out there.
It's like sink or swim.
And it really is true.
(17:10):
It is.
You learn to think on yourfeet and you learn to trust yourself.
Yeah, that's what it was.
Because.
Because what I was doing,funny enough, came naturally because
I had all the education andthe college experience and the talent.
Just like, I mean, I dream in color.
I see the projects done beforethey're built.
You know, I, I can walk intosomebody's house and see it done
(17:30):
in color when in the first 30 minutes.
So I have a gift from theartistic side, but that's what came
through.
And I'm a natural bornsaleswoman, which I didn't know until
I was moved to la.
And that's another story ofhow my actual business started.
But it was all there and itjust took a minute to develop.
You know, it's amazing untilwe're actually in a situation, we
(17:52):
don't really realize our strengths.
And it just comes out.
It comes out because.
Because you're like, my lab'slike, numb.
When I was doing thosemeetings, I was on autopilot, you
know.
Because you're nervous.
Oh, sure, yeah.
Then they're done.
That.
And when you think about it,just being able to give somebody
the opportunity, which I findit interesting that we're in the
(18:16):
21st century and theconstruction industry only has 10%
women.
Do you think that is?
Well, first of all, I do trulybelieve it's a fear of being.
Going into it, because Ialways thought, gosh, I can't do
it because I'm not a guy.
Or, gosh, I can't do itbecause I never saw a hammer.
So it was a.
There was that automatic thingthat you think, I don't belong.
(18:38):
Like, it's like joining a NFLfootball team.
They don't have girls.
So you just kind of have thatin the back of your mind that I don't
belong.
But when you're in it andyou're good at.
Took me almost 10 years todecide to get the license.
Just so you know, because Igot my feet wet and then I.
And then.
(18:58):
And I got good at it.
But it was funny because I just.
It was weird because I justthought, because, you know, designers
manage things anyway, andarchitects manage anything anyway.
And then the client hirestheir own contractor and you watch
them screw up.
So I was in it anyway, but itwas like a mental thing and a little
fear that I didn't belong, Iguess I never thought about it.
(19:19):
And then because I was workingas a designer and getting things
done, so.
And then one day somethinghappened where the responsibility
had to be taken.
And that was it.
Bam.
Bam.
And I said, that's me, let'sdo it.
I got my license.
And, you know, it changed my world.
I mean, it changed my incomeand my responsibility and my whole
world when that happened.
(19:40):
But.
And the clients were like, ohmy God, I have a one stop shop.
This is.
Wow.
And then everything wentsmoothly and no more nightmare scenarios.
Were you fearful with eachstep you took?
Oh, definitely.
Because when I Took thecontractor's test.
I studied like I was on acollege exam.
I overstudied and.
(20:01):
And I was really nervous abouttaking the test.
So I get down there because.
And they put you in a lockedroom, and they have cameras on you
so you don't cheat, andthere's somebody standing behind
you.
I mean, it's heavy duty.
So I'm in there taking thetest, and I'm kind of breezing through
it.
And none of the questions thatwere on that test were anything I
studied.
It was all stuff I'd learnedin the dirt in New York City, including
(20:21):
concrete slump.
Don't ask me how I rememberthat, but what is that?
It's how the concrete slump.
The.
The how.
How you can tell the thicknessof the concrete and the psi and the
slump.
It's called concrete slump.
And the firmness, there's aratio thing that tells you what it
is.
And I don't know how Iremembered this, but I remember that
(20:44):
was one of the questions.
And I was laughing because itwasn't on the exam books.
And so I got done with thetest, and I raised my hand, and the
lady came over and took my papers.
And then she came back a fewminutes later and says, by the way,
you passed, and you got a 98,and you took the test faster than
anyone in the history.
I think of this office, andI'm like, oh, my.
And I'm like, that was fun.
So I was like.
(21:05):
And then the next visit was tothe sheriff's office to get my hands,
my.
My palms print, you know, palm prints.
So it's, you know, then, youknow, you're getting into serious
business when they have thesheriffs to photo, you know, copy
your palm prints.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
So it's a big deal.
And.
And it was all fun.
And I had a lot of peopletelling me and helping me what to
(21:26):
do, and.
Because I had to get all theinsurances and.
And learn how to do billingand mark things up and all that good
stuff.
And then.
And then, you know, one year,five years later, I went from 1 million
in sales to 5 million in sales.
And then during COVID I wentfrom 5 million sales to 10 million
sales.
