Matt Ohley is a construction professional with over 27 years in the industry, currently serving as Construction Manager for Ajax Paving Industries of Florida's Tampa Division. Matt started in the industry as a general laborer, eventually working into the roles of Foreman, Superintendent, Project Manager, and General Superintendent. He is passionate about the industry and refers to the people in the field as his "tribe." In his time outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and children in Florida where they live, visiting local springs and kayaking.
Welcome to “Onsite,” a fresh perspective brought to you by contributing writer Matt Ohley, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ohley-a89769107/) Construction Manager at Ajax Paving Industries (https://www.ajaxpaving.com/), Tampa Division. In this column, we'll cut through the noise and delve into the challenges encountered by those shaping our world through construction. Ohley offers a unique perspective, amplifying the voices of those who experience the daily pulse of life on the job site.
Onsite is our commitment to breaking down the barriers and misconceptions that shroud the construction profession. Ohley aims to initiate open and honest conversations, from job insecurity to the transient nature of projects, physical strain and often-overlooked mental health struggles.
Each month, Ohley will take part in a series of conversations with industry professionals. By sharing firsthand experiences, Ohley and his interviewees aim to bridge the gap, fostering understanding and empathy within an industry that often stands on the solid foundation of tradition.
In this debut piece, we join Ohley in a candid discussion with Ashleigh Kaliszuk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-kaliszuk-24a12789/), Red Seal Crane Operator turned Construction Photographer (Construct YEG), where she reflects on her unexpected journey through the trades. She highlights not just the technical intricacies of her career, but the emotional rollercoaster that accompanied it. Kaliszuk bravely shares her encounters as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field and, alongside Ohley, helps forge a path toward a more inclusive, compassionate, and mentally resilient future.
Join us each month as "Onsite" breaks new ground, one conversation at a time. The goal is simple: to inspire change, foster unity and redefine the narrative of construction.
It’s a Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. and I’m sitting in my truck in a parking lot adjacent to my office. Ashleigh Kaliszuk, Red Seal Crane Operator turned Construction Photographer (Construct YEG), is on the screen of my phone via Teams as it sits in the cupholder-mounted phone holder.
Tell me about your time in the trades. How did you become a crane operator?
My whole career was kind of a fluke, really. I started in scaffolding. I just wanted construction money and saw an ad for a scaffolder – I didn’t even know what scaffold was, I literally Googled it after I applied.
Honestly by accident, I began running the “Zoom Boom” (aka Telehandler), and then from there, cranes. Each move was coupled with internal resistance.
As I moved from project to project, people would say, “We heard you have this or that certificate, why don’t you come run this … ”
It's funny because my whole apprenticeship was very stressful and I didn't like being in the trades. I didn't like operating cranes and I didn't like the environment and everything about the culture. I guess … I just don’t like the way people act.
There was a big part of my apprenticeship where I would wake up just sick to my stomach, thinking I don't want to go do this again but I have to stick it out.
There’s a long pause. Her demeanor shows me that she is reliving those moments all over again, and I am grateful she’s brought me along for the stroll through her memories.
Do you think being a female made being an apprentice more difficult?
Oh yeah, absolutely; that still holds true to this day. Even being a photographer serving the construction industry, I'm still viewed differently. Whether it’s the trades or a profession in construction photography, the women always stand off to the side.
And with that, I hear the story I have heard numerous times from various women in varying roles within the industry. It’s a common one.
The details change, of course, depending on the role – Craftworker, Field Engineer, Project Superintendent or Project Manager – but the theme is constant.
It is no secret there is a mental health crisis in the construction industry. The suicide rates alone tell the undeniable and heart wrenching tale. To be clear, this crisis affects all people, regardless of gender – though it is true that the overwhelming majority are men.
But then again, the construction industry is overwhelmingly populated by men.
What if we took gender out of the equation all together?
What if we simply treated each other like humans?
What if, instead of performing some kind of ritualistic hazing-like rite with the apprentices and “greenhorns,” we took them under our wings and walked alongside them on the path to becoming people who were proud of their work, proud of their careers, proud of the living they could make to provide for their loved ones?
What if we viewed the next generation coming up under us as our legacy, rather than our lamentable assignment?
What if?
