Alexis: 0:00

Hello everybody and welcome to the MoCo Podcast. My name is Alexis Armstrong, your host. Nice to meet you. The MoCo Podcast is a place to celebrate and highlight women, trans women, and non-binary folk working within stem and trade occupations. So please tune in. Take a break. Join us. We're on Smoko today. We're extremely lucky to be joined by the lovely Yara Vasquez, who's a general contractor. She's a second generation carpenter. She has a degree in architectural engineering. She specializes in new constructions or new builds, and in 2021, she started her own company called Built by Her Construction. And so we're gonna talk all things carpentry. Her company, built by her and her experience working within trades. So Yara, thank you so much for coming on the show today. I really appreciate it. It's so nice to meet you. Yara to set us to kind of start us off, I know that you're a second generation carpenter. Could you kind of speak to the experience of growing up in a trades family and how this impacted you to become a carpenter as well? Well, I

Yahara: 1:00

guess I grew up in a very traditional household where the min just worked and the women. Stayed home and my dad was very traditional. He would take me to job sites, but he wouldn't let me actually work. So I just, I learned by watching. So for, I don't know what 18 years that I was there, I would just go and watch. And every time I would ask if I can try it, he would say no. So, it wasn't until after I moved out, but I was like, you know what? I'm gonna do carpentry. I knew how to build things in my mind, but it wasn't, I couldn't actually do it. But like it, when I would do it the first time, it like, just felt kinda natural.

Alexis: 1:46

Oh, that's really cool. Well, that's kind of beautiful that it clicked in that all of a sudden when you tried it, you're like, yeah, I've been watching this and learning by osmosis whether I knew it or not. But that's crazy that he, he didn't teach you and you were asking for it. And then what was that reaction when you told him to be like, Hey, I, I'm also a carpenter, like I've gone back to school. I'm an architect now. Like, how did that conversation go if I can ask? Well

Yahara: 2:09

actually, when I told him that I wanted to go to school for architecture, he was not on board.

Alexis: 2:16

Okay. Oh, shame. I'm sorry to hear that. Find something else.

Yahara: 2:20

He doesn't pay the bills, like architect architects don't have like a regular 40 hour week job or whatever. And, but I still did it and it wasn't until my last semester college. He like accepted it and then called me and apologized. And after asked if he can, you know, pay for my last term and he gave me a work truck, some tools. And that was it. Aw,

Alexis: 2:49

that's really cute. I'm happy that he came around. Like that's a, that's a lovely end of it. And I'm sorry that he didn't, at first, like, that must have been very, very hard and I couldn't imagine it. But I'm happy that you got a work track and he, he came around and was super supportive at the end and he's

Yahara: 3:04

really supportive now. His girlfriend also works in construction, so I thought it was kind of funny, like.

Alexis: 3:13

The women in his life. Yeah. Oh, I love that. I like that the women in men life are in construction and that you're in it as well. And it's probably a really cool thing now that you're a carpenter, that you can talk about it and like talk about construction and talk about building things. And that brings us to kind of our second one is just congratulations cuz Yara, in 2021 you started your own business, which is a huge freaking feat. That's a huge thing built by her construction. Could you kind of. Talk to how your company came to be, how you decided to be like, yep, I'm gonna make my own firm the experience of starting it and then if people are unaware and they don't know built by her construction, could you kind of describe what you guys do? Well,

Yahara: 3:58

I guess I started my business because I couldn't really find anything that fit me as a mom. Okay. It was like you either work 60 hours or you don't work at all. There is like no in between.

Alexis: 4:10

Oh, yak. Yeah. No, that doesn't work as a mom. There's no way. Yeah.

Yahara: 4:14

And I was working for this one company and it just having tasks for days off so you can take your kids to appointments. It just like didn't seem to. Like, like it. Or me leaving at four, I can pick up my kids from daycare.

Alexis: 4:32

Yeah. It just like wasn't designed for women. It wasn't designed for mems, and everybody else stayed

Yahara: 4:37

till like six and Yeah. But they're just used to those hours, I guess.

Alexis: 4:43

Well, I think too that they also, they probably have someone at home that are taking care of the kids, that are picking up the kids, but you're like, no, this is me, man. I have to leave at four to go pick up my son. Like I have to go. So

Yahara: 4:56

I stopped working there, and then I worked, I remodeled my house. And then I built my own house and I was like, well, I think it's time. I think I'm ready. Cause I didn't know how to bid and I didn't know all these other things. So I was like, if I built my own house, then I know how much things cost and how long it's gonna take. So then I finally did it.

Alexis: 5:19

I, I love that answer. I love how casual and nonchalant you are of just being like, yeah, like I remodeled it, which is like a huge feat in itself. And then just to be like, obviously the next step was to build my own house completely, and then the next step was start a company. Like, those are two huge things. So yeah,

Yahara: 5:38

for me it seems simple, but.

Alexis: 5:42

Like, that's amazing. That's like, how was that process of starting, I guess you are your first customer, which is really cool. How was that process of building your own home? Was it really like daunting or scary or you were just like, no, I got this, I've been building houses or watching them being built for years? Actually

Yahara: 6:00

no. Actually the hardest part was the administrative part and like the project management part.

Alexis: 6:06

Yeah, I could see that of just being like, what goes when. It just went by

Yahara: 6:13

pretty, pretty smoothly. Very

Alexis: 6:16

cool. And so then now your business, are you guys kind of a one stop shop of building a house completely from scratch, or what are your kind of services? What does built by her construction do? I mostly do everything

Yahara: 6:30

except for concrete, drywall and roofing.

