ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Mon., Aug. 13, 2007

For site superintendent, job runs in her blood

For some like Beverly Dulaney, a career choice doesn't just seem fitting — it's practically predestined. The daughter of real estate developers, the Scottsdale native recalls family dinner conversations that revolved around land use and design.

Her grandfather was a concrete contractor, and her father an engineer. Eventually, two of Dulaney's siblings followed similar paths — one now works as a general contractor and the other as a city of Flagstaff senior planning official. A third sibling teaches advanced middle school students.

In January — after 25-plus years working a variety of jobs in Arizona and New Mexico — Dulaney was hired as a site superintendent and project-manager assistant at Tucson Artisan Builders. The small company was one of four builders recently selected by Rio Development Co. to work on the residential and commercial neighborhood on West Congress Street known as the Mercado District of Menlo Park.

When not calling in inspections or scheduling the myriad tasks particular to construction sites, the petite Dulaney can be found out in the field, tool belt in tow.

"I'm short, but I'm strong," she says in a defiant tone.

She is decidedly not a pushover.

In the fall of 2005, Dulaney was one of six women accepted into the inaugural class of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association's Institute of Construction. The program runs 40 hours a week for 50 weeks — 48 of which involve on-the-job training. During the program, students develop skills in six trades, including electricity, plumbing and framing.

FULL STORY: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/196084