Alicia Hylton-Daniel was working as a paralegal and studying for the law school entrance exam in 2002 when a faulty fireplace in her home caused a house fire. That fire was the first in a series of events that led her to become a general contractor and owner of her own firm, Hylton Daniel Design + Construction.

“So, tragedies led to triumphs,” Hylton-Daniel said.

Hylton-Daniel grew frustrated with the rebuilding process for the home and dealing with misogyny from insurance companies and contractors. This – and a childhood photo unearthed by her mother — led her to her first career transition.

In the photo, Hylton-Daniel was taking scraps of metal and making modern home models.

“When my mom produced this photo, it just all came together. It was like ‘Oh, this is exactly what I should be doing,’” Hylton-Daniel said.

After graduating from Meredith College with a degree in interior design, Hylton-Daniel began working as a commercial designer. The position suited her well because, as the photo reminded her, she had always loved art and designing.

After purchasing a new home in Durham in 2011 and working with a dishonest general contractor, Hylton-Daniel decided to become one herself. After getting her general contractor license, she and her husband opened Hylton Daniel Design + Construction.

Women entering the skilled trades – think electricians, woodworkers, general contractors, plumbers and more – is a growing trend. For example, the number of women in construction alone increased 20% in five years, from December 2019 to December 2024, and by 67% in the last 14 years, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

In Durham, women in the trades are not only working in what is still a male-dominated field, they are conscious of being the role models girls and other women need to be confident to follow them into these professions.

In her high school woodworking classes, Maryah Smith-Overman found a passion for carpentry.

She continued to hone her carpentry skill at a community college and started her own business selling furniture. Now she helps teach others the craft as the assistant dean of construction trades at Durham Technical Community College.

While running her business Smith-Overman taught others woodworking skills out of her shop. Eight years ago she began teaching at DTCC to expand her reach. Now, in her position as a dean, she has been able to expand the courses offered to students.

“I think it’s about the culture that we have here at the college and me being in my position and other female instructors, and students seeing themselves in people teaching is really important,” Smith said.

Meredith Hart, owner of Meredith Hart Furniture, makes high-end custom woodworking pieces. Hart took a non-traditional path to working in a trade.

She comes from an art background and earned a degree in architecture. While working, she was frustrated with not being able to work with her hands, so she attended North Bennet Street School in Boston where she learned the craft of furniture making.

Hart said out of the 40 students in her program, only about 10 were women.

“[Growing up] there was no representation, so I didn’t understand that someone that looked like me could do this thing,” Hylton-Daniel said. “I knew that I loved art, interior design and architecture, but how that was formidable to someone like me didn’t click.”

Women in the trades can face harassment and stereotypes while on job sites. Something Hylton-Daniel said she has experienced. She explained that while interacting with male counterparts, they often dismiss her and go to her husband. Despite this, Hytlon-Daniel and other women in the trades are pushing through and staying persistent.

Hart explained that social media has helped her find other female furniture builders and other women working in the trades.

The landscape of the trades is constantly changing.

Smith-Overman said she’s seen an uptick of women working in human relations for construction companies and they control the hiring, which has been beneficial for women in the trades. She also advocates for women to try and find a mentor to help them continue to build their skills.

Hylton-Daniel also advocates for women to continue to improve their skills as technology advances. She explained competency will help further women in the trade workforce.

Women are continuing to push back on traditional gender roles and make a career for themselves in the trades. Hart explained that along with changing gender roles, access to information is making it easier for women to find a career in the trades.

“When people see that there’s a woman doing this work, they get the feeling that they can do it too and there’s a little more encouragement,” Hart said.