Alexis: 6:35

Oh wow. That is the entirety of the house other than like kind of the foundation and the roof. That's it. So everything else you guys do? Yeah.

Yahara: 6:42

And the electrical and plumbing. Cause they have to

Alexis: 6:45

be a different trade electric

Yahara: 6:49

licensed plumber. But yeah, I mean, When I first, I told my husband that I was starting a company. He was just like, what are you gonna do look at mean? Like he has, he, I don't know. He wasn't like, he never saw my actual work. Really? Except for the remodel. And he is kind of like skeptical. I don't know. He wasn't on board a hundred percent.

Alexis: 7:17

Well, I hope he's on board now. Yeah. I hope he can see it now or can like appreciate it cuz it's more hands on. Yeah, he is

Yahara: 7:26

super supportive now. He's always showing my work to people and, Aw,

Alexis: 7:30

that's really cute. That's very cool. And do you have Yara, do you have kind of like a, a standard house that you built? Or is every single house, every single project different? Or is it kind of standardized? How does that work?

Yahara: 7:44

No, actually I, I hate those, Regular houses, I guess. I don't like that. Each house looks the same. Yeah.

Alexis: 7:57

Yeah. I could see that. Especially as an architecture student or like an architect. Yeah, completely. You want it to look unique.

Yahara: 8:04

I have, someone who draws out my plans. I draw'em on, I sketch them out, and then I have my friend, she makes the plans and everything, and then I sit with them. But they're awesome. Wow,

Alexis: 8:17

that's beautiful. So that's even, that's a really cool aspect of it, that everything's unique and designed and custom by you. That's fantastic. That's really cool. Yeah. That's wonderful. And do you have a, oh, well, my

Yahara: 8:30

husband, again, he's like, oh, make'em, you know, simple and regular. It's like, no, I can't. Nicely designed and they have to be different.

Alexis: 8:41

Oh, I love that. And I'm sure your clients love that too, that they're not just in a regular house. And then like as

Yahara: 8:48

a, as someone who's looking for houses, I would prefer something different. Totally something simple,

Alexis: 8:57

I guess. Yeah. It's, it's fun for you guys to make thousand

Yahara: 9:01

dollars less at the end of the day, what I put

Alexis: 9:04

out. I love that. I think that's so beautiful and I, I love that it's so unique and, and you can actually have joy in what you put out and like, feel proud of it and be like, yeah, everything's gonna be different. Do you guys have a big team or is it kind of just you running almost everything? Kinda just

Yahara: 9:21

me. I kind of just, my schedule's kind of free flowing. I don't really have specific dates for anything, so this, this year I'm

Alexis: 9:29

building two houses. Wow. Congrats. That's huge. Hopefully I

Yahara: 9:34

can hire somebody cuz I, I'm kind of going crazy right now.

Alexis: 9:39

I could imagine like, it's a lot of work that goes into one house, let alone two and. I mean, you're up in Washington, so you're the same as us, is that you have a seasonality problem. Like as soon as the fall hits that roof better be on it. Right? Like it's gonna be complete wintertime. So you only have a short break. I'm sure This summer is crazy busy.

Yahara: 10:00

And then I like to schedule my stuff like framing in that, that, what do you it outdoor stuff? During the summer. And then the winter, I do like more interior stuff. I don't like the rain and the cold.

Alexis: 10:13

No, you can't. Right? Like you have to kind of have things done in a step-wise way to make it work best for you and your crew and, and I couldn't imagine how much work that is to do two houses. That's crazy. That's awesome though. That's very cool. Maybe this is kind of brings us to the next one, and maybe there's no answer to this. When I wrote this question, I was like, I feel like this doesn't exist for her. But the question is, what does a typical day look like? But my guess is you don't have a typical day. I bet you every single one is like a little bit different or unique. Yeah,

Yahara: 10:47

I guess, every day is different, but I do kind of keep it consistent. Okay. Like I go to work, I drop off my kids at eight. I go to work till two 30 and then I pick up my kids and then I cook and clean. Dinner and then the rest of the evening's free. Sometimes I go back to work in the evening if I'm like trying to finish the project or on a Saturday Where I have the whole entire day and my husband to watch the kids.

Alexis: 11:16

I don't have a

Yahara: 11:16

regular babysitter. It's super, I, again, I live in the middle of nowhere, so it's. Hard to find a babysitter out here. So if I can work weekends, that's better

Alexis: 11:26

for me. Yeah, no, thank you for bringing that up cuz I think that's like a good, I think sometimes we think of like a workday of like a nine to five workday and you're like, that doesn't really work for moms. Or like, work in our industry. And like sometimes a Saturday is the best day for work. Right? Like that makes sense that that's gonna be kind of your schedule and. Thank you for kind of speaking about doing both, like being in trades and also being a full-time mom. Like of course, two o'clock you're like, yeah, I gotta go get my kids. Like this is two businesses. You're running a business of being a mom and you're running built by hair construction. Like it's a, it's a full day. And when you get to work on your sites, is it kind of a site by site task? Like is some days a, a tile day, some days a frame day? Or is there kind of a flow to it?

Yahara: 12:13

I guess, yeah, there's specific days where I'm like, I wanna do that, but other days there's just kind of like, I, maybe I have a little a h adhd, I a different tasks all day.

