While the construction industry says, “not likely,” they say, “hold my hammer”
By Nate Day
FOR GENERATIONS, the construction industry wasn’t built with women in mind. But these days, more women are stepping into leadership roles that have long excluded them—and reshaping how the work gets done.
A 2025 study by Construction Coverage found that women account for only 11.5 percent of payroll employees in the construction industry, with most concentrated in office and administration roles, rather than on-site construction work.
“The challenge that still exists is gaining respect from your peers,” says Poonam Moore, a designer and general contractor, as well as the owner of Poonam’s by Design. “Whether it’s inspectors, staff that come out from cities and counties, some of those guys are still not used to seeing women out in the field.”
Moore, who has appeared on HGTV several times, recalls the female staff members at the certification testing center cheering for her after she passed her exams in the early days of her career, as so few women even take the steps to enter the industry.
Kellie Murdock, a designer, contractor, and the owner of Inspired by Design, echoes that experience. She notes that, “to be successful as a woman in construction, you have to be better. You have to know more.”
Rachelle Starr, owner and founder of Trinity Construction Services, says women are often underestimated in the industry.
“Men don’t give us the credit of knowledge in the industry, so we’re instantly discounted by our gender,” she explains.
All three professionals say earning credibility requires deliberate effort. Murdock even took coursework to refine her communication style with men, a step she credits with improving both job-site dynamics and client relationships.
“I own that we’re organized and we’re caring and we’re thoughtful,” Murdock asserts. “I have a very different relationship with my crews than most male contractors do. We have much more of a relationship where we’re symbiotic.”
Starr says that her job sites are often “so unbelievably clean because of how my brain functions as a woman.” She reiterates Murdock’s point: “We’re able to bring a level of communication and organization to our customers that isn’t found in the construction industry very often.”
Moore’s 20-year career has earned her respect across the industry, and she asserts that being the only woman in the room can have its benefits.
“People are listening to us,” Moore says. “We are the different person in the room. And if you walk in there and you command respect and presence, it happens. They will stop and listen, and they will stop and look and say, ‘What do you have to offer?’”
Each woman points to the advantages she brings to the field. Attention to detail—a trait they believe women often develop naturally—has been a key factor in their success.
Despite decades of success, all three say they still rarely encounter other women in construction leadership roles. That scarcity, they say, reflects a pipeline problem more than a lack of interest.
“Accessibility to building and construction is still not really there for our young people coming out of school,” Moore says. “That goes for females and males, but to a greater degree for females. There’s trade work that females can get into. There’s GC work that females can get into. I don’t think it’s billed in a very sexy way to our young graduates coming out of school to pursue that as a craft.”
For now, all three are focused on creating work they’re proud of and, when they can, mentoring young women entering the field and making their visibility impossible to ignore. Starr even incorporates hot pink into her branding—a deliberate symbol of empowerment in an industry in which she stands out. Together, they represent a shift that, while gradual, is unmistakable.
INSPIRED BY DESIGN
Company Overview
Inspired By Design is a residential design-build remodeling company focused on helping homeowners reimagine and improve the spaces they live in every day. By combining interior design guidance with licensed general contracting services, the company offers a streamlined path from initial concept through completed construction.
Leadership & Background
The firm is led by owner Kellie Murdock, a designer and contractor whose work centers on clarity, preparation, and hands-on project oversight. Her role spans both the creative and construction sides of the business, allowing clients to work with a single point of leadership throughout the remodeling process.
Scope of Work
Inspired By Design concentrates on residential renovations, including kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and whole-home updates. Projects typically involve space planning, finish and material selection, construction management, and coordination of skilled trades—bringing design vision and building execution together under one cohesive process.
Approach to Clients & Projects
The company’s work emphasizes communication, organization, and thoughtful planning from the earliest consultation through final completion. By integrating design and construction within one team, Inspired By Design aims to reduce uncertainty for homeowners while maintaining close collaboration and clear expectations throughout each phase of a remodel.
Business Presence
Operating from its Littleton location, Inspired By Design serves communities across the southern Denver region and Front Range. The firm’s combined design-build model positions it as a comprehensive residential remodeling resource for clients seeking both aesthetic direction and construction expertise within a single partnership.
POONAM’S BY DESIGN
Company Overview
Poonam’s by Design is a full-service interior design and remodeling firm blending creative design direction with licensed general contracting capabilities. The company delivers residential and commercial transformations through a unified design-build approach that carries projects from early planning through final construction.
Leadership & Background
The firm is led by owner Poonam “Pam” Moore, an interior designer and general contractor with more than two decades of industry experience. Her professional scope bridges aesthetics and execution, allowing her to guide projects holistically—from conceptual vision and material selection to on-site construction oversight and completion.
Scope of Work
Poonam’s by Design provides a broad range of services across both residential and commercial environments. Residential work includes kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and fullhome remodels, while commercial projects span hospitality, retail, and workplace settings. Across project types, services typically encompass spatial planning, finish selection, project management, and construction coordination within a single integrated process.
Approach to Clients & Projects
The company’s methodology centers on collaboration, clarity, and detailed planning throughout each phase of work. By aligning design intent with construction execution under one leadership structure, Poonam’s by Design emphasizes continuity, communication, and careful oversight from consultation through project completion.
Business Presence
With a showroom location in Aurora and projects extending across the Denver metro area, Poonam’s by Design operates as a comprehensive design-build resource for clients seeking both creative direction and construction expertise within one coordinated team.
TRINITY CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
Company Overview
Trinity Construction Services is a residential construction and remodeling company serving homeowners throughout the Denver metro area. Focused on delivering organized, detail-driven renovations, the firm provides general contracting services that guide projects from initial planning through completed construction.
Leadership & Background
The company is led by founder and owner Rachelle Starr, whose work in construction centers on hands-on oversight, clear communication, and disciplined project management. Her leadership emphasizes accountability across every phase of a build, ensuring that planning, scheduling, and on-site execution remain closely aligned.
Scope of Work
Trinity Construction Services specializes in residential remodeling and improvement projects, supporting homeowners through renovations, including kitchens, bathrooms, interior updates, and broader structural or layout changes. Services typically encompass construction planning, trade coordination, scheduling, and on-site supervision—bringing the project’s logistical and technical elements together under one contractor-led process.
Approach to Clients & Projects
The firm’s process prioritizes organization, cleanliness, and consistent communication throughout construction. By maintaining structured job sites and clear timelines, Trinity Construction Services works to create a renovation experience that feels controlled, transparent, and dependable for homeowners navigating complex home improvements.
Business Presence
Operating from Centennial and serving surrounding Front Range communities, Trinity Construction Services functions as a locally rooted residential contractor focused on practical craftsmanship, steady project execution, and long-term client trust.
INSPIRED BY DESIGN, INC.
4 Dry Creek Circle, Ste. 145
Littleton
720.853.1515
inspiredbydesignco.com
POONAM’S BY DESIGN
6290 S. Main St., Ste. M-108
Aurora
720.274.5620
poonamsbydesign.com
TRINITY CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
7009 S. Potomac St., Ste. 121
Centennial
720.648.7663
thetrinityway.com
