Women Who Lead in Real Estate, Construction and Design
In this collection, you can get to know top women in Wichita who work in real estate, construction and design. Find out about their careers and get their insight on what they think is important to be successful.
MELISSA LY
PROJECT MANAGER / MARKETING DIRECTOR
SNODGRASS & SONS CONSTRUCTION CO. INC.
What has been your career path? Retail: Each person came in with a common perspective; they want to be treated like they are your only customer, and their time is valuable. So quality, expedient service is priority. This taught me a skillset to really listen in detail and follow through. I learned that if I didn’t have the answer immediately, seek to find it, but never give up. That simple statement stays true to this day and has helped me reach new heights in my career. Real estate: I’ve worked with the top leaders in real estate for more than 16 years; both traditional real estate and auction. Honored to be amongst such independent and strong willed individuals who worked long hours and pushed through challenging times. Their dedication inspired me to be adaptable to change and encouraged me to discover my own independence, resiliency, and leadership skills. Construction: The company core values of Snodgrass & Sons Construction aligns very well with my own. They are a faith-based company that embraces honesty, integrity and trustworthiness. I started as a project engineer and marketing director; having the advantage of working alongside each project manager to learn the trade. As a PE, it was an exciting challenge to really learn the ins-and-outs of the Architects plans and specifications for individual projects. Now, as a project manager, I work with teams of architects, engineers, QC, contracting, subcontractors and company owners to lead and complete our quality projects on time and within budget.
Who are your mentors and how have they influenced your career? I’ve worked with so many incredible individuals, from business owners to team leads, each one has attributed. The women leaders — my mother, Mary Mosher, who taught me about holding tenure and work ethic, and my dear friend Martha Bethel, who encouraged me to see the brighter side of life, and a past manager, Rosemary Moss, who exemplified great leadership.
Best advice for a woman wanting to enter your field? Only about 9% of construction managers are female. I believe the right way to learn and advance is to be OK with asking the difficult questions, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to be your best. As with any industry, if you go in with confidence and develop your professional skillset with optimism, the opportunities are endless.
What do you like most about your role? There’s always something new happening, especially within the project management role, so each day is an adventure. The role provides an opportunity to be independent with provided resources, and a fantastic group of people with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
“Women Who Lead in Real Estate, Construction and Design.” www.bizjournals.com, December 2023 https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/c/women-who-lead-real-estate-construction-design/21304/melissa-ly-snodgrass-sons-construction-co.html