Alexis: 12:27

I love that. Yeah. I do the same thing. I think, well, actually I have a d d I think there might be something about sciences and trades about, Being neuro divergent, because I do think it just goes hand in hand, like, yeah, there's so much to do. You have so many tasks that you can kind of just jump from dopamine to dopamine to be like, yeah, you know what I wanna frame today, or I wanna use the nail gun for an hour, and then I wanna go back to Thailand. Like they all have to get done at the end of the day. So, yeah. Very cool. And. In a new build, like what is, I don't really know. What is a new build? So could you maybe start there, Yara, of like, what does a new construction look like? What are the steps of building a house from scratch? How does that work as a carpenter? When you come on and you build something from the ground up, what goes into it?

Yahara: 13:15

Well, first, the permitting part and figure out utilities.

Alexis: 13:20

Ooh, that's a lot of admin wells. Say it again. Hear that out First. Septics. Oh, okay. Oh, gross And necessary. Okay. So you

Yahara: 13:36

have to take care of that first. Okay. And then your plans. Obviously it snows a lot here, so you have to do engineering besides your regular plans. You can't just purchase online plans. Okay. That too. It snows with the snow. Does is like 70 here.

Alexis: 13:55

Oh damn. Okay.

Yahara: 13:57

Very high. I'm sure you get a lot of snow in Canada. Yeah.

Alexis: 14:01

Yeah, we do. But it's the same. Same, like you do have to get it ready for weather and ready for winter, and so that goes part of it. This does sound like a lot of admin stuff. I know at the start you said that one of the hardest thing was admin. I could see it like, are you going back and forth to the city 24 7 to try to be like, get kinda,

Yahara: 14:20

yeah. Sometimes. The first house. Yeah. Cuz I didn't know what I was doing. You know, and they wouldn't explain why it was wrong.

Alexis: 14:29

Oh, I hate that. Yeah. They're like, come back. You're like, I don't know what form to bring back, ma'am. Like, what am I supposed to do? Yeah, sure. But now

Yahara: 14:37

it's, now I got it

Alexis: 14:39

together. I love it. I love it. Love it. And then,

Yahara: 14:42

18 inspections after each phase. Wow. Concrete gets one concrete and deep rebar depending on what kind of foundation you put down. Okay. Or two. And then framing gets like three. And plumbing, electrical, hvac, all those get one. Wow. And then your final. But yeah, there's like 18 of

Alexis: 15:10

them. That's a lot. There's a lot of checks, like are they checking? What are they checking on carpentry? Like what do you have to work, like work, look out for when you're building and framing? Because

Yahara: 15:23

the most important one is, for when you're framing your connections, your hangers and all that stuff, and your loads, your bean sizes. Oh, okay. And your nail

Alexis: 15:35

pattern. Whoa, that's very cool.

Yahara: 15:39

Seat of

Alexis: 15:40

plywood. Cool. So like all structural stuff for safety. Cool. Very, very cool. I love it. That's, I don't know, I, I don't think people think in construction or in building of how complicated it is of like, it has to be structurally sound for it to function as someone's home. That's cool.

Yahara: 16:06

Yeah, there's a lot more work. And then at the end, trying to get everything together, make sure you didn't miss anything.

Alexis: 16:16

Yeah, I could imagine. Do you have a favorite thing or favorite, like step of the whole project that you're like, yeah, this is my favorite. My

Yahara: 16:25

favorite, framing and tile.

Alexis: 16:28

Ooh, okay. Yeah. Why framing and tile? What about it?

Yahara: 16:32

For tile, I think it's just, Pretty, and it go so quick. You come to life pretty quick and it's like, Ooh. So pretty. And then for framing, I don't know, it just makes you feel like a, can I say bad word, badass? Oh

Alexis: 16:47

yes. Yeah. Yeah. You can say as many bad words as you want. I could imagine it feeling like a badass, cuz you're like, Just holding up

Yahara: 16:55

the nail gun, just like, it's like super fun and then you get to see this whole structure and just you're just like, wow.

Alexis: 17:05

I gotta see. It'd imagine it, like just seeing it pop up and be like, yeah, I built that. Like that was nothing. And now it is. What I love is, You're my second carpenter who I've talked to and she said the same thing. She was like, that nail gun. Like I think that there's something about carpentry and nail guns that go hand in hand because yeah, it's two for two right now. Being like, that makes me feel like a badass is using that tool. Was it scary or no? You like instantly got used to it and just loved it.

Yahara: 17:33

No actually it's kind of funny cuz I'm actually more scared of the paint guns than the

Alexis: 17:38

really? Why the paint gun? I feel like that's the least scary thing

Yahara: 17:44

or something and then I'm not gonna be able to clean it out or something. I spray everywhere.

Alexis: 17:51

So it's like not in a danger way. It's like almost in like a, a cleaning. It's in a Yeah. It's a mom practical thing of being like, no man, we have to paint, paint really quick, or else paint's gonna go everywhere and it's gonna be in pain in the butt to clean. Yeah. No, yeah, that's a funny thing. You wouldn't expect it. Other than the paint gun being kind of, A pain in the butt if it gets dried out and it, it's all mucked up. Do you have something that's challenging? Maybe it is the paint gum, maybe that's it. Or is there something that you don't like to do in new build and carpentry? Challenging?

Yahara: 18:26

Maybe just the things that I don't know how to do that well, or like really tedious finish work.

Alexis: 18:33

Oh, okay. And what is that, what's, what would be an example of like a tedious finish work? I don't know anything about it. So. I

Yahara: 18:40

don't know, maybe like crown molding or something.

