Kyra Tillman

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT KYRA TILLMAN

I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been asked “What is it like to be a woman in manufacturing (or construction)?”. This question has always puzzled me because I don’t know what it’s like to be anything but me.For as long as I can remember, my parents encouraged me to pursue things that interested me. They never put parameters around those “things” or told me that certain fields/areas/disciplines were reserved for men. I was infinitely curious, loved learning new things and was obsessed with problem-solving. They encouraged me to follow that wherever it led.These traits have proven to be extremely helpful throughout my career. As a construction manager, I was given the opportunity to work in many different sectors because I was always eager to learn. People knew that if I was put into an unknown situation, I was going to dig in and put in the time necessary to educate myself. I loved it and I will be forever grateful for the experiences I had.When it came time for me to make the tough decision to leave construction and return to my family’s manufacturing company, I thought long and hard about whether my curiosity, thirst for knowledge and love for problem solving would be nurtured. Fortunately, they are nurtured every single day in my current position!As a machine shop that operates as a job shop, we are constantly finding machining solutions for different types of products made of different materials using different tooling and machines. We constantly look outside of the box to try to find more efficient, more economical ways of machining parts. There is no shortage of new technologies, new techniques, and new machine tools to learn about. Every day is different and full of questions, learning and solving problems. It is right up my alley!The one question I haven’t found an answer to, however, is “What is it like to be a woman in manufacturing/construction?”. I’ve never been anything but me so I don’t have a basis for comparison to anything else. Perhaps my answer should be “Amazing!”. I’ve been blessed enough to pursue things that I love in two incredible industries. I’ve been allowed to be who I am, learn, grow and flourish. It’s been exhilarating and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. To me, that is truly AMAZING!