By Braun Intertec | March 6, 2024

In celebration of Women of Construction (WIC) Week with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), we are recognizing all Braun Intertec women who are part of the industry. This year’s theme “Keys to the Future,” celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry. We asked employee-owner Katrina Sargent for her “key” insights on being a woman in the construction industry.

What is your current job?

I am a Project Scientist for the Concrete Science Group based in the Bloomington, Minnesota office.

What is the best part about your job?

Not every day is the same. I enjoy discussing projects with clients from all over the United States and some as far away as Guam.

What does your day-to-day look like?

Well, not every day is the same. Sometimes it is maintenance on testing equipment to prepare for an upcoming test, conference calls with clients to discuss a new product they are trying to develop, or testing concrete that came all the way from the other side of the world. I perform so many tests that it is uncommon for me to have repetition in my workday.

What did you want to be when you were little?

I always had a fascination with the ocean, so my dream was to become a marine biologist. Unfortunately, that did not happen, but I do scuba dive any chance I get when I’m near a tropical location.

What sparked your interest in construction?

It was my dad. He was the director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) lab in Maplewood, Minnesota. He worked many different roles in MnDOT and I always remember visiting him at his office and seeing all the pictures and maps of different construction projects.

In terms of getting your education, what is the hardest part of achieving this goal?

I actually graduated with a biology degree from UW-River Falls. I graduated at a bad time with the economy in a huge slump and finding a job was extremely difficult. I still had an interest in construction and my dad pushed me to materials testing where I started as an intern and then it turned into a full-time job which kind of stuck. I’ve been in the industry now for almost 16 years. 

What is your favorite piece of construction equipment?

I’m not out in the field (I had been in my first couple years) but I would have to say dozers. Plus, it was my youngest kiddo’s favorite piece of equipment when he was little.

What is the coolest project you’ve worked on?

There have been so many awesome jobs that I enjoyed over the years but the project I probably think was the coolest and most proud of was the research and development of a new ASTM test method and specification. It was months and years of trials, conference calls, and ASTM task group meetings all while working with some of the greatest people in the concrete industry. It was a group effort and now both ASTM’s have been published and in 2021 our project was a Grand Award Winner of ACEC Minnesota and ACEC National. 

What do you like to do outside of work?

I spend the majority of my time with my husband Alan and our two boys, Easton (12) and Keegan (10). Easton and Keegan are both involved in baseball, football, boxing, and golf. We spend many evenings running the kids around to various activities. We also spend a lot of time at my family cabin on Blueberry Lake near Hayward, Wisconsin. We all enjoy trail riding in our side by side, fishing, tubing, boating, kayaking, and swimming. During the winter we spend a lot of time at Afton Alps skiing and snowboarding. 

Who inspires you?

Richard “Dick” Stehly. He was my very first mentor in the cement/concrete world. I was young and very green and had no clue what I was getting into. He took me under his wing and helped guide me my first couple of years and shared so much of his knowledge with me up until his unexpected death. He was also a pioneer in promoting the use of fly ash in concrete. He pushed and pushed and didn’t give up. And now, I am so happy to test the fly ash in my labs that he worked so hard.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far in your career?

Don’t give up. Sometimes things don’t go the way you think or thought it would and that’s ok. Stop and take a step back and reevaluate and try it again. In the testing world, nothing is perfect all the time.

What advice do you have for a woman entering the construction field?

Be strong. In certain areas, whether it is in the field, lab, or a conference room, make your voice heard. It can be intimidating sometimes in the construction world, but you have the power to flip the script and make your presence known.