Alexis: 18:42

Oh, that does look tedious all day. It's very precise, right? Yeah. Yeah. It probably doesn't have that like instant reaction of framing that you can see it come up. Right. Like it's slow. It, it has to be completely level. I feel like it's something that you instantly see on a house. If it's not level or if there's something messed up with it, your eye just goes straight to the crown molding. Yeah, there you go. I could imagine that. Okay, so something like that. Is there something that you're kind of like working on a new skill? You said something that you don't know how to do. Is there something you're working on?

Yahara: 19:18

Concrete. That's something I would want to learn or be better at, but I don't really do concrete. Hmm. So, and back, make some nice driveways or something. That'd be

Alexis: 19:29

cool. Oh, that would be really sick. And do you usually do concrete by hand or you do it by a truck? How does that usually work?

Yahara: 19:36

Usually I just do like, forms. Like when I do decks, I just hand or not hand mix it, but I use the. A mixer, a little push mower thingy. I don't really do too much other than that. That

Alexis: 19:54

was cool though. That would be really cool to learn. Like I feel like yeah, some cool decks, some cool driveways, like concrete would be a really useful skill to have. Yeah. Right. That's awesome. Can you kind of just teach yourself, or does it have to be a full ticket? How would that work?

Yahara: 20:13

That would probably be like, how, or some kind of project, personal project that would practice

Alexis: 20:18

on Cool. Some, another remodel. Yeah. Something else at your own home would make in it and then go from there. Yeah. Oh, very cool. Well, I love that. I, I hope that you do learn about it. Cause I think that's really cool. And, and this Yara maybe goes into our next one of. Is there something that is exciting you at the moment about working in construction? What's something that excites you and maybe what's something new that you're learning, maybe that's concrete or, or a different skill In carpentry, I. Can you repeat that? Yeah, of course. For the next one is, what's something that's exciting to you about construction? Like, what's something that you're nerding out about that you're really geeked up about? Maybe it's like a tool, a technique, a new skill, and then may what's something new that you're learning in carpentry and construction? Maybe that's cement and maybe that's the one that you're geeking out about.

Yahara: 21:19

Let's see what makes me excited.

Alexis: 21:22

Everything

Yahara: 21:25

work, and then come back home and show what I did.

Alexis: 21:29

Aw, that's a good answer. To show the kiddos. I love that. Yeah.

Yahara: 21:34

And then my daughter's always telling people, oh,

Alexis: 21:39

that's so cute. How old is she?

Yahara: 21:41

She's 10. She's like, can I business? Can you tell people like I tell people about your

Alexis: 21:48

work. Oh my goodness, what a cheeky little, that's so cute. And like, how powerful is that that she already is 10? And being like, cuz she sees her mom do it, to be like, I'm gonna start a business as well and I'm gonna do this. That's pretty amazing. I'm sure that feels really good. I'm sure that, yeah. Yeah. Have you brought her to site, kind of how you grew up, that you went to site? Have you brought her out that she can see?

Yahara: 22:15

Yeah, sometimes she goes, she does like it, but not like for long periods of time. She'll do it like for two hours or something. She'll be like, okay, I'm hot.

Alexis: 22:25

Yeah, I couldn't imagine that. Can I go in the shade? Not a cutie year. You're like, yes you can. You can go sit in the shade. Two hours is a lot of kid time though. Yeah, that's plenty.

Yahara: 22:36

Yeah. And then my son, he can work all

Alexis: 22:38

day. Does he come too? Yeah, he loves it. Aw. Does he get to kind of, how is he younger? Older? He's six. Yeah. Oh, he's six. Oh my goodness. That's really cute. Probably just like carrying like a piece of wood all day and saying he's helping. Yeah. He likes

Yahara: 22:55

the drill. Oh. Starts thrilling everything.

Alexis: 23:00

Ah, I love that so much. And I love having kinda that younger generation come into sight and also seeing their mom being able to do all these skills like that was crazy powerful and crazy cool. And I think that's the best answer. I, I wasn't expecting it. I love that answer of being like, what excites you is like seeing your kids interact with it. I think I could imagine how good that is. One

Yahara: 23:23

day at least one of'em could take over. Oh,

Alexis: 23:25

I'm sure if you already have two of'em come into site and wanting to start businesses, they could even start it together like, that's really, really cool. Oh, I love that. And maybe this is a little bit of a, a different tone of it, but one thing of being, of starting your own business built by her is I could imagine, like, unfortunately, I feel like you've probably had to deal with a. Kinda asshole. People who have a misconception about like a woman's owned trades business. And I'm sure you've shown up on site sometimes and people are like, who are you? And you're like, I own the business. I am your carpenter. Has this happened to you? I hope it hasn't. I'm sure it has, unfortunately. And how do you deal with this if someone's going through something the same way? What is your advice to them? What helped you through it? Yeah,

Yahara: 24:14

I mean, I. Do still experience that? Yeah. And when I was a supervisor, It just kind of like, people would come and ask for the boss and I'd be like, can I answer your question? The supervisor? Yeah. They'd be like, no, no, no. Can I talk to the real boss? The real boss is

Alexis: 24:33

me.

Yahara: 24:35

Your question. Yeah. And then they finally, they'll be like, okay, so I have a question over here, but it, it takes the little work. Some, some people don't get it. And then sometimes like in public, just like explaining what I do is interesting. Oh. Cause most of the friends, they're like, oh, so you're like a da white chick?

Alexis: 24:58

Oh, come on now.

Yahara: 25:00

No, not exactly. Like I build home and they're like, yeah. Oh, so like you build furniture. They're like, what do you do? I'm like, no, I build houses. Yeah. So it's like at the. And then I show'em my work and they're like, oh, so you're like a carpenter, carpenter.

