MONIQUE HANSEN
SUPERINTENDENT I
MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES
What drew you to a career in construction?
I studied civil engineering in college, and within the first two years, realized I wasn’t interested in being an engineer sitting at a desk all day. There were a lot of opportunities for internships in construction management, so the summer after my sophomore year, I interned for a smaller contractor to try out the industry. I enjoyed being able to see the physical changes I was contributing to each day. The summer after my junior year, I interned with McCarthy to work on larger projects. I continued the internship during my senior year and then started full time after graduation.
Who inspires you?
I don’t have one specific person who inspires me, but every day I gain a lot of inspiration from all the craft workers we have on site. They are all so passionate about their work, and I enjoy being able to learn from all of them.
How can we get more women interested in the skilled trades?
I think showing girls from a young age what a career in the trades entails and allowing them to hear about the potential for women in the trades is the best way to gain interest. It’s important to show young women in high school that there are more paths for those not interested in higher education or who aren’t able to afford higher education.
What’s your number one bucket list destination?
I have wanted to go to Bali and Thailand for years. Lucky for me, I am crossing one of those off the list this year! I am going on my honeymoon to Bali this October.
Do you have any advice for young people considering a career in construction?
My biggest piece of advice is to have an open mind, ask questions and learn as much as you can from those around you.
What’s the coolest project you’ve been a part of?
My last project and my current project are both unique in their own ways, so it’s hard to choose. Last year, I finished working on the YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California, which consisted of two new mass timber buildings. It was McCarthy’s first mass timber project, and I was running the scope of work.
Now, I am working on the Hangar 1 restoration project in Mountain View, California. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime project, working on a hangar built in 1933.
