Guam is a long way from North America, 6,000 miles from Los Angeles and 2,200 miles farther than even Hawaii. Yet this unincorporated territory of the United States with a population of about 170,000 is home to many dynamic women in construction, including Jessica M. Barrett. Jessica is the President of Barrett Plumbing and Pumping, a family-owned business where she first started doing miscellaneous jobs as a teenager and has remained for 37 years. "Oddly enough, even though it was the family business, at first I never saw it as a career path," she says. 

Jessica became the first woman to be a certified plumber on the island and has kept the 55-year-old family business going into the third generation with her sons, and—it's expected—her niece, who could become a fourth-generation leader, having already earned the nickname, Baby Boss. Jessica describes what she loves about her work in this way, "It's the satisfaction and joy when we do our job well for our clients and help them solve a problem or lend our expertise for their project. Seeing our projects through brings pride and satisfaction that we help build our island every day for the betterment of all." 

She adds that seeing the industry evolve is fascinating. "The technology is so amazing," she says, "I remember when we had none of this high-tech stuff, yet we still managed to get the job done. Technology is ever-changing and I welcome it. If it makes it easier, quicker, or fail proof then let's give it a whirl. Tried and true is always best, but technology is the path forward." 

Yet despite acknowledging improvements over the years, Jessica still sees challenges for women in construction. "It's the stereotypes that still exist, the inequities that still exist, the need to prove our worth and value. We have made great strides, but the truth is there is still much work to be done. The confidence and trust I have earned in my field and among my colleagues and customers gives me the courage and strength to carry on and continue growing my knowledge to be the best I can be in my industry." 

Jessica credits her NAWIC membership with playing a large role in her career development. "It gave me the opportunity to build on my leadership skills, work with other women in construction here on Guam, polish my public speaking, lend a hand to our industry, and be a role model for other women to consider construction and really get to collaborate with our counterparts across the miles." 

She is currently a member of the Guam NAWIC chapter, having served in several positions, including President, Secretary, and WIC Week® Chair. As for her personal goals, she notes, "I'd like to achieve Master Plumber certification, perhaps a master's degree in business management. I'd like to fine tune the operations of the business, implementing technology to address labor shortages to ensure we can handle our clients with the utmost attention to their needs, promptly, accurately, and efficiently." 

As Jessica looks to the future of construction, she is hopeful of seeing more women enter the field, equal compensation, and being evaluated by their qualifications not their gender. Her advice to other women considering a career in construction?  "Just do it. You will certainly grow and develop skills and build on strengths you never knew you had."