Alexis: 25:18

You're like, yes. Yeah. From the very beginning. I'm a carpenter. Carpenter. Like, what do you mean? Yeah. Oh, that's annoying. I, yes.

Yahara: 25:27

I just try to avoid kind of like large projects or projects where there's other subcontractors around, or large, large subdivision. Okay. It can get a little nasty. Oh shame. Sometimes, like, what, the last year I built a house where there was other kind of houses and contractors next door, and they would come over and ask why I'm there.

Alexis: 25:54

Oh, that's so annoying. Are they in the industry too? Is that other carpenters and trades?

Yahara: 26:00

You supposed to be taking care of your kids?

Alexis: 26:02

Ugh. Aren't you supposed to be taking care of your kids, sir? Like we're both are parents. Come on. I bet you both of us are parents. That's, and it's

Yahara: 26:10

normally those, like unfortunately, it's from the, from my own people. I guess they're super traditional and so they just expect me to be home.

Alexis: 26:19

Yeah. Yeah. I'm so, I'm so sorry to hear that. I, I didn't even think of that, that there could be like a cultural aspect of it, or, or it's like from your people in your own culture and your own community, but. That must hurt. Like I would be pissed off. I'm pissed off just hearing that that's happened to you and, and I'm so sorry. Go away. Yeah, like mind your business. Like, come on, get outta here. Yes. You're like, I own this. Like, this is my company and like we're building this home. And, and you were to expect to be like, when she want your daughter to, to have this as well. To be a business owner to.

Yahara: 26:53

Like, why would you not wish for women to be successful in your, if you have a daughter, like

Alexis: 27:00

within your community? Yeah, like you didn't expect them to kind of be your champions and I, and I didn't even think that about you explaining your job to other people. And there's no hate to, to women who get into working with tools or working with trades by, like woodworking in do it yourself, d i y because like that is how a lot of women get first influence with working with their hands and making something like, there's no shade to that, but, To, for you to be like, yes, I'm a carpenter. And then for them not to believe you and to instantly discredit you and for you have to like build it up to be like, yes, please see me as to where I actually am and that this is my business and I'm building full scale houses, is very annoying. And I'm sorry that, that, you've had to deal with that.

Yahara: 27:46

Yeah, exactly. I mean, no hate to d white chick. No, not at all. Then a stay at home mom and know how it, how it feels to, you know, Be with the kids all day and then, you know, it just kind of gives you something else to do when you I'm very supportive of that, but like, it's just, Telling Like a doctor that they're a nurse?

Alexis: 28:08

Yes. Yeah. Like they're not introducing themselves as a carpenter, right? Like, they're not being like, yes, I felt like one, one thing at home and now I'm a carpenter. You're introducing yourself as a doctor and then they're not seeing you for, for what you are seeing for you for that trade. What helps you get through it? It's just ignoring it. Like how do you kind of get over that and those misconceptions? I guess

Yahara: 28:29

it doesn't bother me so much anymore. I guess cuz people now know me. The other contractors around here kind of know me. Sometimes they even give me, they're like, Hey, you wanna take a job for me? Oh good. You don't wanna do it? And stuff like that. We kind of bounce off each other. So yeah, it's, it's a little, they're getting used to it, I guess.

Alexis: 28:51

Yeah. So just take, kind of takes time a little bit and like built in that community and then they see

Yahara: 28:56

me working and they're like, whoa. Okay. Yeah.

Alexis: 29:00

You got it. That's actually very powerful. Sometimes that makes the most impact is like, I've had guys say rude things to me when I've come on site or like when I came on the drill ship, I think a couple said some off comment things. Be like, you're not gonna, I. Survive in this environment. And then after a couple weeks when they see you still like being able to do your job and do it well and to be able to be comfortable in that environment, they're like, oh, okay. They don't say anything. They're not like, oh yeah, kudos. But they're just kinda like, ah, okay. And then they'll start giving you projects and talking to you a little bit more and it becomes more normalized. Yeah. Actually, I

Yahara: 29:37

had one, my last employer. He hired me. He was kind of skeptical. He didn't really think too much of me. Yeah. But he hired me cuz I guess I was kind of in the family.

Alexis: 29:49

I love it. Good.

Yahara: 29:50

I knew I was related to some, to, to, daughter-in-law. So he gave me a job to say that he did it, I guess. But then, He hired me and then he realized that I was actually skilled. Good. And then he's like, oh actually I'm gonna pay you more cuz I see that you, you're doing more within the first week.

Alexis: 30:13

Oh, that's amazing. That doesn't happen often. That's really good. I'm happy he came around. He warmed up to me. Yeah, I mean it's silly that he shouldn't, cuz I think that sometimes guys are instantly given that validation and that check to be like, oh yeah, they know what they're doing, even if they might not have the same qualification. So it's a shame that we still have to do that. But I'm happy that he came around and like saw you work and I'm happy that it doesn't bug you as much anymore, or isn't like. As common as you've gotten a name for yourself in the community. Right. That's lovely. Yeah. It's nice

Yahara: 30:47

now

Alexis: 30:50

and. I'm sure on the flip side of it, that like on the opposite side of it is that for some people they're gonna not understand what you do. They're not gonna give you kind of the recognition that you deserve right away. But for others, they probably see that you're this woman in carpentry, you're a carpenter, you've started your own business, you're probably gonna be a huge. Inspiration for those people. I know you're already an inspiration for your kids that you talked about and your daughter, but could you kind of speak to the opposite of that, of being a woman in trades and kind of representing that for maybe younger generation or people in the community. And then could you maybe talk about like any future goals of your business and where you want it to go?

