What It Means to Be a Woman-Owned Small Business in Construction
Each year, Women in Construction Week highlights the role women play in shaping the built environment and strengthening the construction industry. Led by National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the week celebrates progress while pushing for continued growth.
Women now represent approximately 11.3% of the U.S. construction workforce according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number has steadily increased over time, but leadership representation still lags behind many other industries.
At Gervais Ventures, being a woman-owned small business is not a marketing line. It’s reflected in how we lead, how we partner, and how we approach every project in Jacksonville and across Northeast Florida.
Founded in Jacksonville, Built With Intention
Gervais Ventures was founded in Jacksonville after we relocated to Northeast Florida for other professional opportunities. As we settled here, it became clear that this was not just a place to work — it was a place to build.
Starting the company was a deliberate decision to contribute to the region’s growth and to establish something long-term in the community we now call home.
“We saw the opportunity to build something from the ground up, in a way that reflects who we are and how we lead,” says Jennifer Gervais.
The Work Behind the Title
For Jennifer Gervais, being a woman-owned business in construction is not symbolic. It is part of the daily responsibility of running the company.
With a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech University, her approach is analytical and disciplined. Budgets are reviewed carefully. Processes are measured. Decisions are grounded in data as much as experience.
“Construction is complex,” Gervais says. “You need technical knowledge, financial discipline, and strong teams to make projects successful. Titles don’t replace that. Preparation and accountability do.”Being woman-owned does not change the math of a project or the physics of a structure. It does change who is at the decision-making table. Over time, that visibility contributes to a broader and more representative industry.
Supporting Women in Construction — In Practical Ways
Progress in construction doesn’t happen through slogans. It happens through opportunity and standards.
If you want to support women in construction, start with the fundamentals:
Hire based on skill and preparation.
Make room for voices at the table.
Mentor early-career professionals.
Hold the same performance standards for everyone.
Create jobsite cultures where professionalism is expected from all.
Organizations like the National Association of Women in Construction continue to build pathways for mentorship and leadership development across the industry.
But real progress happens in companies — in meetings, on jobsites, and in daily decisions. At Gervais Ventures, that commitment is simple: build well, lead responsibly, and contribute to an industry that continues to evolve.
Women in Construction Week is one moment in the calendar. The work itself continues year-round.