Celebrating the Women at Bretland
International Women’s Day 2025!
This week we celebrate ‘International Women’s Day’ by catching up with some of our colleagues across the business to see what the day means to them, and their experiences working in the construction industry.
Today we meet Anne Marie McCormack, who’s had to tackle more than most to get to where she is today.
Here, she tells us how she’s settled into her role as Operations Director here at Bretland Construction;
Background
“I am thrilled more and more women are working in the industry. I have worked for Bretland for 6 years and I am very passionate about working in the construction industry. I was born and raised in Chicago completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management and Engineering Technologies at Purdue University. While working in the Construction Industry in Chicago for a number of years I gained a wealth of experience. After moving to Ireland a number of years ago, I joined Bretland as a Project Coordinator and eventually progressed to my current role as Operations Director. I have been in the construction industry for over 15 years now.
It’s a challenging job, and you have to be able to adapt on a day to day basis, but I honestly couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I am responsible for managing the company’s systems and processes by implementing our ISO standards through our integrated management system to ensure uniformity and standardization across all our projects with regards to Quality, Health & Safety, and Environmental compliance. I oversee the Operations department which consists of administrators and document controllers, all who are crucial members of the individual project teams.
What are you working on at the moment?
Currently I am getting geared up to complete a set of internal audits on our Integrated Management System. This will take place over the course of the next two to three months. During this process I audit project teams to ensure compliance with our company procedures. This is part of the process to help us prepare for our external audit which will take place late August. There is a lot of paperwork to get through in the coming weeks, but it gives us an opportunity to review our systems and see where we can make improvements, in addition to ensuring we can meet our objectives and targets.
Since joining Bretland, I have found that there are more roles available to women in the industry which is fantastic to see. Although the construction industry is still male dominated, women are starting to take great strides, and they have a lot to offer to the growing demand of the industry.
Why should women join the industry?
I would encourage any woman who is passionate about the industry, building and construction, to feel confident in pursuing it. As with any job, it has its high-pressure moments, but the people I work with are great and supportive. Every day is different and working with all the different departments means I interact with so many on a daily basis, so it suits me perfectly. There are opportunities for everyone – male or female, it’s more whether it suits you as a person as it’s a dynamic job that involves a lot of problem-solving. I’m in it for the long haul!
What do you do outside of work?
When I am not working, I am heavily involved in sports, as it is a great passion of mine. I play and coach with my local LGFA club and I also play basketball. The work-life balance is very important, and the extracurricular activities give me an outlet from the demands of work. Getting involved in both the LGFA and basketball club has been very rewarding and was a great way to meet friends in the community.
What is important to you about IWD?
I think International Women’s Day is a great initiative and a way to celebrate every aspect of being a woman, not just the career we choose. It recognizes all and I believe creates inspiration in women to pursue their goals.