Yahara: 31:30

Yeah, actually there's definitely a lot more supportive. People out there, they're, you know, those handful of good people. Yeah. A lot of the dudes are supportive. They're very supportive. I love that. I have a lot of friends that I still talk to and I call if I need help or what I do here or whatever. And I have, my friend Jeff, he's very supportive, him and his wife, and they're always like sending me, Like, links to apply to like women owned businesses and all this stuff. Oh. They help me out a lot.

Alexis: 32:07

Oh, I love that. That's fantastic. Like by links, is it, like kind of grants and, and different organizations to be a part of?

Yahara: 32:14

Yeah, like organizations that do, scholarships and all this stuff. Aw,

Alexis: 32:20

I love that free tool

Yahara: 32:21

like giveaways

Alexis: 32:22

and whatnot. Oh, sick. That's so nice to have like those people in your corner. I, I love that. And I'm sure you've gotten like a bunch of support too from like women in the community. I'm sure that's happened as well.

Yahara: 32:36

Yeah. A lot of the women, even like bystanders, people walking by, they're like, oh. Oh, how cool. Aw, it's pink and they like, girl, every time. Like there's this old couple that walks around this one job site that I have and they're always like, yeah,

Alexis: 32:57

aw, that's so cute. I would bring them like a coffee every morning, like that's, that must make your day.

Yahara: 33:05

Yeah, it does make you, it makes everything else better. Like, and then you forget about all the other stuff.

Alexis: 33:10

Yeah, totally. Like that's the way to like get over it, is that it just becomes drowned out like that. That's really cool that you get, inspiration like that and that people are, are inspired and are yelling nice things. Like I absolutely love that. That's really cool. Yeah. And then,

Yahara: 33:29

I have kind of a special project I wanted for this year. Oh,

Alexis: 33:32

okay. What's that?

Yahara: 33:34

And I already built most of my home. Yes. So I wanted to make it a hundred percent women built.

Alexis: 33:43

Oh, cool.

Yahara: 33:44

Some outsourcing, female electricians, plumbers and hvac and a roofers.

Alexis: 33:51

Oh, that's amazing. Yara. That's really cool. They

Yahara: 33:54

built, a female. Health. Wow.

Alexis: 33:58

I absolutely love that. That's really, really cool. That's probably one of the first ones. I don't know if that's happened or it might have already, but probably very rarely. That's really, really cool. And that's cool that that's in your community of all these other women owned business. That's amazing.

Yahara: 34:14

Yeah, and so I'm actually having, women bowl days. I don't know if you're interested also.

Alexis: 34:20

Yes, I would love to. I would love to. Cut.

Yahara: 34:24

I'll be starting to frame. Okay. So I think I'm gonna do, I haven't really thought it out too much, but, like Saturdays Cool. Yeah. Example of women to come out and we'll frame a little, go for a little hike or whatever. There's like a little, you know, the Pacific Crest Trail. Yes. Yep. It runs right through my

Alexis: 34:45

lot. Oh, pretty. Oh, so gorgeous. Yeah, that's pretty.

Yahara: 34:49

And then maybe like camp or something. Maybe fun. Oh, that sounds like

Alexis: 34:54

the best weekend. Thank you for the invite. I will definitely come. That's absolutely amazing. Yet just a built by her day. I absolutely, like I love that idea. And will that teach like young women, how to frame and what's going on or, do you have to have any experience?

Yahara: 35:14

I was just, anybody who's interested really? Oh, I love

Alexis: 35:18

that idea.

Yahara: 35:18

People got a lot, dms and messages of. Like how do I get a framing job if these guys aren't telling me

Alexis: 35:26

what to do? Yeah, exactly. Cuz that's a huge barrier, right? Is like, how do you first start if you, you're interested in this, you've gone to school, but maybe people aren't gonna give you that job right away. Like you said, your first one was kind of a connection through the family of like a favor to be like, oh yeah, I hired her. And it wasn't until you proved it, but how do you get that? So, That's really cool that this could kind of be a way to get that and to like first come in and do these like women owned, owned projects. Did you know the other women who have, done an HVAC company in a roofing company, in a Thailand company, or did you just meet them for the first time through Instagram? How did that work? I've been

Yahara: 36:04

searching through interest. I found a roofer and I found an electrician, and I have a friend that's a HVAC installer. I'm hoping they can come

Alexis: 36:16

through. I love that. It's like the, a team of house building of construction. I am obsessed with that. That's really, really cool. when would be that project? Do you know? Would this that be the one of the projects you're working on right now? Yeah,

Yahara: 36:30

that's my spec home. It's what, 1400 square feet? It's a small house. Okay. that I'm gonna frame by myself. By myself, except for, you know, the women bull days.

Alexis: 36:40

Yeah. I love that. I like a special project. I love the, women built days. I think that's beautiful. Thank you again for the invite. I will see you in August. I love it.

Yahara: 36:52

There's gonna be some girls that have never done it, so it'll kind of give them a, some kind of clue as to actually if they wanna do it or not. Because framing is hard. It's the hardest, one of the hardest. Trades, I guess in residential anyways.

Alexis: 37:10

I could

37:11

see

Yahara: 37:11

that it'll show'em if they wanna do it or not. Yeah.

