Growing up, Deanna Biddick envisioned herself teaching special education. But about a year into college, she started to have second thoughts. When she turned to her family for guidance, her dad posed a simple yet pivotal question: “Would you ever consider working in safety in construction?”

The answer was that she hadn’t, but she would.

“My passion is people,” Biddick said. “If I wasn’t going to teach, safety still fell within that spectrum of helping and looking out for people.”

The construction gene runs in her family. Her father has dedicated his career to the industry and two brothers also have carved paths in the field.

“I remember walking down the halls of my dad’s office selling Girl Scout cookies,” Biddick said. “I never thought I’d end up following in his footsteps. It was unexpected. My dad said to give it two years. Two years is a fair amount of time to know whether you like something.”

Taking her father’s advice, Biddick enrolled in an OSHA 30 course, offering 30 hours of workplace safety and health hazards training, and switched her major to Occupational Health and Safety. The more she learned, the more she liked the field, and when she graduated from Columbia State University, she joined Haskell as a safety coordinator.

By the end of her second year, she knew she had found her place at Haskell and began exploring other facets of construction beyond safety.

About that time, she was assigned to a project in Beaufort, South Carolina, where she worked the night shift on a concrete paving job. Fascinated by the process, she asked the Quality Manager if he needed any help. He recognized her potential and soon offered her a position as a quality assistant. Seven years later, with five of those dedicated to quality, she continues to thrive in a field she never expected to love.

Quality: A Different Perspective

The transition from safety to quality required a shift in focus.

“Safety is about people,” Biddick said, “but quality is about the building itself – understanding the process, reading specs, reviewing drawings, and even watching YouTube videos to learn new techniques.”

Despite the differences, her background in safety gives her a unique perspective, and she blends people skills with technical knowledge and the Quality team’s collaborative approach to ensure high standards are met.

“I absolutely love the department I’m in. We see each other as family,” she said.

Working on job sites fosters deep connections with colleagues, and she has built friendships with people from all walks of life, sometimes decades older than herself.

She acknowledged the initial challenges of entering a male-dominated field but said gender in no way defined her experience.

“At first, some coworkers may not know how to talk around you or might filter themselves,” she says. “But that fades quickly. I’ve had team members tell me, ‘You’re one of the guys,’ and I wear that as a badge of honor.”

More importantly, she is proud to be recognized for her skills and expertise. With the support of her team, she has built strong working relationships that foster collaboration and mutual respect.

Sustainability in the Career She Loves

Beyond the job site, Biddick is a wife and a mother who intentionally maintains a healthy work-life balance. Whether setting boundaries, making time for personal growth, or simply unwinding after a demanding project, she understands that success in construction is about finding sustainability in the career she loves.

Balancing motherhood with a position that requires travel can be challenging – “My husband is amazing – he completely gets it,” she said – but hopes to set an example for her daughter.

“I want to be an inspiration to her for when she gets older, you know, that her mom is a hard worker,” she said. “I hope that she can look at me one day and say, ‘I want to be like her.’”

Through hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone, Biddick has built a fulfilling career in construction. Her journey is a testament to the unexpected paths that lead to the most rewarding opportunities.

Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Biddick is encouraged by the increasing number of women in the field.

“When I started, there was just one woman out of so many men in the field,” she says. “Now, it’s becoming more common to see women in field roles – not just as assistant project managers or in quality, but in all aspects of construction. We’re strong, we can do it, and I believe the number of women in the industry will continue to grow.”

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