SHCA Breaking Ground on New Initiative

The association is looking to boost women in heavy construction leadership roles

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There are pilot projects and then there are ground-breaking initiatives like the one Shantel Lipp is about to establish.

TEC Canada is nothing new to the business world. It’s a development program for high-ranking business professionals, ideally suited for senior executives or CEOs. Its concept uses a peer-based roundtable where members split their time between educational formats and networking opportunities.

Lipp has served as president of the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association for the past 10-plus years in an industry that is predominantly led by men, a reality she is well aware of.

But she’s not alone. She understands more women across the country are in leadership roles in this industry. And she wants to hear from those women.

Lipp is starting an exclusive TEC group for women in the heavy construction industry, or closely associated with it, as an opportunity for these women to secure a stronger foothold in their respective roles.

“This group would serve as a forum for women in the industry to talk about common issues and share stories and experiences and challenges they face,” said Lipp. “Meeting with colleagues will provide them an opportunity to better their business. A lot of women are intimately involved in the businesses they own or the ones they work for. We could be pioneers in creating a TEC group that is comprised of women in a non-traditional sector.”

Often, TEC groups are comprised of like-minded individuals from across the country. They meet virtually for a day-long session that consists of an educational component that features a guest speaker related to the field and an expert on a specific topic.

Additionally, group members also take part in networking exchanges and share ideas and experiences.

“It’s a collaborative exercise where everyone helps each other get better at what they’re doing,” said Paul Martin, a chairperson for TEC Canada based in Saskatchewan. “You get seasoned and experienced businesspeople around the table to exchange ‘OCIs’ – opportunities, challenges and issues.”

Martin says in his experiences with TEC groups, roughly 75 per cent of members are men.

“We’ve never really done one like this,” he said of Lipp’s plan. “It definitely would be a unique group.”

Martin is expected to serve as the chair for Lipp’s group. The two are familiar with each other and have been a part of TEC groups in the past. Lipp has been a longtime TEC member, while Martin has been a chair for TEC Canada in Saskatchewan for several years.

“Women in this industry tend to sit in the background. It’s not that our voices are being ignored. Rather, it’s because we’re not the face of the company and often not the ones in public, attending meetings and making deals. We assume more of a behind-the-scenes role. This TEC group could change that.”

– Shantel Lipp, SHCA

Martin says that Lipp has benefitted a lot from her experiences with TEC and now wants to afford those opportunities to others in the industry.

“I can’t say there was a turning point day,” he said. “It’s really an evolution. Her leadership skills have grown considerably over the past five or 10 years and TEC has certainly been a part of that. She has done very well for herself in what is a predominantly male-led industry.”

Lipp says that women interested in joining this group do not have to be graduates of Harvard Business School. Rather, she says there are only a few pre-requisites – women who are ambitious and want to improve their leadership capabilities, women with good business sense and women with a strong work ethic.

“We have great leaders in this sector,” said Lipp. “Women in this industry tend to sit in the background. It’s not that our voices are being ignored. Rather, it’s because we’re not the face of the company and often not the ones in public, attending meetings and making deals. We assume more of a behind-the-scenes role. This TEC group could change that.”

Possible candidates for this group could involve women from various backgrounds, including trades, general contractors, architects or lawyers who specialize in construction law. Because all meetings are virtual, the competition factor isn’t perceived to be a deterrent.

Competing companies certainly will have a bevy of opportunities for work in the near future in Saskatchewan.

The province is the main focus in a $10 billion commitment from the federal government to support irrigation projects in the prairie provinces over the next three years. It’s expected to create 60,000 jobs.

The Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project is a top candidate to receive federal support. SHCA members are expected to play a major role in the development of this project for years to come.

Combine this funding from the federal government with a record $437.4 million in tendered projects announced in September by the Saskatchewan government.

“There are a lot of big projects planned for Saskatchewan over the next several years,” Lipp said. “That is why this is an ideal time to start this group.”