Alexis: 37:15

And it's, it's also a really like safe space to do it. And it's a safe space probably to ask questions cuz it's, it's really scary when you're in like kind of a room of men to be like, oh, I actually don't know how to use this tool, or, I've never learned that before. I. I remember one of my first jobs, I got given a bunch of tools, and I grew up in a family without tools. I did not know how to use anything. I just stood there pretending to work for a good 20 minutes until I finally had the balls to be like, okay, I have no idea what's going on. Because that's a, that's a big scary thing, right? So, This type of organization, I think that would be really beautiful is people can ask questions. They can say honestly, if they like it or dislike it, they can like be open to learning something. And, and it's just a little bit of a safer space that they can actually kind of admit that because it, it is really scary when you're the only girl to admit that you don't know something where you already kind of feel like maybe it's not for me. Right.

Yahara: 38:13

Yeah. And then just the ability to feel or be girly, I guess. Yeah. My issue was when I worked for construction companies try not to be too girly or, you know, not wear a lot of pink or just wear baggy clothes or whatever. So you, you're, yeah, it's gonna be a safe space for them to learn. I love that.

Alexis: 38:33

And that. That honestly, like, you just touched on something so powerful that I, I think if you're not in our industries or like in our environments, that you don't think of it, but to be authentic and to be girly or to be feminine is a really scary thing. And you're taught, I. Right off the get go that you have to kind of assimilate, like you have to act a certain way. You have to kind of look a certain way, and if you don't look like that one, you're not gonna be taken in seriously. Or two, it could be dangerous to you. I was told it was dangerous to me. Right. To like, yeah. Cov to be in mining and stuff, to be like, cover up to make sure you wear baggie, baggie bag clothes. Like, don't let anyone know that you have boobs. And you're like, well, what am I supposed to do? I have'em, like, they're gonna see'em eventually. Like I, I don't know. I dunno what to do here. Right. So, yeah, that's a, that's a big thing is, is being allowed to be yourself.

Yahara: 39:28

What I've learned is it doesn't matter what you wear. Yeah. Terribly doesn't,

Alexis: 39:32

no, it's a silly thing. It's a, it's a useless exercise cuz you're like, at the end of the day, we're, I'm still myself. I'm still a girl in this environment. It's gonna come through. Like, whether I dress uncomfortably that doesn't feel aligned to myself, or I dress in clothes that are aligned to myself and to my, I'm still the same person. It doesn't really change anything. Right. I don't know. I think, I think that's a really powerful thing that you're, you're, you're allowing them to have with, with dress. And I'm sorry that you went through that as well, that you couldn't dress a certain way or couldn't dress like yourself in one of your jobs.

Yahara: 40:12

Yeah. It took, it took some time, but what, and it was like mostly for not. Like guess, to not get asked out on dates and stuff. Yeah. But it doesn't matter where you were, you're still gonna get asked

Alexis: 40:26

out co completely. It's still go, it's not gonna change anything. And like, what helped you become kind of more authentic in this workspace? Was it that like a light bulb moment that it switched? Or again, was it kind of just more time and getting more comfortable? Yeah, I guess,

Yahara: 40:42

finding the right company to work for. Mm. Has been, I switched a lot of jobs a lot. I think that's good. Lasted more than like four months at one place. Yara, that's a good thing though cause I comfortable and yeah. People that I work with were comfortable and nice and weren't, didn't say anything.

Alexis: 41:08

I think that protects yourself. Like I think that's a good way to do it is to, to find your people. Find people that are gonna actually respect you. You shouldn't have to change so many times to be able to try to find a company that respects you and treats you well and without being harassed. But yes, keep moving until, until you feel comfortable in a place. I think, yeah, I find the right place to work for. Yeah. No, I think that's really good advice and. And thank you for kind of speaking on that. And the next one is, I know that we've already kind of talked about it a little bit, but it was going back to your two jobs and the, the melding of both being a mom and a carpenter is, have you taught your kids any, any skills yet? Like I know your, your son, he walks around with a drill. Your daughter loves visiting and wants to start her own little, she's a C E O in training. But have you taught them kind of any, any aspects of framing or any skills or tools yet?

Yahara: 42:06

Slightly like here and there, like the tape measure, like little things. Oh, like how to read the tape measure or like stuff like that. Or this is level, okay, can you hold it? But then has to be level Oh, stuff like that little thing. Not super complicated stuff cuz I don't want him to like, Not be bored or like, think they have to work really hard Yeah. And not be interested anymore. Yeah, yeah,

Alexis: 42:34

yeah. But yeah, you want them to still kind of have that excitement and still have that kid, kid aspect of it. But I,

Yahara: 42:41

I, they like, seeing plans and stuff.

Alexis: 42:45

Okay. Like seeing the designs of the houses.

Yahara: 42:48

Yes. Design. My daughter loves like she wants to pick out the tile and the flooring and all that stuff.

Alexis: 42:55

She's like, you. Yeah. That's like exactly your favorite part of tile Elna because it's so pretty that she likes to probably seeing all that like mom.

Yahara: 43:03

Yeah. So I think I could see her being like a designer or something.

Alexis: 43:07

Oh, very cool. I, I like that. And I, it must feel really cool to have like the third generation and, and to bringing your kids up that, that this is something that's accessible to them, that they're able to do trades if they want to, that this is kinda, it's made for them, especially made for your daughter that this environment is made for her as well as it is made for your son. Yeah.

Yahara: 43:31

I guess, I'm teaching them or. Things that, or I, having them experience things that I wish I would've experienced growing up.

Alexis: 43:42

Yeah, I could imagine that cuz like you, it sounds like growing up you wanted to experience it and kind of were told no, like this isn't for you. And so I think it's beautiful you're breaking that and showing your daughter to be like, yeah, if you want this, this is, this is all available to you. You, you deserve to be in this environment. You can be in this environment. Like that's, that's pretty beautiful. And congratulations.

