Dad inspires daughter to venture into construction

While some of her peers are caught up on the latest fashion trends, as well as getting their hair and nails done, Toni-Ann Facey prefers to get her hands dirty.

On an any given day, she can be seen in her steel-toe boots, hard hat and dusty pants, laying blocks or tying steel on various constructions sites. The Christiana, Manchester native told THE WEEKEND STAR that she has loved construction all her life, and decided to join the profession after watching her father work in the field for more than 20 years.

"I always saw how hard my dad had to work as a child, and I was always there to help him. So we had a pretty close bond. Each time he was working and I would try to float (smoothing) the wall, he would teach me how to use the trowel and stuff like that," Facey said, adding that she enjoys making her father proud and carrying on his legacy.

"It's amazing to see that he's proud of me. Each time I send him a video, he helps me to do better by giving me his honest feedback and he tells me do it this way and always says 'I'm very proud of you'," Facey said.

She is the only one of her father's children who is following in his footsteps, although one of brothers (her mother's child) is also quite handy. Even while a student at the Manchester High School, Facey showed an affinity for construction, as mechanical engineering technology and physics were among her preferred subjects.

Although she works in a male-dominated field, she said that she always receives positive feedback from her male co-workers because of her skills and execution. Her dream is to become an independent contractor and own a business. But she is cognisant that she needs to up her skills and get certified. She plans to study at HEART/NSTA Trust, hopefully starting this September, with the eventual goal to become an entrepreneur.

"I am broadening my horizon, so I can go on sites on my own and make myself more marketable," Facey said. But apart from the commercial gains, Facey has a more personal goal tied to her construction work. She expressed the hope to build her mother a home with her own two hands.

"I can't even put in words how that will make me feel, being able to contract that house and even lay the blocks. That's what really keeps me going. You don't see a lot of females in this business but I know it will take me places," Facey said.