So I have this habit ofprojecting and jumping my sales because
(21:48):
I like to grow.
And now I'm.
I got a big number projected,but we'll see.
But I'm in this business,like, to leave a legacy and then
maybe give the business to theemployees, because I don't plan on
retiring until I'm in my 80s.
How's that sound?
That sounds terrific.
Why not 80s, the new 60anyway, right?
That's what I'm thinking.
(22:09):
Well, I'm thinking I stillfeel 40 and I'm 62.
There you go.
Ages is just a number.
And women, unfortunatelythey're pigeonholed.
It's like, oh, you know, it'sridiculous how we're conditioned.
We can do whatever we want todo at any particular age.
That's just it.
And that, that this, thesocietal conditioning is really horrible
(22:34):
maybe or bad.
And some people live theirwhole life without taking career
opportunities because maybetheir parents told them something.
Because my parents, I was bornin the 60s and my mom and dad never
said I couldn't do somethingbecause I wasn't a boy or because
I was a girl.
And my mom encouraged, youknow, don't get married.
It's, you know, do your career.
(22:55):
So the apparent, because Iknow other women my age whose parents
said you can't do that, youcan't play that instrument because
you're not a boy.
You know.
So just so you know, I'm, I'ma seven handicap in Gaul.
I was a tennis champion, askeet shooting champion, archery
champion.
And then I played the drums,the piano and the bass violin, the
big stand up bass.
(23:16):
And I still play and I stillplay the drums today and I still
golf.
And I also was a lifeguard forfour years and taught swimming lessons.
And I was the youngestcertified lifeguard in Iowa at 14
years old.
So I don't.
And my mom wasn't like pushingus to do this.
We're not overachievers.
But I did all that before Iwas 18 and, and so, you know, my
(23:40):
dad took me to the skeetshooting champion skeet shooting
range and he coached me how toshoot his shotgun.
And I won because he stood,you know, so it's not like I did
it all the time, but just witha couple days coaching.
I was fun.
I won.
I beat all the boys, all thefarmers in my town.
You go, why not?
That's great.
(24:00):
They weren't going to give youany crap after that, right?
No, they never did.
Because my dad and between mydad and my uncles, nobody messed
with me and my sister.
I love it.
Yeah, I was raised basically awoman can do anything she wants to
do.
That's makes a big differenceas long as it's legal, you know,
I mean my parents had someparameters there and that helps.
(24:24):
So that's wonderful.
So you had parents who werechampions and they encouraged you
as you weren't afraid to trynew things.
Oh no.
My sister was on the boysbaseball team, the little league
and she was the home run queenor whatever the first year.
So.
And we never thought twiceabout it.
You know, no other girl everdid it since, but she was on the.
(24:44):
You know, I never thoughttwice about it.
My grandpa loved baseball andtaught us how to throw baseballs
and curve balls, you know.
You know, so whatever it was,just never thought about it.
But that was, you know, herthing too.
So.
If a woman wanted to do whatyou're doing or even go into the
construction industry, do theyneed to go to college or can they
go to a VO tech school?
I mean, what do you.
(25:04):
You can.
You could go to a VO tech anddo a construction management.
There are colleges withconstruction management courses.
Or you can just get a job andlearn, you know, as a project manager.
But you need the experience.
You know, how does somebody goabout doing that?
I mean, just want.
Go to a.
A developer.
I mean, who do they seek out to?
(25:25):
You can.
You can work for a builder ora developer and the bigger the company,
the better.
Some of them might ask foreducation or experience, but you
can always go in as an interntoo and you know, and learn as.
Learn as you earn that projectmanagement is the way to go, in my
opinion.
And then you can decide if youwant to take the big next step and
actually become the contractor.
(25:47):
Because that's a whole deal ofgetting jobs and working, but working
for someone else.
As a project manager you learneverything from conception to completion
and how the plans work and thesubmittals work and then the project
and the budgeting and the scheduling.
So that's the best advice isgetting, you know, in that project
(26:10):
management as a woman.
And then the other one is, youknow, go ahead, be a carpenter, a
framer, a steel worker, drivelarge equipment like Kathy does.
Why not?
It pays good.
I mean.
Oh, I know.
Like I was really fortunate.
In Canada we have a nonprofitorganization called Women Building
Futures.
And one day if I can, I wouldwant to start one here in the states
(26:31):
because it did wonders what it is.
It's.
It's big companies thatsponsor programs into the non traditional
trades for women.
