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Women of Distinction

Patricia Dziuk

Rising Above the Glass Ceiling

By Judith A. Habert
Photos courtesy of Patricia Dziuk

Patricia is now at the helm of two should be the deciding factor when I hire.
companies, “I run WBE Contractor, which I always chose the best woman or man, for
I started in 2003. It is a women's business the job, based on their experience and skill
enterprise (WBE) where we do construction set. Recently we have been doing a lot of
management. I also run Above Glass Ceil- business through Skype and Zoom, which
ings, LLC. that’s main purpose is to advance is safer considering the climate in other
women’s empowerment in business. I am parts of the world and foremost the safety
thrilled to have my twin sister serving as a of our employees, as some countries are not
board member and visionary champion.” as diligent about COVID-19 safety issues.”
atricia Dziuk’s life has always been Running two businesses is not an easy “Quality control and the data center
Psomewhat untraditional. Born in Min- task, but Patricia handles both with ex- world became golden. There was so much
neapolis, Minnesota, Patricia has a twin pertise and grace. Her specialty within her demand, but that has heightened due to
sister whom she remains extremely close construction company is Quality Control. COVID-19, the talent pool is so small,
with, even though the distance between Prior to opening her own firm, Patricia and it is a massive opportunity for women
them at birth was considered quite unusual. worked for a number of large national in the business (ie: STEM field). Here is
Patricia decided it wasn’t the right time to construction firms, but after time felt she where I can really drive change and make a
make her entrance into the world, so she preferred being her own boss, thus the difference.”
was born four hours after her twin, Nancy. birth of WBE. Patricia is a licensed general Today, finding a woman working in
Patricia jokes, “We’re not identical, I’m a contractor in California, and she found her the construction industry is not as unique
little smarter.” niche in construction management. as it was back then. “There are a lot more
Patricia’s Dad, who was ex-military, In Patricia’s mind, quality control is women in construction today, but sadly
worked in construction for the US Dept of more than sitting behind a desk. What statistics have shown that Covid has put
Defense doing civilian military construc- makes her unique is her hands-on approach women 25 to 30 years behind the projected
tion work. When Patricia was just a few to the job that she loves, “I would frequent- growth of women in the field.” This is a
years old her Dad went to Vietnam during ly climb structural steel at 60 feet in the very scary thought. Thankfully, Patricia’s
the war for construction support. air without safety gear to check torque on second business is one that is designed to
A move to Arizona came next and a bolts and all that kind of stuff, that is before help women, not only in the construction
few years later they settled in California. OSHA drilled down on the new regula- field, but across the board.
“When my sister and I got a bit older tions, and thankfully, as a result, safety has Their organization, Above Glass Ceil-
we would spend our school breaks and evolved. Today I tend to do a lot of work ings, is amazing! As stated on their website,
summer vacations working alongside in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, “Diversity = Excellence. We are a group
our Dad.” It may have seemed unusual Saudi Arabia and Africa. Of course, we work of experienced professional women who
to most, but it was a natural progression locally as well. For a while, the Middle East came together to help organizations thrive
to have his daughters at his side learning was our biggest profit center, but it has now and grow emerging women leaders into
the business. By this point the family had moved back home to the US.” meaningful leadership roles. Our diverse
grown, and he was now a dad to four Patricia’s firm, WBE is instrumental and hands-on experience gives us a unique
daughters. It was only natural that he in providing construction managers for perspective into challenges and opportuni-
would call upon his girls to help in his International and U.S data centers for some ties facing today’s leaders.”
business. No one would have guessed that of the biggest players, such as Microsoft, “We wanted to leverage the results of
Patricia would continue working in her Amazon, and Google. “We provided the flow of data of fresh studies that point
father’s field as her permanent professions. construction managers for these projects. to the advancement of women as a critical
“At the time, women working in the con- Many of these are women, not only because milestone for success. This is the Business
struction industry were beyond unusual. I like hiring women, but because it's a good Case. When women are in leadership
It was natural for our family since we grew niche, and they work out well in these roles there is a distinct correlation with
up with it.” positions. However, I don’t feel that gender improved returns. As the tip of the spear,

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