Fremont, NH Jewett Construction’s headquarters buzzed with excitement as middle school girls from Girls Inc. joined the Jewett team for a hands-on, interactive construction experience designed to inspire future female builders.

This event was born from a shift in focus during Women in Construction Week this past March. “At Jewett, women make up a significant part of our workforce and are valued members of our team every day,” said Sarah LeBlanc, director of marketing at Jewett Construction. “Instead of celebrating ourselves, we wanted to invest our energy into encouraging the next generation of women to explore careers in the construction industry.”

When Jewett’s original plans for Women in Construction Week fell through, the opportunity to partner with Girls Inc. seemed serendipitous. Girls Inc., whose mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, had been looking for ways to introduce young girls to career opportunities in the built environment – exactly what Jewett hoped to do.

In response, the Jewett team quickly designed “Building Your Future,” an interactive, gamified experience where the girls stepped into the role of a builder for the day. Working in teams, the participants navigated the lifecycle of a construction project, making decisions, managing budgets and schedules, and solving real-world challenges. Throughout the game, their goal was to complete their project on time, on budget, and with a happy client.

Along the way, the girls met key members of the Jewett team who showcased the variety of career paths available in commercial construction – from architecture and estimating to project management and site supervision. Jennifer Beach, membership director for ABC NH/VT, joined the event to play the role of the client, offering additional industry insight and reinforcing the critical connection between client relationships and project success.

Throughout the day, the girls collaborated, problem-solved, and gained a better understanding of the teamwork and leadership required to bring construction projects to life.

“We were so proud to create an experience that was both fun and educational,” said LeBlanc. “Seeing these girls embrace the challenge, work together, and explore new career possibilities was the most rewarding part of the day.”

Jewett Construction is committed to fostering future builders and continuing to champion opportunities and building pathways for women in the construction industry.