So electrician, you know,plumbing, carpentry journey woman,
crane operator, heavyequipment operator.
You get your class one, yourclass three, what, whatever.
And it's paid for.
(26:52):
And not only is it paid for,but the women that are.
Because usually, I mean it's for.
For people that are struggling.
Well, the.
The.
The one place in Edmonton hasapartment buildings, apartment apartments
in the same building.
So that if someone's comingfrom a different province that you
can stay there for a month orsix weeks or however long the course
is at, and you get your ownprivate place to do to stay while
(27:15):
you're learning.
I love it.
That's amazing.
But wait, there's more.
They even find you a job.
They look you up, right?
They have a whole list ofcompanies that work with women building
futures in order to helpsponsor these women.
I would not have this job had,had I not went there because I.
Just said you really, youprobably wouldn't.
(27:36):
Seriously, because it's goingout on your own and getting the job
and joining that boys club.
They probably wouldn't hireyou and blah, blah, blah.
So Exxon, they, they paid$18,000 per woman and there was 16
women that did the 12 weekcourse and Exxon hired 11 out of
the 16 and I got hired andyeah, it's been 11 years now and
it's been the best careerchange ever.
(27:57):
I tell everyone, like, oh myGod, you got to check it out.
Like just, you know, I love it.
And having that support,having that support really helps
because women, women gettingin there because over here I see
that there's like the shopclasses aren't coming back to high
school, but there's thevocational classes are available
after high school and there'smore women getting into that.
And that's, you know, kind ofwhere it's at for women too, is the
(28:20):
vocational for the actualphysical, like steel workers and
whatnot.
So it's good to see becausethere's more and more groups supporting
it, but women need moresupport because, you know, it's not
like the men don't want you,but you have to have the training
and the avenue and all that.
You have to have a door openfor you and get your feet wet.
(28:41):
You know, I do find itinteresting that VO Tech left the
high schools across thecountry, at least in the United States,
because that made thingsavailable to students so that they
could begin a trade beforethey leave high school.
And I know that there's atrend now where not everybody wants
to go to college.
Yeah, no.
(29:01):
No reason to waste that moneywhen you could go into a trade school.
Yeah.
And I think within the past,what, 40, 50 years, there was always
this shift to encourage peopleto go to college.
Well, not everybody is goingto be good in college.
That's not where theirstrengths are.
Not everybody wants to besitting in a classroom.
They're better with theirhands, they're better doing things.
(29:22):
And it Just made sense to haveshop and various other things available
in the junior highs and high schools.
Yep.
And you don't learn unlessyou're doing it.
Like I didn't learn my craftuntil I got out into the job.
Yep.
So yeah, I mean there's a huge difference.
You can read a textbook, butto actually apply it, it's a world
(29:43):
away really.
It's, it's amazing.
You know, I just need more,more people should be in the trades
and hopefully that trendcontinues because that's the only
way to get more women in the business.
And I know there's anothergroup I think I'm going to be speaking
to when I speak to women innational Women in Construction and
the, they're sponsoring innercity and you know, lower income groups
(30:08):
and, and focusing on women toget them to choose that instead of
college or any, or going toMcDonald's, you know, I mean, so,
so there's a whole effort onthat because, you know, they're not
going to college anyway.
You know what I mean?
So.
Right.
And why not go into aprofession that pays well, that's
rewarding.
People don't realize how wellit pays.
(30:30):
What would you, what would bethe average entry wage for someone
going into the construction industry?
I would imagine it depends onwhat they do, but depends on what
you.
Do because you know, the entrylevel unskilled is, you know, the
25.
And then as soon as you get alittle skill, especially if you're
in the union, that's all in a deal.
But when you get skill, you're45, 50.
And then once you're there,it's 85 an hour.
(30:52):
So you know, it's, the averageis, you know, 50 bucks an hour.
And then if you're like doingsomething like Kathy does, where
you're actually drivingequipment, that's a whole other ball
game and that's a whole notherpay scale.
When you're actually handlingequipment or welding, that's a whole
nother game of money.
(31:13):
So it's huge.
So just so you know.
Yeah, I, I, I do.
Well, we could just say I knowhow exactly how much you make.
Just kidding.
But I, I know from the pastbecause I had other friends and that
have done it men.
And they really enjoyed theircareer and the responsibility that
(31:34):
comes with it too.
Oh, you know, if I would eversee that facilitator who that career
workshop, I would give her thebiggest tackle hug ever.
