Jennifer Lafferty
Jennifer Lafferty is a carpenter apprentice who is proud to be part of a growing number of women working in the construction industry. Prior to her career in construction, she worked as a winter road dispatcher, and did auto detailing at a Ford dealership. However, construction was always a big part of her life, as her brother and father were contractors, and she occasionally helped them out doing labor work. She enjoyed it much more than her actual job, which led her to pursue a career in the trades.
Jennifer finds working in construction to be an exciting and rewarding experience. She loves the new environments and challenges that each job brings, as no two jobs are exactly the same. She enjoys seeing how each project progresses from a blank canvas to a fully developed infrastructure, which she has contributed to creating. For example, she played a role in the construction of the highway 15 bridge in Fort Saskatchewan, which she worked on for two years. Every time she drives across the bridge, she feels a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Jennifer's supervisor, Dawson Kenney, speaks highly of Jennifer's work ethic and attitude on the job. He has seen a positive shift in the outlook of women in construction, and praises Jennifer's eagerness to work and learn. Her contributions have given the crew a good perspective on the value that diversity brings to their team, and they see everyone for the skill level and quality of work brought to the project, rather than their gender or what they look like.
As a woman in construction, Jennifer acknowledges that there haven't been many women who have influenced her career, but this is something she truly enjoys and why she chose to work in the trades. She believes that the greatest limitation to success is our own thoughts and that anything is achievable if we put our minds to it. Jennifer is a trailblazer for women in the construction industry, and her passion and hard work are an inspiration to all.
