Krista Layman sat down with Megan Butcher on FABA’s Construction Conversations podcast for their March Women in the Building Industry series, and it’s a great listen!
They covered a lot: how Krista ended up at Spartan, what it’s actually like working with family (spoiler: pretty great), and how she’s found her voice on the FABA board and as a brand-new She Built Foundation ambassador. 🏡
A few favorite moments:
- Krista didn’t grow up planning to build houses. She worked in hospitality and the veterinary field before her dad called and asked if she’d help out a couple days a week. “I was like, ‘Sure. I love paperwork. I love numbers.'” The couple days turned into a career!
- What she actually does at Spartan: contracts, estimating, permitting, selections, and walkthroughs from start to finish. She’s the bridge between homeowners, trades, and the team.
- Her advice to any young woman thinking about getting into the trades: “Don’t be intimidated. Just start. Ask questions. Get involved.” 👏
- On what she hopes the industry looks like in ten years (a future where women in construction is so normal it doesn’t need its own awareness month or feature podcast): “I would love to see it feel completely normal. I wouldn’t want to be having this conversation.”
They also dig into the She Built Foundation, reading The House She Built to second graders, keeping a family business healthy, and what clients are asking for in custom homes right now: EV chargers, smart switches, whole-home water-sense monitors, and a lot more energy efficiency.
Whether you’re in the industry or just curious about it, this one’s worth a listen!
→ Tune in to the full episode of Construction Conversations on Spotify.
Construction Conversations is produced by the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association Young Professionals Committee. More at fabava.com.