Growing up, Stephanie Vogt rode around Seattle with her father who worked as a service technician; now, she is a Lead Customer Service Representative at UMC with a knack for building and maintaining relationships.
How did you get started in the industry?
My father worked as a service technician for a mechanical contractor in Seattle when I was young. I remember riding around in his van talking to his coworkers on the CB radio and going with him on the roofs of Seattle high rises (Completely not allowed today!). As a young adult, I decided I wanted to pursue a career in the medical profession, but it just didn’t click. My family had convinced my husband to join the trades, and soon he convinced me to work for one of the vendors he regularly dealt with. At first it was just a nice job with weekends off, but over time I really grew to enjoy the mechanical side of the industry, including the field technicians, and had a keen interest in how equipment and systems work. I spent 10 years working at a vendor for HVAC and refrigeration supplies before the UMC service techs convinced me to jump to the contractor side.
What was the most memorable moment in your career?
Joining the UMC team. After 10 years at one job, change was really intimidating. One of my first job walks where I got to go on a roof was the historic Smith Building. It was a huge rush and reminded me why I loved it as a kid. The stuff we get to see and do and the people we get to meet in this trade are incredible.
What is the best part of your job?
Job walks, customer interaction, and working with our field staff to produce solutions for customers. Seeing the equipment at work and how it impacts the facility and the day-to-day for staff even if they don’t realize it.
What makes you proud of working in the construction industry?
When I share with people what I do for a living I tend to wax enthusiastic. We worked with a lot of important and essential clients that needed our help through Covid; hospitals, research labs, data centers and other critical facilities that still had to function while everything else was shut down. The service department brings that sense of urgency every day. Some days it’s like working in a triage clinic and can be overwhelming, but every day you feel like you have accomplished something.
What advice would you give to a young woman entering the industry?
Don’t let your doubts get in your own way. Early in my career, a foreman at UMC tried to get me to join the field with his crew. I doubted my own ability to do it and wish I hadn’t.
Reach out for opportunities, even if you don’t feel like you are yet qualified.
ASK if you want something! Don’t wait for it to come to you. If you wait, it may never happen, if you see a training or a conference or something that would benefit you in your career, be persistent.
March 6 – 12, 2022 is Women in Construction Week. The focus of Women in Construction (WIC) Week is to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry. WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities.
Questions or Comments?
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