Yahara: 44:04

Hopeful I'm not gonna be pushy. If they don't wanna do it, then that's fine.

Alexis: 44:07

Yeah. But still though, like it's still a really good mom and like, that's absolutely amazing and, and, congratulations on doing that. Like that's, that's very beautiful. I'm sure you must feel happy to like get to do that and see them get excited about learning something new. just congratulations on doing that. You're just such a good mom and that's so amazing. And just, that must just feel really, really good. Like, I couldn't, Ima I bet you, you geek out to your husband afterwards to be like, and then they held the, like, they held the level and it was so cute. And like, it just must feel really good doing that for the next generation. Oh yeah. And

Yahara: 44:55

then, yeah, I guess so. A lot of pictures, a lot of videos. Thank. The dad Here, let, let's take a picture so that my dad can see it.

Alexis: 45:08

Oh, aw, that's so cute. And ah, that's, that's a really, really wonderful thing with the next generation. I love that. I think I. Having kids be involved in like trades and like seeing that representation of women young, I think is just so powerful. More powerful than anything. Right? Like she's gonna be talking about to be like, my mom made that house, my mom made that house. To probably everybody that listens. Right? And Yara we're almost just up at time for the last one. I was wondering if you could speak to your younger self, if you could talk to your younger self, what would be the advice that you would give them? Kind of just starting out,

Yahara: 45:52

I would say my younger self was really shy and scared to say no. So I would tell my younger self that it's okay to say no and stand behind what you want.

Alexis: 46:06

That's good advice. Good advice. I love that. Advice to younger self. I, I don't know if you needed it, man, like here you are starting your own business and, and making your own houses, but, but I think it's fantastic advice. I, I do love standing up and going for what you want and saying no. Working on that,

Yahara: 46:26

saying no. Yeah, there's projects that I should say no to. I'm not doing that again.

Alexis: 46:35

You know what, at least you're learning, right? Like at least you do that project and now you probably know if you're like, Nope, that floor is janky, or like, this type of foundation's not gonna work for us. Like, now you probably know a little bit better to be like yes or no of a project. Yeah, I have

Yahara: 46:51

narrowed it down to what I'm good at.

Alexis: 46:53

Mm. And. Kind of what's the next steps, Yara for you? Other than, I mean, it sounds like you have loads on your plate of being a full-time mom, having two houses to build and also these build for her days that are coming up that are so exciting. Do you have any kind of new projects that are studying up in the fall? What's the next step for the business? Where's that headed?

Yahara: 47:19

Yes. So besides the two houses, I would like to make rentals. Ooh, cool. Yeah, there's a lack of that here. And, some inexpensive housing cuz there's also a lack of that here. I mean if you Google right now, places to rent, you would find zero. It's all word

Alexis: 47:43

of mouth. Oh wow. That's crazy. Yeah, that is a huge problem. Oh my goodness. Six months is what she said. What was that? Six months is what you

Yahara: 47:55

said? Yeah. Six months. A year to find a rental. Wow.

Alexis: 47:59

Yeah. No, that's ridiculous. There's no way that it should be that shame. So

Yahara: 48:05

hopefully, I can do that. I love that. Wanna be, I want to do something with the community. Like there's, here where I am, it's very like, touristy. Okay. So there's things for tourists to do, but not for kids.

Alexis: 48:22

Oh, shame for people who live there that like spend all their time.

Yahara: 48:26

Yeah. There's nothing for the kids to do here. So maybe like a park, like a skate park or some, something along those lines.

Alexis: 48:34

Oh, that would be really cool. That would be a fun use to submit of a new skill of learning cement. Yeah. There you go. All right. I love that. I, I think that's a fantastic answer. Like more affordable housing, more rental options, and then also things for the community. I, I mean, I think that anything in trades, I think you have the ability to give back to the community so much more excessively and like make a impact in their lives. But when you're in carpentry and building things, you can have that direct impact you already do with building someone's house. But that would be really cool to get back to the community.

Yahara: 49:11

Yeah. And then also, I want to do more internships. Okay. Maybe you guys won every, I don't know, every season, like for three months, and then the next one just to get enough people through

Alexis: 49:27

that, like hosting internships, like having people come in with a company,

Yahara: 49:33

a lack of trades,

Alexis: 49:34

people. Oh, that would be amazing. And what would they have to kind of have trade school or like have their apprenticeship come down or how would that work? No, I was

Yahara: 49:44

thinking just like, them submitting a letter or something that they're interested in construction and then what kind of thing they wanna do. I love it. Yeah, I don't really have too many requirements to help paint. Yeah,

Alexis: 50:00

no, that's okay. I think these are all amazing things and like I'm just, thank you so much for doing them. I love the Built by Her days. I love this internship program. I know any young girl or or boy right now listening that are coming up in construction would love that and that's really cool. That's a perfect answer. I, I hope

Yahara: 50:19

spoken to anybody. Yeah, I, I, it doesn't matter.

Alexis: 50:23

I can't wait to see it. Like, I, I love that future. And I, I think that's so amazing. And an Yara. Thank you so much for chatting with us today. It was so nice to talk to you. So nice to meet you. Can't wait to see you in August. Thank you again. And thank you for coming on guys. Thank you. Thank you Yara, and thank you guys for listening. I hope you love this episode. We will see you next Wednesday. This has been the Smoko podcast, so bye-bye. Bye-bye for now. Thank you again, Yara, for coming onto this show. Bye.