It, it has changed not only mylife, but it has given me a backbone,
it's given me a Voice.
I got self esteem.
I got.
I mean, I want to get taller.
(31:54):
I stand straighter.
Because, man, you have no ideathat how.
How high I was cliff divingoff at the biggest dozer in the world
up that, you know, like what Iwas doing last week, like, you know,
upside down, you're likeripping and pushing and like doing
all these things.
Just the fact that you commandthat machine to do that and yes,
with skill, that's just likewinning the Olympics every day and
(32:14):
getting gold medals every day.
No, here's.
Here's what was winning theOlympics because I learned.
I mean, I've been trucking forthe last 11 years, and then I was
operating the biggest grader.
Well, these.
These equipment, they're so big.
It takes a year to learn.
I started the dozer last yearat the age of 54, and every single
person on my crew told me Iwas going to fail, that I would not
(32:36):
do it right.
And I'm like, oh, really?
Watch this.
And I passed.
Not only did I pass with.
With honors, with flyingcolors, the trainer, the head trainer
of the mine, he stood up andhe came and he shook my hand and
he says, I.
In all my 25 years of doingthis, I have never seen anybody turn
(32:58):
your.
Turn your training around andtake it by the horns and do.
Do as well as you did.
He says, congratulations, Kathy.
And I'm like, you know,especially at 54.
Oh, no, no, no.
It wasn't a natural.
No, no, no, no.
I had to really work at it.
There's a lot involved.
I mean, this equipment, thedozer itself is bigger than a double
(33:20):
car garage.
The blade, I mean, you got tolook blade control.
There's so many.
It's the job itself becausewe're ripping above.
These shovels are the size of ships.
And I'm pushing the.
Or the ore, the oil down tothe shovel and I'm.
You're at a.
Almost at a 60% incline, 12hours of the day.
Oh.
Oh, it's wicked.
It is.
(33:40):
It is.
Oh, my God.
That's scary.
That's scary.
Not only.
Well, no, no, it gets worsebecause you can't.
The blade is so big that youcan't see what's in front of you.
And we're working night shift.
You don't.
The only reason you knowyou're at the edge is because the
whole dozer tips forward, right?
And you know, you're at theedge of the cliff and you're like,
oh, no.
Oh, no.
(34:01):
And.
Or.
And then you gotta turn.
Turn this big sucker around.
And now you gotta back up tothe cliff, you gotta lower that ripper
hanging over the edge.
And then you gotta rip it.
And it's frozen ground becausewhat you're doing is you're ripping
it to make it softer for the shovel.
So.
But you don't know you're atthe edge because it's pitch black,
it's dark.
The only reason again isbecause you're going backwards.
(34:24):
And all of a sudden the dozerkind of kills over.
You're like, ah, oh my God,that's too much.
Oh my God.
Oh, it's intense.
It's very intense.
So needless to say, it gave mea back, it's given me a voice.
Now when I, when I talk towomen, I go to women's groups and
I go to women's shelters, I goto youth, I go to, you know, juvenile
homes.
I talk to these kids and Isay, you know, not everyone, like
(34:47):
you were saying Shelleyearlier, not everyone's meant to
be a doctor and a, and alawyer or work in the corporate world.
There are options, right?
That's right.
That's right.
That's just it.
Yeah.
Forget that pigeonhole thing,you know.
Yeah.
And I think we're getting outof that.
I think, you know, with theSTEM programs and various other things,
I mean, they're trying toencourage more girls to go into things
(35:09):
and consider them.
They have people coming to theschools to showcase what they do
to show these potential careers.
So we're making progress there.
But of course, I'm animpatient person.
It's like when, when, when, Right.
Uh huh.
Stay tuned for more of womenroad warriors coming up.
(35:35):
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media.
Learn more@truckingmovesamerica.com.
Welcome back to Women Roadwarriors with Shelly Johnson and
(36:40):
Kathy Tucaro.
Julie Lawton believes manywomen have a fear of going into the
construction trades.
That could be why women onlycomprise under 15% of the industry.
Too often women feel like theydon't belong.
Nothing could be further fromthe truth.
Julie's proven it and she's anace at what she does.
(37:02):
She's a trailblazer andwonderful example for women in the
construction industry.
She's the highly successfulowner of Julie Lawton Design Build
and JLGC in SouthernCalifornia where she handles custom
residential homes and managesteams while offering a one stop shop
for customers with five starconcierge service.
Julie's been talking about thechallenges and the victories that
(37:23):
have propelled her to the topof her trade.
