She said, 'Hi, I'm Denise.' She said, 'But you're a woman,' and I said, 'Indeed I am -- and I'll do a great job for you.' "

The National Association of Women in Construction, founded in 1953 by 16 women, reports that more than 150,000 women have entered the industry in the past five years. Even so, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women still make up just 9.6 percent of the almost 12 million Americans who earn a living in a construction-related field. Article

Denise's website: Handimamm