Building More Than Just Careers: My Time Championing Women in Construction
Lin Carleton in 2024
After more than 11 years of dedicated service to the Washington State Construction Center of Excellence, Lin Carleton is stepping into retirement. What began as an emergency hire for the 2014 Apprenticeship Conference evolved into a remarkable career helping women and young people find their place in the construction industry. As Lin prepares to trade her advocacy work for sunny beaches and travel adventures, we asked her to reflect on her journey at the Center—from watching it grow from a small office to a statewide powerhouse, and the three dynamic directors who shaped her experience along the way.
I started here as an emergency hire for the Apprenticeship Conference in 2014, after a lifetime in marketing, working my way through Barbies, and groceries and diapers. My entire career has been focused on helping people, whether its hiring women returning to the workforce after raising children or finding careers for high school kids who want to build and grow a career that includes a family living wage.
I was kept on after my emergency hire and I’ve worked for the Center for over 11 years, watching the evolution from a tiny office to a statewide powerhouse, growing from 1 (and a half!) employees to three, and back to one. From 125 people at the Empower Women’s Leadership Conference at our centerpiece Enlighten Women’s Forum to over 300 at our most recent. I’ve been proud to work for three different, yet equally dynamic women during my stay.
Shana Peschek
A fun-loving yet dedicated Director of the Center who specialized in big-thinking and big events, as part of the team peaking with 2,000 high school students for Construction Career Day, where she and the team found me while I was working for Workforce Central under Kristi Grassman. Remember that name, she comes next. Shana recognized me as someone who could help expand the Center, taking my emergency status to permanent employee.
Kristi Grassman
After Shana left for greater things, I served a brief time as Interim Director, being replaced by Kristi Grassman. Kristi’s time at the Center was hamstrung by timing – coming onboard the same time as the Covid-19 pandemic forced everyone to scramble. We had to go virtual, working remotely and moving events to Zoom and Teams, learning how as we went along. It was frightening yet also thrilling, knowing a worldwide pandemic could not stop us. Kristi also expanded the Center’s newsletters from quarterly to monthly, allowing news and wisdom from the center to reach anyone who wished it. I loved reaching out and developing a new format.
Christina Rupp
My final director was Christina Rupp, a visionary who pushed me to grow my old-school skills into the 21st century. She also moved the center’s focus from getting people into the construction industry to centering on the issues that trouble current workers and helping women into the construction industry. Christina and I also revamped Center materials and web presence, focusing on issues of diversity and inclusion.
Throughout my time at the Center, the focus was clear - granting and building futures for young Americans and women who prefer working with their hands. Showing people how to succeed by building the country along with their own future. I’m proud of the work and what we have accomplished at the Center in these 11 years. I will miss working on the events and programs at RTC and the Washington State Construction Center of Excellence as well as all the people involved.
Retirement was never really in my plans but here I am ready to the leap into it! Traveling with my girlfriends. Lots of traveling to sunny beaches and palm trees especially during the winter to escape the cold rainy and cloudy winter season in the Seattle area.
Celebrating Lin’s Impact
Lin's impact on the Center and the countless lives she touched extends far beyond what any single story can capture. Her colleagues, partners, and the directors she worked alongside all have their own memories of Lin's dedication, warmth, and unwavering commitment to opening doors in the construction industry. As she embarks on this new chapter, we asked four people who worked closely with Lin to share their thoughts and well-wishes for her retirement.
“Over the past two and a half years leading the Washington State Construction Center of Excellence, it has been an absolute pleasure working alongside Lin Carleton. Lin’s expertise in marketing and merchandising brought tremendous value to the CCE, especially as we navigated a transformative period of rebranding and expanded our mission, vision, and purpose.
Her stories from her time leading marketing and merchandising at Mattel—especially the unforgettable Barbie campaign tales—were always a highlight. Beyond her impressive professional background, Lin has a remarkable ability to make everyone around her feel welcomed and supported, myself included. As the third director she’s worked with during her 10+ years at the CCE, I’ve been especially grateful for the grace, joy, and finesse she brought to her role, which made my transition into my role - and the success of the CCE - so much smoother.
Lin, you’ve left an indelible mark on this organization, and you truly deserve a retirement filled with the same joy and warmth you’ve shared with all of us. Congratulations! I can’t wait to hear about your next adventures and travels.”
Christina Rupp, Director
Construction Center of Excellence
“Lin is one of my most favorite work colleagues of my career. After so many tries to find a good support for the Construction Center of Excellence, Lin was magic. Lin's dedication, expertise, customer service, friendship, and commitment have left an indelible mark on the CCE and the countless individuals she has worked with over the years. Lin and I shared many laughs and a few tears, no matter what she might have going on in her life she always showed interest, concern and support for me during our time together. She was by my side working through the fun activities and the very frustrating ones, too. I will always cherish those years we were a team taking on challenges, creating a vision and making the CCE an impactful resource for the education and construction partners.
On a personal note, I loved hearing stories of her adorable grandson and she enlightened me on a lot of things that as a woman she faced in her career. It helped me grow into a stronger more confident leader.
As Lin embarks on this new chapter of her life, I want to acknowledge her many accomplishments and the legacy she leaves behind. Her retirement is a moment of reflection and appreciation for the countless ways she has enriched our organization and the lives of those she has touched.”
Shana Peschek, Former CCE Director
Executive Director, Machinists Institute
“Lin is widely respected and should be commended for keeping the CCOE on steady footing during Director transitions over the past decade. She is kind to all, conscientious, dependable, and ready to help. She was always such a hard worker for large events. I will miss working with Lin and wish her joy and fun days in retirement.”
Diane Kocer, CCE Advisory Board Chair Emeritus
Executive Director, AGC Education Foundation
"I've had the pleasure of working with Lin for over a decade now supporting the Construction Center of Excellence. During our time collaborating with different center Directors, we've done it all together: redesigning the CCE website with Shana, producing webinars and publishing data with Kristi, and producing the Enlighten Women's Forum with Christina. Through it all, Lin has always been a joy to work with, eager to learn, and a wonderful advocate and champion of the construction industry. I wish Lin all the joy in the world as she spends time with friends and family in retirement."
Ricardo Ibarra, CCE Advisory Board Member
President & Creative Director, Trio Group
