Best Person for the Job – Danielle Dlugosh
There is power in first impressions.
But for Danielle Dlugosh, like many women in construction, it is often a challenge to overcome first impression gender bias. “When I walk on the jobsite or into a meeting for the first time, no one thinks I’m the superintendent running the jobsite,” she says. As the Area Superintendent for Hensel Phelps Construction In Austin, Texas, Dlugosh manages the day-to-day operations on the jobsite from safety, production, quality, and schedule, to preconstruction planning and coordination of work.
“I didn’t know it at the time but when I was a little girl and was helping my dad in the garage on the weekends, that I was learning the skills and mindset to become a successful superintendent,” she adds.
Working in the construction industry runs in her family. As a young woman out of college, Dlugosh had no intention of joining them. However, after serving as an assistant to a general superintendent, she realized construction was the industry she was meant to be in. “I was extremely lucky that the general superintendent I was working for at the time saw potential in me and started me on a career path to become a superintendent.”
She is proud to have made a name for her herself in construction outside of her family name. Some of the notable projects she has worked on include:
- Women’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA (New construction replacement hospital)
- The Stack in College Station, TX (New construction student housing project for Texas A&M)
- Sovereign at Regency Square in Houston, TX (New construction high rise apartments)
- Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin, TX (New construction replacement hospital)
- Kalahari Resorts & Convention in Round Rock, TX
- DKR South Endzone Expansion in Austin, TX at the University of Texas
- Austin Parish Redevelopment in Austin, TX (New construction of K-8 Catholic School & 30 story student apartments)
“I love the people in construction,” she says. “My job is more about the people that work on the building and less about the actual building. If you make the people successful, then everyone wins.”
That’s why Dlugosh is excited to see more women in executive roles in the construction industry. “When choosing to work for Hensel Phelps, one of my deciding factors was their Women’s Network Group that was already well established across the country. This group of amazing women is led from within with the goal to promote, retain & inspire the female leaders of our company,” she says. One of Dlugosh’s career goals is to work on a project led by a 100% female leadership team.
NAWIC has also been instrumental in her career growth. “I joined NAWIC to expand my network in construction and it has done so much more than that. I now have contacts and resources across the country that have helped build my confidence to advocate for myself in my career. Stepping into NAWIC chapter leadership roles made me step outside of my comfort zone and resulted in growing my leadership and team building skills.”
Currently, she is a member-at-large of the South Central Region. Dlugosh has also served the Austin Chapter as Director, President Elect, Chapter President, and a committee chair, as well as serving as Conference Secretary and on the Bylaws and Safety and Health Committees for the South Central Region.
Dlugosh offers this advice for women considering entering the construction industry, “JUMP in with both feet. This is a great industry for women to thrive in. Women are naturally more detail oriented, organized, and great planners, which are the skills that our industry needs more of. There are so many options for women in construction, jump in and follow your passion.”
If you know of a NAWIC member that deserves to be recognized as a Best Person for the Job, contact us today!
