Twenty-plus years. That’s how long Kim Davids has been pouring her heart into the construction industry. Working with a number of prominent general contractors over the years, she fine tuned her acumen through a variety of roles, including project engineer, superintendent, project manager, project executive, operations manager to business unit leader.
Today, as President and CEO of the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA), she oversees the group dedicated to keeping its members and the construction industry more prosperous through education, networking, and business development and legislative advocacy. As part of an alliance of the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) and the Associated General Contractors of America – Building Chapter (AGC), ABA has offices in Phoenix and Tucson, serving more than 380 member companies that serve commercial and industrial construction industry professionals.
We sat down with Davids to get her take on building her legacy in the commercial construction space.
Tell us your story. How did you get started in the industry?
When I was in eighth grade, my geometry teacher assigned the class a project to recreate the house we currently lived in to scale on an 8.5 x11 piece of paper. It was such a fun project, I even used the drafting table in my bedroom. At the time, I thought I wanted to be an architect, but soon realized that it wasn’t the creation side of design that I was passionate about, instead, I was intrigued by the how and why of buildings and their internal systems.
It was then that I discovered civil engineering and went on to the University of Illinois. Upon graduation, I interviewed with several design firms and construction companies. I originally thought of it like a residency in the medical profession and that I would work in construction for a few years and learn how to build before I went on to design buildings. I enjoyed the ever-changing projects and challenges that I never left.
What are some of the biggest changes you have seen over the past few years?
Technology has been a major catalyst in the construction industry. When I started as a project engineer, we would have multiple rolls of plans, enough to fill the bed of a pickup truck, both on paper and Mylar (if anyone even remembers Mylar), and I would have to stamp every single sheet in the set.
Today, plans are uploaded to a tablet and everyone can walk to the job site and make changes in real time. That is just one example of how far we have come and AI is only going to accelerate that change.
What opportunities are out there for the industry as we move forward? For women?
The opportunities are plenty. We are currently facing a workforce shortage and need qualified people to work in the trades and on the management side of the industry. As someone who has a four-year degree, I am here to say that someone can make a very nice living working in the trades. It is hard work, but the payoff is priceless for men and women alike.
What type of trends are you seeing today?
Optimization of efficiency is at the forefront of everything construction professionals do. Safety is paramount. Companies care whether their employees feel safe in their work environment, both physically and mentally. Working smarter, not harder is key to establishing and maintaining a schedule. Collaboration to ensure a fair and equitable outcome for all parties involved is pivotal and experts are focusing on people rather than just the product.
What advice can you share?
This is a broad question, but I would say, “Don’t forget to have fun.”
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
It wasn’t advice, but it is a favorite quote from a book, “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” The quote itself is from Randy Pausch, a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University. When things don’t go as planned, don’t forget to learn the lesson.
What’s the single best thing every woman can do to make sure they continue to get a seat at the table?
Say yes, often. Throw your name in the hat. Have confidence, even if you don’t feel like it. At a previous place of employment, they were looking for a new leader for the regional office. I was recommending colleagues I knew in the industry and many of my peers were telling me to put my name in the hat. I didn’t. After the CEO asked who was bringing the (recent) candidates to the table, he reached out to me and asked if I was interested in the position. I said yes and never looked back.
What’s the biggest item on your to-do list?
There are so many to choose from, but I will say that my current focus is on the Arizona Builders Alliance’s new vision of being the leading voice of Arizona’s construction community. Our goal is to serve as the catalyst for growth, development and transformation in the construction industry.
