When it comes to directing “traffic” at Baker Group, Kari Christeson feels right at home. As a Pursuit Specialist in Business Development, one of her primary responsibilities is working across the organization to locate and organize documents required for an array of bids and estimates. It is a job that requires coordinating across several teams, project managers, the marketing department and more—and she couldn’t love it more. 

“I get to work with all the business units and have a lot of interaction with both our internal customers and our external customers,” Christeson says. “I really enjoy what I do, and I feel supported by my manager and the organization as a whole. When I need assistance, I receive it. But for the most part, I am empowered to go out and do my job the way it needs to be done.” 

Christeson has worked at Baker Group since 2019. Prior to joining the organization, she worked as a Project Manager at another construction company. She says she is impressed by the way Baker Group embraces women in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. 

“In the past, I didn’t always feel like I was welcomed as a member of the team, especially in the jobsite trailer,” Christeson says. “That has not been the case here. I fully feel like a member of the team.” 

Having the opportunity to work in a different capacity at Baker Group than she has in the past has helped Christeson to gain a further appreciation for the industry. 

“I enjoy being able to see something come together from start to finish, and that is what we do at Baker Group,” she says. “I also like how it is such a family-friendly and team-oriented environment here. We are all working toward the same goal, and we are all in it together. There is a focus on building relationships both internally and externally. You don’t see that everywhere and I respect that culture here.” 

When asked what she would say to women considering a career in construction, Christeson is quick to offer encouragement. 

“Women do have a place in this industry,” she says. “And when you get a seat at that table and you are in a position to make a difference, you need to know that you have earned it and you deserve to be heard. We need to be advocates for ourselves.”