Parade of Homes featuring the best of new homes in Manitoba, Canada
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/161409
Women in Construction Melanie Snow >> Not so long ago, it was typical for family construction businesses to pass from father to son. Well, Warkentin Homes owner Melanie Snow can tell you times have changed. Her father, Walter Warkentin, founded the company in 1980, and Snow joined the family firm about 12 years ago after earning a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Manitoba. "It wasn't my initial intention to be involved in this business and it wasn't the expectation of my family that I would be involved either," she says. Owner Warkentin Homes "As my education came to an end, I realized I would be able to help out with the business, which in turn gave us additional resources to help us grow the business." The construction industry is in transition, and Snow says many people would be surprised by the number of women who are taking advantage of the opportunities it offers. "The business has evolved and it really doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman in this industry, you're accepted. But you have to stick to your vision and go for it, and you do have to have tenacity and courage because it is a very challenging industry." 'You have to stick to your vision and go for it, and you do have to have tenacity and courage because it is a very challenging industry.' Putting your best professional foot forward is important, and that means being confident and well-informed. Snow says clients are well-educated, largely thanks to the plethora of TV shows devoted to home construction and renovation. "You have to really know your material. You have to really know construction and everything that's surrounding it because the customer is very knowledgeable, and they're doing their research," she says. "It's changing rapidly and that's good. We always have new technologies and new innovations that help to build a better house and help us offer our clients better products." Snow runs the business with help from her mother, Carol Warkentin, and her sister, Amy Warkentin, and with her husband Ed Snow, in a consultative role. Cont'd on page 38 Parade of Homes Fall 2013 37