Keller Hayes is making an impact on young women in transportation and construction

Overview

Keller Hayes is the Director of Transportation & Construction GIRL at OffsiteDirt.com.

The organization was created to draw attention to women in transportation and construction and encourage others to join the industry.

The goal is to help women push past stereotypes and pursue careers in transportation and construction.

Keller grew up on a small ranch homesteaded by her grandfather.

She says the ranch taught her an entrepreneurial spirit.

She used those lessons to build the largest women’s chamber in the country.

She now coaches businesses in the construction and transportation industry and directs Transportation & Construction GIRL.

Keller says she learned early that it is important to “Pay it Forward.”

She values seeing young women realize they can do more than they thought possible.

She wants to reach more girls in the next 24 months and help them identify financially sustainable careers in construction and transportation.

Transportation & Construction GIRL helped a student named Elena discover a career path in construction.

She had no prior connection to the construction industry.
A flyer from her shop instructor led her to Career Week for GIRLs.
She decided she wanted to be a project manager in construction.
She learned she could work inside and outside, manage people, and make good money.
She shadowed successful women in their careers.
She received summer internships.
She enrolled in CSU’s Construction Management program.
She says the program was incredibly beneficial because she had no prior experience or knowledge of construction.

Keller encourages women trying to break the glass ceiling to share their experiences with young girls.

She believes being an example for the next generation is powerful motivation.

She also encourages women to reach out to organizations like Transportation & Construction GIRL.

Keller describes emotional moments from Career Week for GIRLs.

One young woman said she had been stocking shelves for minimum wage and now knew she could do more.
One mother said the program opened her daughter’s eyes to a much greater future.

Keller’s favorite quote is from Yoda in Star Wars: “Do or do not. There is no try.”

She says it reminds her that people must take responsibility for their lives and choices.

Keller says the wins are about the girls being impacted.

One example is Sela.

Sela was collecting rocks when her friends were collecting dolls.
She learned she could be a geological engineer.
She received the Florence Caldwell Scholarship, a 4-year scholarship.
She plans to be a geological engineer on Mars.
She said she could not be where she is today without Transportation & Construction GIRL.

Learn more about the wins of Transportation & Construction GIRL in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0d01Om08XQ