There isn't much that Juliecan't do.
As we found out, she's aninspiration to all women and the
host of the Julie LawtonLiving podcast.
Julie it does seem like womenare making progress in the trades,
but it seems to be at asnail's pace.
It's definitely a movement andif you dig deeper, it's there.
(37:45):
But it's sad that it's stillonly it's less than 15% in the trades.
So maybe it'll take a shiftwith the next generation.
You know, I started, I was thethird woman hired.
We the highest we've ever went to.
We had 180 people staff and wehad 12 women and now we're down to
(38:06):
120 because all our truckswent autonomous.
So we lost most of the drivers.
Well, all the drivers.
Yeah.
And.
But now we're down to sixwomen on my group.
That's it.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
And I hate to say it, but.
The people that they'rehiring, it's not.
Women, the us because they'reall lining up because they know it's
a good job.
And yep, the women aren'tbeing placed or helped and the women
(38:29):
aren't thinking of thisbecause they didn't go go the path
you did.
Yeah, there has to be thatpath for them.
Julie, how do we create thatpath for girls and women?
Well, you have to hook them upwith the right people like all the
other women podcasters.
Like women in construction.
Women talk construction thatare actually trying to reach out
to young girls in the business.
(38:49):
Trying to decide do I want tobe a designer or an architect or
a contractor and maybe Ishould be a project manager.
So There are girls podcast outthere and lots of groups across the
country that are getting womenin construction.
And I think there's a pinkhard hats in Iowa and there's a many
groups already out there.
(39:11):
So if you just check, checkyour local, you know, state there,
I bet you there's a group.
But they're all over theUnited States, not everywhere.
But even truck driving,there's just straight old truck driving,
there's more women gettinginto that.
So I think just to look up thewoman's group that supporting it,
a national woman inconstruction is really helping with,
(39:35):
you know, helping with what'snext for the next generation and
women getting into construction.
So that's a good group to look at.
And I would think that beingin construction, you're home every
night, right?
Unless you have to gosomewhere that's out of state or
something.
Nope, I never travel and Idon't have time and don't take vacations.
I just have a second house andI still work when I'm here.
(39:56):
So my thing is I don't have anightlife because I get up at 4 in
the morning, so go to bed at 8.
So my life is my work.
So 4 in the morning till, youknow, 7 at night, boom, that's it.
So there is no more social life.
I don't and I don't need totravel for anything.
So.
So you got those conveniencesand if you don't mind being, you
(40:18):
know, up at the crack of dawnor before, that works.
So that might be an adjustmentfor some people.
But the money's good, certainly.
And if, if a woman is havingto consider daycare for her children
and that sort of thing,there's going to be the money to
pay for it.
A career?
Oh, yeah.
Once you make a certain level,daycare is easy.
(40:39):
Yeah.
So there are a lot of optionsout there.
Now, Julie, how do peoplereach out to you?
We'd like to talk a little bitabout your business and your podcast.
My website is just my name, soww.julielton.com and then I have
a cell phone on there, 714-305-2861.
But I'm always available,especially to talk to women who are
(41:00):
thinking of making a careerchange or just need a little advice
or, you know, pep talk aboutit so that I'm always available for
that.
And like I said, there's awhole list of places that are helping
women in the US here.
And I know four or five, soI'm always available.
And then my podcast is once a week.
(41:21):
And it's all about my journeyand my, you know, what I've basically
accomplished, but what I'vegone through and how to avoid a nightmare
remodel and the tips, like, ifyou're going to do this, if you don't
hire me, like, one person, yougot to hire, you know, 11 people.
And how do you hire them?
Who do you hire and all that stuff.
So I just try to give a lot ofadvice and guidance, because the
(41:43):
last thing you want is yourproject to go south.
You know, homeowners, whenthey're trying to remodel, it's hard
to find somebody who is goodthat wants to take it on, because
that's a challenging thing.
You're basically, what,reinventing something that's already
there versus starting from scratch?
Yes.
Remodels are a lot harder andcould be more expensive and especially
(42:04):
if you really want quality.
So.
But a lot of people arepassionate about their home.
So I think remodeling is greatbecause you're not tearing it down
and starting over.
You're preserving and makingit better.
So.
But you can get screwed upreally fast if you don't have the
people that have theexperience and the right people that
know how to work with the cityand they don't draw the plans well.
(42:25):
So there's a whole thing about it.
You have to have a lot of expertise.
