WIC Week Spotlight: Catie Thomas Keeps Essential Systems Strong

As part of Women in Construction (WIC) Week, we’re spotlighting the real work behind the scenes and the women who keep essential systems running every day.

Meet Catie Thomas, an HVAC service technician at McKinstry. Her day starts high above the ground on a rooftop in Washington, performing preventative maintenance. It’s a job that requires precision, teamwork and a commitment to safety, from harnesses and boom lifts to protective eyewear.

On a typical visit, Catie replaces filters and inspects motors, belts, pulleys and bearings. She also troubleshoots equipment that is not functioning as expected. Every challenge is a puzzle to solve and that’s what keeps her motivated.

“I’m never going to stop learning in this job,” she says. “Anytime I come across a problem, it’s just like a puzzle for me and I want to solve it.”

The work constantly takes her to new places, sometimes up to six sites a week. While that unpredictability can be stressful, she says it is also what keeps the job exciting. From restricted-access rooftops to mechanical rooms marked “authorized personnel only,” Catie takes pride in knowing she belongs there.

Just as important as the technical work is the team behind it. Whether working solo or side by side with coworkers, she values the relationships she’s built in the trades and the support that comes with being part of a crew that looks out for one another.

This WIC Week, Catie’s story highlights what today’s construction industry really looks like: skilled, curious and driven by people who are never done learning. Her craft shows that construction is about problem-solving, teamwork and finding pride in the expertise that keeps buildings and communities running.