When Sonja Norris entered the construction industry, she had a family member offering both encouragement and a memorable bit of advice: "Run miles around these men and keep them in line." It was the push she needed. Today, Sonja is a Regional Finance Billing Coordinator with Terracon Consultants and an active member of NAWIC Greater Omaha Chapter #116. Her work in project finance supports project managers and project coordinators throughout the entire project lifecycle, from project registration and budgeting to financial tracking, invoicing, administration, and closeout. 

She has also become a Subject Matter Expert within her division, helping colleagues understand processes, identify efficiencies, and find better ways to use the systems that support their work. For Sonja, that evolution is proof of something she wishes more women understood: There is no single route to a successful career in construction. 

Her first construction position was as a Field Coordinator Manager for a national gas distribution company. Over the years, she watched people around her progress from field positions into management, business ownership and executive leadership, reinforcing an important lesson about how much opportunity exists within the industry. Her late uncle summed it up particularly well: "We all start somewhere in this industry, and where we go is up to us." That philosophy became even more meaningful when Sonja found herself making a significant career change in her late 30s. 

"Making that decision to pivot professionally was both challenging and intimidating," she explains, "but it taught me that growth often comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone." The experience also helped her confront what she considers one of her greatest challenges as a woman in construction: developing genuine confidence in her own abilities. But Sonja believes that confidence does not mean having every answer. "One of the most surprising lessons I have learned is the importance of asking for help and seeking clarification when needed," she points out. "As women, we often feel the need to prove that we can do it all on our own. And while we are certainly capable, we do not have to carry everything ourselves." 

Sonja brings that same interest in possibilities to her work with NAWIC. She serves as Recording Secretary on the Greater Omaha Chapter Board of Directors and has participated in Midwest Regional Committees involving Draft Design and Safety/OSHA Alliance initiatives. One of the parts of NAWIC she values most is the opportunity to introduce younger generations to construction. During Women in Construction Week, Norris visits schools, reads to students, talks about the industry, and brings hands-on examples that help children understand what construction careers can look like. She also works with high school and college students exploring career opportunities and scholarship options. 

NAWIC has reinforced that message in Sonja's own life as well. Through leadership opportunities, professional relationships and hands-on activities, including a recent tile-laying workshop, she has continued challenging herself to try things she may once have found intimidating.  

Asked what she would tell a woman considering construction, Norris does not complicate her answer. "Do it." Attend a NAWIC meeting. Talk with a Union Representative. Take a class. Ask questions. Try something unfamiliar. Make mistakes and learn from them. And, Sonja advises, don't wait for someone else to recognize what you are capable of accomplishing.

"Your biggest cheerleader, who will always be in your corner, is yourself," she emphasizes. "Nominate yourself for that award, take pride in your work, and take recognition for what you accomplish." It is advice grounded in her own experience of changing direction, learning a new role, building confidence, and discovering just how much opportunity can exist on the other side of uncertainty. "Take the chance on yourself," she urges. "Don't let fear or uncertainty hold you back." 

For Sonja, being the best person for the job has never meant knowing everything before you begin. It means being willing to begin, willing to learn, and willing to keep moving forward.