Woman builds career in construction

Lisa Medina doesn't look like a construction worker with her petite build, designer jeans, manicure and high heels.

And her office, one she designed herself, definitely has a feminine touch with comfy furniture, modern artwork, a Raggedy Ann doll and photographs of Medina's children and grandchildren.

But Medina, owner of Medina General Contracting, has paid her dues in the industry.

"I have no formal training ... I don't have a degree. All my experience comes from working in the industry. I'm lucky enough to have had people who trusted me and trusted my ability to do the job. I'm extremely grateful," she said.

Medina also had some exposure to construction work as a girl. Her father was a cement finisher and bricklayer when he wasn't working as a barber.

She said she didn't see herself as a tomboy growing up but acknowledged she likely was perceived that way.

A native Yuman, Medina grew up chasing after her three older brothers. "I did everything they did, even when they didn't want me there. I just tagged along."

Much of her childhood consisted of playing in the desert where Gwyneth Ham School now stands, riding her bicycle and playing such sports as volleyball and softball.

After going through a divorce, she was attending some classes at Arizona Western College when a professor suggested she might want to go to work for Trademark Construction.

"I was working on computers and offered a position as administrative assistant. I was setting up jobs and in charge of the safety program. Since then, I found out my talent and interests didn't lie there."

Instead, she said, she found she preferred the work on the job site where she was being sent as the safety coordinator that grew into finishing up projects.

Her next job was with an electrical contractor, then with a general contractor who had her doing maintenance work on the landscaping at the Yuma Desalting Plant.

From there, she went to work for Chris Long as a laborer and heavy equipment operator. At the time, she said, it was almost unheard of to find women in that line of work.

"It was scary and challenging. For me it also was very rewarding. Everything about being on the job site was exciting."

She had found her career, or as she put it, her career had found her.

In 1994, she obtained her general contractor's license and in 1999 went out on her own working on metal building projects.

The next year she became an 8(a) contractor, a program for small disadvantaged businesses that qualifies them for certain set-aside federal procurements.

"That was happy news," Medina said, as it helped her land a number of contracts over the years at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma Proving Ground and more recently Homeland Security.

The work has varied from putting up new metal buildings at MCAS to working on the Border Patrol checkpoints and numerous minor improvement projects.

"Unfortunately and proudly I've graduated," she said about maxing out of the nine-year 8(a) program. So she's wrapping up some projects she had already been awarded under 8(a).

Along the way, her company also has done some civilian projects, she said. One in particular she's proud of is the new Bobby's Territorial Harley-Davidson motorcycle shop. She also has done several metal buildings at the Curtis Industrial Park and the new One Source shop on Palo Verde.

She does all this with a small permanent staff of an office manager and two superintendents and herself. A metal building crew "comes and goes" as she has work for them. And she works closely with subcontractors around town.

"I don't swing a hammer anymore. But I still visit all the sites as the project manager, and I do all the estimates."

She also does a lot of design work. "I love to meet people and help them create their space."

And she gets a lot of satisfaction out of knowing she's leaving something of herself with each project - a legacy for her children and grandchildren.

"Dad laid brick at Southgate Mall and I always think of my father when I drive by. It's motivating to drive around town and see what I've done."

When she's not working, Medina likes to visit her three children and her two "beautiful" grandchildren - a third is due Dec. 4. "I'm so proud of all of them."

She's also a faithful member of Club Yuma.

And she devotes a lot of time to Yuma Rotary Club and the Humane Society of Yuma. "I think it's important to find ways to give back to the community that has given me so much."