Kathryn Merritt, General Contractor
Kathryn needed to get off her ladder to do our interview. Getting down off a ladder is something she’s been doing for over 25 years, the last 7 of those as a self-employed general contractor.

“I have no regrets going into business for myself. But, what surprised me most is how fast my business has grown. I knew I had the skills to stay busy enough to pay my mortgage, I just didn’t anticipate that my business would be so successful.”

I started my construction company because it was a way for me to take control my life.” As a single mom I didn’t like dropping my daughter off at daycare at 6 am, and not seeing her until I got home from work.” The big bonus is that her daughter sees her as a business owner rather than as an employee.

When asked why women are drawn to the trades, Kathryn replied, “Some people are natural-born craftspeople. I tried to be a social worker once, and that just didn’t work. I knew I was going to be a carpenter after my first year in college. I needed to be able to do something where I had the immediate satisfaction of seeing what I’d built.”

Kathryn specializes in the renovation of older homes and has worked with over 50 customers. Customers rave about her and her work.

Barb Goodrich, General Contractor
Ten years ago Barb bought a fixer-upper in NE Portland. At that time she was using her degree in sports medicine working with young athletes. She knew everything was about to change once she and her partner moved in to the house. For two years, they lived in the basement while restoring their home. During that time she realized she loved restoration work and was good at it. Her father and uncle who are accomplished carpenters must have rubbed off. She received her contractor’s license and hasn’t looked back. This mother of three states that, “We will always be working on our home.”

Barb has never found it difficult to find clients. One of her first clients has used her for three jobs. Her core customers are usually owners of older homes. These homeowners care about renovating, recycling, and keeping the integrity of the older home rather than the traditional remodel.

When asked if being a woman has hindered her in this once all-men’s field, she states, “This has never been an issue. Clients have always thought I was professional and knowledgeable. I return every call. I am very passionate about my profession. One of my favorite jobs was a basement game room and office remodel for a family with three boys.” Years have passed and the homeowner still calls to thank her.

Sue Loshkajian, Cabinetmaker
“When I was seven, Mom caught a bug, so I decided to make her a table. Sue gathered the materials, taught herself how to use a ruler and measured the pieces. She found a rusty saw and cut the wood according to her measurements and assembled them into that first table. “I knew then what I wanted to do was to build furniture.”

Sue was the first woman to take shop class in her hometown. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Woodworking and Furniture Design from Boston University. Working as a contractor in Massachusetts she eventually moved to Portland and continued to follow her passion. Sue received her Oregon contractor’s license in 1989, and works on residential/commercial projects in the greater Portland area.

One customer of Sue’s is himself a builder and Sue was the first woman cabinet fabricator he’d worked with, he says, “Sue was thorough, creative, patient with a client who changed his mind all the time.”

Shaun Sullens, General Contractor
The traits that make a client one of Shaun’s favorites are as varied as the customer’s themselves. “Some people know what they want, so that makes it easy. Some people have a big picture idea and allow my husband, Marv Veeder, and me to be creative in filling that big picture. Most seem to have a good sense of humor — and that makes them fun,” she beams.

Marv is also her business partner and he “was the one who influenced me to get involved in the trade. I had been laid off, didn’t know what I wanted to do, so he suggested I go get my contractor’s license and build my own company.”

Shaun had quite a learning curve — everything from building technology to what it takes to be a contractor. She does the estimating and buys the materials. “My biggest challenge was getting over the initial intimidation. I had this idea in my head that people wouldn’t believe I was a general contractor because I’m a woman. So, getting over my self was my biggest challenge,” reveals Shaun.