Company/Title: Business Operations Manager for Duckworth Development
Years Served: 7 years
Contact info: 706-922-6186
Stacey Campbell-Hopkins has found her dream job in an unlikely place – the male-dominated field of construction.
Women comprise only 11 percent of the workforce in the industry. For executive positions, the number drops to 7 percent. To be both female and the Business Operations Manager of the fast-growing Duckworth Development makes her a phenomenon in the industry.
When Campbell-Hopkins began working on her marketing degree in 2000, she took a job answering phones for a local contractor. It was there she became intrigued with the industry and found her calling. Rather than continuing into the marketing field as planned, she went back to school to obtain her business degree. She graduated from Brenau University in 2008 with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, following that up with a post-graduate certificate in project administration in 2010. The rest is history.
“I fell in love with the construction business,” she said. “I’ve worked in numerous positions from the field to the office. I’m part of a dream team at Duckworth Development.”
After first meeting Patrick Duckworth 15 years ago, while working together for another general contracting firm, it was both an honor and a no-brainer for Stacey to come on board as his first employee.
“In 2015, when Patrick decided to start Duckworth Development, I came on board to help get the business side up and operating while he handled the projects,” Campbell-Hopkins said. “It was just the two of us for the first six months until Jim Cely joined the firm as a full partner. From there, we have grown into what we are today with 18 employees.
“As the Business Operations Manager, I handle all accounting, human resources, the licensing/permitting with local municipalities, and project documentation, as well as the coordination of safety and continuing education.”
As a trusted member of the Duckworth team, Campbell-Hopkins is an integral part of each project as she ensures their project teams have what they need to provide a quality product. She has worked on projects ranging from $100,000 to $40 million spanning residential, commercial/industrial, and government, with the goal always the same – “to make the process stress free and smooth for our clients and employees.”
Some of those projects include the construction of Myers Family Dental, Savannah River Dermatology, Cabela Drive Retail Center Complex, an addition for Windsor Jewelers, and renovations at Augusta Country Club.
And just like the unique and custom projects they build, when asked where she sees herself in 10 years, the self-assured rarity that she is never skips a beat and proclaims, “Right where I am.”
“Seeing a set of drawings come to life, seeing someone’s dream being built…. I’m just a cog in the wheel, but what I do is integral to making this company successful and I love it!” she said.
As an identical twin and one of four girls who are all successful in their chosen fields, the values instilled by her parents have paved the way for her strength and independence. Never one to shy away from anything, it is no surprise she felt right at home in a career out of the norm where some would say she is the backbone of this esteemed company. Duckworth Development, its clients, and its associates know firsthand that Campbell-Hopkins runs a well-oiled machine and they all reap the benefits.
Megan Chartier, another trailblazer in construction, summed it up best: “With new generations, there will be more glass ceilings to be shattered and more women feeling empowered enough to do the unexpected, like joining the male-dominated field of construction, just to prove them all wrong.”
Has Stacey Campbell-Hopkins conquered a man’s world? We know for certain she is helping to lead the way.
