Merit Construction Celebrates National Women Owned Business Day

Merit Construction became a Women Owned Business in January 2020 when Tammy Birklid took over the company after more than a decade of mentorship under long-time owner, Len Zarelli. In honor of National Women Owned Business Day, we asked Tammy to share a few thoughts on what it means to be a Woman Owned Business and what motivates her each day.

1. What does being a Woman Owned Business mean to you?

   A female leader should model desired performance through her actions. She has the responsibility to ensure her team members are seen and valued. She should know what strengths every member brings to a team or a project, and that each person will be utilized and stretched to grow.

2. What challenges have you faced as business leader?

   I think that our industry’s biggest challenge is the feast or famine nature of the work. When there is too much work, I am challenged to retain employees that are stretched too thin and long for better work-life balance. When there is not enough work, I am challenged to find ways, from a financial perspective, to retain employees key to our success. Leading a business is a tremendous responsibility, but a privilege, and the employees that work for you need to know you are fighting for them, probably losing sleep, and that you absolutely have their best interests at heart.

3. Who is your inspiration? What motivates you each day?  

   I am motivated each day by the people I work with and for. I love meeting clients and learning about their goals and dreams for their building. I love working with great design team members and learning from them and building trust and great teams that produce great results, consistently. I love working to bring forward the best in every employee.

4. How important has mentorship or networking been as you have transitioned Merit to a Woman Owned Business?

   Mentorship has been a guiding light on my journey to business ownership. I have been incredibly fortunate to work for a generous mentor that provided a path, based on hard work and proven success that allowed me to work toward leadership, then partnership and finally ownership. I believe every person should have several mentors and should be finding someone to also guide forward.

5. How do you hope Merit contributes to the community and construction industry? 

   We believe that our “why” is building the future of our communities. We strive to build buildings that matter within the places that we work and live.  We want the facilities to serve the community and be spaces that people gather and make memories in, that provide customer services and manufacture worthy products and employ many .