2021 Women in Construction: Alyx Schrecengost, Assistant Estimator, Dellbrook | JKS

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? My most notable project might not seem like a huge deal to most, a small office renovation, but it was the first job that I was the lead estimator on. Putting together my own estimate, with the direction of my mentors was a huge step for my career. 

What are you most looking forward to post-pandemic? Post-pandemic I am looking forward to connecting with other women in the industry and attending more NAWIC events. Connections are huge in this industry and being able to meet and learn from other women in this industry is something that I am looking forward to. 

How have you adapted and changed in the last 12 months? This past year has posed its challenges, especially as I am relatively new to the industry, this is my second year. As a novice in this field working from home, I have taken advantage of my extra time by enrolling in online modules and furthering my knowledge in different systems. There is so much to learn about this industry and online courses are helping me to better understand the ins and outs of what I estimate daily.

What steps have you taken to ensure the continued success of your firm? One of the courses that I took was to prepare me for the Passive House exam. I am working to get Passive House certified to help diversify the projects that Dellbrook | JKS takes on. I am passionate about sustainable building, because I understand how detrimental construction can be for the environment and ecosystems, and I want to improve the quality of life for our clients and the occupants of our future buildings. Passive House focuses on airtightness and zero thermal bridging in order to require very little energy consumption of occupants. 

Why should women consider a career in construction? Construction is a huge and growing industry with numerous avenues for opportunity. We are living in a great time where innovation is happening faster than ever and we in the construction industry have a front row seat to its evolution. 

Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you? Growing up I was always interested in how things worked, taking things apart and putting them back together. I knew from an early age that I wanted to become an engineer so that I can take my love for building and turn it into a career. I chose construction because I get to see “life size Legos” go from design to functioning every day.