Mid-States Concrete Industries celebrates Women in Construction Week (March 6 – 12) by highlighting women on our team making their mark in the construction industry.
Today we feature Field Scheduling Manager Wendy Mendiola. Wendy celebrates her 19-year anniversary with Mid-States Concrete in March.
In her role, Wendy coordinates anywhere between 30-70 loads going to multiple job sites daily, as well as seven installation crews daily, and all FOB and FOB Yard jobs (usually at least one/day). With the help of the project management team, Wendy puts together the field schedule, creates the shipping schedule, sets up trucking for every load, including the timing of truck arrivals to the yard and jobsite, makes the daily field crew schedule so they know exactly where they are going and what they are doing every day, and coordinates any extra equipment the crew may need.
Wendy communicates with the field team all day long to help keep everything progressing and everyone on the same page.
“It’s definitely not a job for someone who doesn’t handle change very well,” she said.
Over time, several of Wendy’s family members have worked at Mid-States (and several still work here) and it was through those family members that Wendy first came to be part of the Mid-States team. Wendy was first asked to join the team when a team member was out on military leave. The team liked her so much, they asked her to stick around even after that team member returned. Over the years, Wendy has worked in several roles, including field coordinator and production scheduler.
“Working through the daily, sometimes hourly, changes that can occur within the construction industry is a challenge,” Wendy said. “I’m so grateful for the experience I’ve gained and the team I’m part of for showing me how to adapt to all the changes and I do enjoy the challenge of handling it all.”
Wendy added that the entire project management team has been great at helping Wendy learn how to effectively communicate all the changes that occur on a regular basis – it is the construction industry after all – especially when talking with customers.
“I care a lot,” Wendy said. “Sometimes I take things way too personal and I know I need to try not to take things personally or take it home with me at night.”
As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Wendy has come a long way over the years and has earned the respect of those she works with. She put in the time and the work to learn the job and the company-workings inside and out to effectively serve customers.
In terms of advice she would offer other women looking to get into this type of work: have a strong personality because you are going to have to stand up for yourself and the company. There are going to be conflicts, she said, and you have to work through them professionally.