As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we want to reflect on the purpose this designated recognition serves in our society. March is a month to appropriately honor and recognize the value that women create in the workplace and in our communities. At Firmatek, we see the importance in recognizing the role each employee plays in our continuing success, and this month, we want to highlight the women of Firmatek.
Firmatek provides a lot of services in male-dominated industries, such as Mining, Construction, and Technology. Despite the unique challenges that women face in male-dominated industries, many women are thriving in these fields. The women of Firmatek are no exception.
While stats for our industry may not be great, for example less than 6 percent of FAA certified drone pilots are women and less than 10 percent of the construction industry is made up of women, there are a few organizations working to increase the number of women in our industries and celebrate our successes. Women Who Drone and International Women in Mining are two examples. For our part, we were excited to welcome four new women to our operations and sales teams recently. These women bring great experience and new perspectives to our team.
Here’s what they have to say about why they are excited to be a part of Firmatek and working in the industries we serve:
Kate Steger, Business Development Representative
“Working in a male-dominated industry, it is great to work with so many other hard-working women within the company. Firmatek does a great job allowing every one of our voices to be heard in order to help continuously improve our processes and overall structure. As we continue to expand our markets and expertise, I am proud to tell clients who I represent, what we’re doing, and where we are headed.”
Sarah Olivares, Geospatial Data Processor
“I look forward to coming into work every day because I know the value of what we are accomplishing as a team. It’s my first time working in this specific industry. Prior to this, I was in construction. It’s nice to see where our materials come from and how important it is to know how much is going in and out. Being a part of a company that efficiently aids in that knowledge process is personally satisfying.”
Ashely Arnold, Geospatial Field Technician
“What I love about getting to work for Firmatek is that it provides me with a sense of freedom that I have not gotten in any other job or opportunity.”
Erin Jean, Geospatial Field Technician
“I enjoy working at Firmatek because of the people. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. Working in this industry is great because every day is something new— whether it is being in a new place, facing new problems, or learning new technologies. Being a woman in this field proves difficult in many ways, so overcoming every obstacle becomes that much more rewarding.”
Kelli Kersey, Office Manager
“Working in this industry is amazing because of all the new techniques and new technology that has evolved since I started in this business 15 years ago. The people at Firmatek are so fun that you can’t help but love working here.”
By building communities within our companies and our industries, we can get more women excited about careers in Mining, Engineering, Construction, and Drones. Women in our industry can also become the role models and inspiration for the next generation. We can encourage them to follow their passions and jump into STEM careers, like mine planning and drone piloting. You can read about some of the inspirational women doing this today on Women and Drones.
We come from diverse backgrounds, and we play different roles in the company, but we all love the work we do and are excited to be a part of this industry. The women of Firmatek play an important part in the success of Firmatek, and we are glad that they have chosen to share their talents with us!
Main image by Guinn Partners.
