The construction site of the 1990s was no place for the faint-hearted, especially if you were a woman trying to direct an all-male crew. With women making up less than 10% of the workforce, even having the title “master plumber” didn’t guarantee respect. But for one determined leader, these challenges became the foundation for transforming how the industry approaches female leadership. Through innovative teaching methods and a fresh take on mentorship, Delaine A. Deer is helping ensure that the next generation of women in construction won’t have to fight quite so hard to prove their worth.
Learning to Lead Through Listening
Growing up, Delaine’s father didn’t just tell her about construction – he brought her right into the middle of it. Sitting in meetings as a teenager, she watched how her father commanded respect without saying much at all. “He is a very quiet man in meetings, listening to everything,” she says. “When he did speak, people listened.”
But being a quiet leader wasn’t always an option for Delaine. “It’s a little difficult because you don’t want to be too quiet in a male-dominated world,” she explains. She learned to make her voice count through careful articulation and strategic pauses – basic speech techniques that many overlook but make a real difference in how others perceive you. 
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
As a twenty-something master plumber, Delaine regularly faced workers who wouldn’t take her seriously. When she suggested more efficient ways to run pipes that would cut copper costs by 25%, she met blank stares and outright defiance. Even after revealing her credentials as a master plumber, some workers still refused to listen. Instead of letting it defeat her, Delaine got creative. She showed up in a pink hard hat – “I don’t like pink, nothing wrong with it, just not me” – and owned the criticism that came her way. “You can call me anything else, but you’re not going to call me incompetent,” she states firmly. This bold move earned her respect, even from her critics.
Today, Delaine teaches construction skills through a nonprofit, focusing on empowering others to overcome their fears. She remembers one student who had grown up watching her father and brothers work with tools but had never used them herself. When faced with using a circular saw for the first time, the student was terrified. “She cut it and started crying,” Delaine recalls. “She said, ‘I never knew I had the strength to overcome a fear and do what my father did.’ It’s not really about cutting wood—that’s just kind of on the side. The real focus is helping people feel empowered and confident to grow.”
Making Real Change Happen
The construction industry still has work to do. While more women are moving into project management roles, field positions remain challenging. “There’s not a lot of female superintendents because men won’t listen to them,” Delaine notes. “Even if they have 15 years of experience, it takes a certain type of personality to break through that.”
Through her work with ProWorks Hive, she’s tackling these challenges head-on. Her advice to women eyeing leadership roles in male-dominated fields is practical and powerful:
- Trust Your Voice – “Don’t wait for permission to share your ideas,” she says. “No one’s more qualified to bring your perspective than you are.”
- Invest in Yourself—Whether through certifications, workshops, or finding a mentor, keep building your knowledge. As Delaine says, “Knowledge builds confidence, and confidence is going to be your greatest ally.”
- Find Your Community – Connect with other women in your field and join professional organizations. These networks provide crucial support and resources that can make all the difference.
But perhaps most importantly, Delaine emphasizes the need to pay it forward: “Once you get there, mentor somebody else. Amplify not just your voice but the voices of your peers. That’s how we ensure the next generation of women leaders can see what’s possible.” To learn more about Delaine A. Deer and her approach, check out her LinkedIn profile.
