Almost daily I lament the scarcity of women in the construction trades. And further.. the few women that I do see often settle for jobs in demolition. Or worse…they call themselves decorators! Not that there is anything wrong with those jobs––it’s just that there is so much more opportunity out there! All of the skilled trade sectors (HVAC, electrical, the trowel trades, carpenters, etc) are starving for intelligent and talented people. If you put a college educations level of effort into a construction career: ongoing education, dedication, attitude, persistance––there is plenty of room for more success stories like Tammy’s!
When Tammy Ferris moved to Columbia, S.C., she needed a job. She was searching for the right opportunity to use her business degree and start her career. That’s when she came across a part-time job at Gene Love Plumbing as a night dispatcher.
That was in 1986, and Ferris never left the company to pursue a career elsewhere. In fact, she’s been there almost from the beginning. Company founders Kathy and Gene Love started their residential plumbing business in 1981 in West Columbia. Because of Ferris’ accounting background, Kathy Love began moving Ferris up the company ladder, first as office manager, then service manager, and then general manager and vice president.
Twenty years later, Ferris became the president and sole owner of Gene Love Plumbing, “retiring” the Loves by buying the company from them.