Do you ever walk into aproject where somebody tried to do
it themselves?
Mm, that's my biggest petpeeve is owner builder.
Oh, my God.
I can't stand it.
And I still have clients todaythat want to interfere or hire people
while I'm working.
And I'm like, okay, we're notdoing this.
I.
Here's what's going to happenif you do this.
(42:47):
I mean, you're not the expert.
We are.
You hired professionals.
But anybody that thinksthey're going to do owner builder,
unfortunately, their motive isusually to save money.
But unfortunately, it alwayscosts more money and it always takes
longer.
Oh, yeah.
Do you want cheap or do youwant good?
Right.
That's my.
That's my thing.
You can do three ways.
Cheap, good, or fast.
(43:07):
And only two work together,and cheap is the only one you can't
do.
You know, when in reality.
Or I won't do.
But you can go good and fast,but it costs more, and you go good
and cheap, and then it's bad.
And then you go fast andcheap, and it's bad.
There's.
The only option is good andfast, but cheap doesn't.
It shouldn't be in the vocabulary.
(43:28):
I agree.
Absolutely.
So what is your website again, Julie?
It's www.julielton.com.
Excellent.
So women can reach out to youwith any questions about the career
field.
That, that's terrific.
And certainly anybody inCalifornia that would like your services.
You're.
You're licensed in California, correct?
Yes.
(43:48):
This is a terrific.
The fact that you're a woman.
And like I said in theintroduction, women make the majority
of the buying decisions,especially with the home.
It's just a per marriage.
I mean, you're talking to thehomeowners and you're relatable.
You know, I just think thatthe women, of course, as you know,
being in charge should have.
(44:09):
Should have a easy way out.
Because I always tell myclients, you know, I mean, well,
they tell me I'm their secretweapon because they got to report
back to the husband or theirpartner because there's always, no
matter who it is, there's oneperson in charge and then maybe another
person writing the checks.
But the point is the one yougot to make them look good, educated
(44:30):
and help them do their job better.
And it's always the woman inthe relationship or the one that's
managing the house.
So it's kind of funny becauseit's a no brainer that they should
work with a woman.
I'd say so.
This has been a pleasure.
Julie, you really are a trailblazer.
And I would love to see a lotmore women in the construction trades
(44:52):
because I think it's just anatural place for women to be.
You know, it is totallynatural because women not to sound
terrible, it's.
Women in general are bettermultitaskers, right?
Yeah.
And, and then some people aregreat multitaskers in general, but
it's really the womenmultitasking and then you got to
(45:13):
have the creative side andthis and that.
But it's just a no brainerthat more women should be in construction.
Mm, I totally agree.
Well, thank you for being atrailblazer and thank you for being
on the show, Julie.
You're an inspiration.
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
It's been wonderful.
I love talking to women whoare in the same similar industries.
(45:33):
Oh, yeah.
You know what it's like everyday and it's just kind of fun to
be a champion and.
Yeah.
And then you get the highfives and the guys and then they
all, you know, fall in lineor, you know, it's the whole thing
about.
Because when you're the boss,you know, not that my guys are afraid
of me, but there's a wholething about the respect, you know,
and that's what.
That's what it's all about, is respect.
(45:55):
Period.
And that's what women have to achieve.
And really, in any field, ifthey're dealing with men, they have
to achieve that respect.
It's not like it comes automatically.
So we have that additional challenge.
You have to earn it by showingyou can do it.
You can't tell them you can do it.
You got to show them.
Mm.
This has been great, Julie.
We hope you've enjoyed thislatest episode.
(46:17):
And if you want to hear moreepisodes of Women Road warriors or
learn more about our show, besure to check out womenroadwarriors.com
and please follow us on social media.
And don't forget to subscribeto our podcast on our website.
We also have a selection ofpodcasts Just for Women.
They're a series of podcastsfrom different podcasters.
(46:38):
So if you're in the mood forwomen's podcasts, just click the
Power network tab onwomenroadwarriors.com youm'll have
a variety of shows to listento anytime you want to.
Podcasts Made for Women WomenRoad warriors is on all the major
podcast channels like Apple,Spotify, Amazon, Audible, YouTube
and others.
Check us out and please followus wherever you listen to podcasts.
(47:01):
Thanks for listening.
You've been listening to WomenRoad warriors with Shelly Johnson
and Kathy Takaro.
If you want to be a guest onthe show or have a topic or feedback,
email us at sjohnsonomenroadwarriors.
Com.
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