As a female manager in the construction industry, Brittany Remec is often asked how she got into her field. “My story starts with my time at Purdue and the Construction Management degree I worked hard to earn,” she says. “The College of Technology was my first stop on my campus visit. When I was introduced to the Building Construction Management program, I realized the program fit my personality and goals, and I knew that’s where I was meant to be.”
Upon graduation, Remec found a new niche in the field of healthcare maintenance, earning recognition as a certified healthcare facility manager. Less than 20 percent of individuals holding this title have fewer than 10 years’ experience and only 13 percent are female.
Remec is now the facilities manager at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the top rehabilitation hospital in America since 1991. Remec is responsible for scheduling construction projects, obtaining and managing equipment contracts, and regularly performing spot checks throughout the hospital while managing a staff of 15 carpenters, plumbers and maintenance technicians.
Remec says she is fortunate to have found her calling at Purdue, and she strives to share the opportunities in her field. “As a young female leader in an aging workforce, I try to cultivate an atmosphere of mutual respect and continuing education,” says Remec. “Through my work with professional organizations, I have mentored and guided students who might not have had the same opportunities I did. Moving forward, I would like to increase awareness of this field and the need for fresh ideas and opportunities.”
Remec lives in in Elmhurst, Illinois, with her husband, TJ.