EnCon United Celebrates 2025 Women In Construction Week

Phoenix, AZ—03/05/2025—As we celebrate Women in Construction Week, coinciding with Employee Appreciation Day, we have the pleasure of highlighting Pattie Beltramo, an outstanding professional at Tpac. Her dedication and expertise in the precast concrete industry have earned her high praise from her colleagues. 

“Pattie has been a dedicated professional at Tpac for decades. Her meticulous approach to estimating and her exceptional teamwork make her an invaluable asset to the company. Pattie’s extensive knowledge of precast concrete projects is unparalleled, and her contributions are deeply respected and appreciated by all her peers. Her commitment and expertise significantly enhance every project she undertakes.”

-R. Marc Davis, VP/GM of EnCon Arizona, LLC dba Tpac

A Career Built on Curiosity

Pattie’s journey in the construction industry began in the accounting department of another precast company. Her fascination with estimating and natural affinity for numbers led her to pursue a career change. “I liked the idea of getting to see how a project was put together and excited to work with the drawings to determine the components and requirements for the precast,” Pattie explains.

Her transition to estimating was swift and successful. Pattie’s talents were quickly recognized, leading to her current position as Estimating Manager at Tpac.

Early Career and Industry Entry

Pattie’s entry into the construction industry was somewhat serendipitous. After high school, she began working to assist her mother, an Accountant at Stanley Structures, doing data entry. This initial exposure to the precast industry set the foundation for her future career. Without pursuing a college degree, Pattie advanced through various roles, including data input and purchasing, gaining valuable experience in the accounting realm.

Transition to Estimating

Intrigued by the estimating process, Pattie requested more responsibilities and eventually transitioned into an estimator role. Despite initial skepticism due to her unconventional background (most estimators came from design and engineering), she persisted in her request and was given the chance to prove herself when an opening occurred. She was thrown into the deep end with her first estimating job, but Pattie is skilled at learning on-the-job. She worked closely with the salesman of the hollowcore project, learning to read drawings at depth and estimate costs as she went along.

Challenges and Growth

In the mid-1990s, Pattie attended an estimator’s group dinner where she was the only woman among 50 attendees, illustrating the male-dominated nature of the field at that time. However, she didn’t let this deter her, choosing to “barrel through” and not let gender biases impede her progress. Pattie faced and overcame early challenges, such as being expected to perform secretarial duties not required of male estimators. She immediately advocated for herself and successfully established her role as equal to her male counterparts.

Career Advancement at TPAC

After 14 years at her previous company, Pattie joined Tpac, where she has continued to grow professionally. She requested and was advanced into the role of Estimating Manager, showcasing her expertise and leadership skills. Her attention to detail, focus on profitability, and ability to work independently have made her an invaluable asset to the company.

Industry Evolution and Advice for Women

Over her career, Pattie has witnessed a significant increase in the number of women in estimating and project management roles. She sees their names come across in proposals and is no longer the only woman at industry events. While acceptance of women in these roles has improved dramatically, “There are some places we still have a battle, but it’s night and day compared to 20 years ago.”

For women entering the construction industry, Pattie’s experience offers several key insights:

1. Embrace on-the-job learning: Pattie’s success came through hands-on experience and continuous learning, demonstrating that formal education isn’t always necessary for advancement in the industry. Although a company may have its own prerequisites, Estimator is still one of a handful of construction positions that don’t require higher education or a special certification. Today someone could still work their way up just like Pattie.
2. Be assertive: Standing up for oneself and refusing to accept discriminatory practices is crucial for establishing equality in the workplace. While she is a naturally outspoken person, her fearlessness rooted in self-efficacy can be an example to all sorts of personalities.
3. Make requests: Pattie’s career progressed by actively seeking new responsibilities and roles, showing the importance of initiative in career advancement.
4. Be curious: Pattie’s affinity for facts, logic, and numbers makes her well suited for estimating, but she wouldn’t have found that out without her curiosity for how things work. By asking questions of her co-workers and mangers about how things work, the woman who wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after high school found her career niche.
5. Stick to your guns: The construction industry has traditionally been male dominated, but Pattie’s experience shows that persistence, firm boundaries, and quality work can overcome biases. Her refusal to accept unequal treatment by pointing it out is what made others drop their chauvinism.

Pattie’s journey from data entry to Estimating Manager at Tpac illustrates the growing opportunities for women in construction. Her story underscores the importance of determination, continuous learning, and self-advocacy in building a successful career in the industry.