NEENAH, WI — Miron Construction Co., Inc. recently welcomed 30 female students to its Neenah headquarters for the fifth annual Build Like a Girl event. The day-long program aims to showcase opportunities for women in the construction industry and combat both the severe lack of women in the field and the skills gap affecting the industry as a whole.

This free event is open to seventh to 10th grade girls interested in learning about careers in construction. The day included a panel discussion with women in the industry, a tour of an active project site, and discussions surrounding topics such as typical wages in the industry, apprenticeship opportunities, and safety.

The program also encompassed Miron craftspeople walking participants through multiple hands-on activity stations at a temporary project site — masonry, where they constructed a brick wall; carpentry, where they learned how to build a table; and equipment operation, where they experienced what it is like to operate heavy machinery, such as a crane or boom lift.

“Women comprise a mere 9.9 percent of the construction industry, and only one percent of laborers in the field are women,” said Dave Walsh, Executive Vice President of Human Resources for Miron Construction. “An evolving workforce equates to endless job opportunities and strong salaries for skilled craftspersons. It’s important for young girls to have representation in the industry, and at Build Like a Girl we’re able to connect them with professional women excited to share their knowledge, skills, and passion.”