Women In Construction Week, March 2-8, 2025
EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. , Feb. 21, 2025 -- In a male-dominated industry where the term "blue-collar" often suggests hard hats and heavy machinery, Candace Klein is rewriting the script. As president of Klein Contracting Corporation, one of the few certified woman-owned commercial roofing companies in the United States, Klein isn't just climbing the ladder—she's bulldozing barriers and reshaping the future of construction. Through a combination of grit, vision, innovative thinking, and strong partners like 84 Lumber, Klein has carved out a space in the male-dominated world of roofing, all while leading one of the Southeast's most respected firms.
From IT to Roofing: A Remarkable Transition
Klein's journey to the roofing industry is anything but conventional. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in writing focused on Information Technology, she entered the world of IT consulting, managing large-scale system implementations. "I loved it. I was working 90 to 100 hours a week, which was great at first," she recalls. However, as time passed, the relentless grind of the tech world began to take its toll. "I realized I had more dogs than friends," she laughs, recognizing that the work-life balance she craved was nowhere to be found.
At a personal crossroads, Klein pivoted, leaving behind the high-pressure world of IT for the family business. Her father's company, which specialized in asbestos abatement, was far from glamorous, but Klein saw it as an opportunity for reinvention. "Because roofing isn't too alluring, asbestos abatement was even better," she jokes, recalling her early hesitations. Yet, she dove headfirst into the business, retraining herself and learning the ropes of a new industry. What began as a family-run niche company soon evolved under Klein's leadership into one of the Southeast's foremost commercial roofing and re-roofing firms.
From Asbestos Abatement to Roofing Industry Leadership
In the early 90's, the company saw an opportunity to diversify the business and address clients' growing needs. They expanded the company's services to include roofing, recognizing that major clients like AT&T were often seeking both asbestos removal and roofing work. "We started in asbestos, but when our clients asked for roofing, there was a chance to grow," Klein explains. As a result, Klein Contracting transitioned into a thriving commercial roofing company, becoming a recognized player in the industry.
Although Klein's father laid the foundation for the company, she humbly refers to herself as a "first-generation roofer." "Technically, I'm still first-generation roofing," she says. "I'm second-generation construction, for sure." This modesty belies the significant mark she's made in an industry where women remain a minority.
Leveraging Certification and Networking: The Power of WBE
One of the key moves in Klein's career came when she decided to seek certification as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE). The WBE designation, granted by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), recognizes businesses that are at least 51% women-owned and controlled. It also opens doors to critical resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, especially in male-dominated industries like construction.
For Klein, the WBE certification proved invaluable. It connected her with a community of powerful women entrepreneurs, including 84 Lumber, a national leader in building materials. 84 Lumber, led by owner & CEO Maggie Hardy – herself a daughter who reshaped the family business – is also a leader in and an advocate of WBE. The relationship with 84 Lumber became pivotal as Klein navigated the challenges of growing her business. "The WBE certification has introduced me to a community of women in business that I wouldn't have had access to otherwise," Klein shares. "It's been incredibly rewarding to pass along opportunities to other women-owned businesses, too."
"I'm grateful WBE exists. I mean, I think it's the platinum standard for supplier diversity. They have classes to educate you if you're just starting a business, and they have networking opportunities with both clients as well as other WBEs. It's a great organization."
The partnership with 84 Lumber became even more crucial during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply chain disruptions, material shortages, and soaring costs threatened to derail projects across the industry. Yet with 84 Lumber's insights, Klein was able to stay ahead of the curve.
Managing Chaos: Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions
While Klein Contracting's work on the Hilton Signia—Atlanta's largest hotel project in 40 years—was a career high point, it also underscored the immense challenges Klein faced in delivering complex projects amid global turmoil. The Hilton Signia, a $450 million development, was just one of many projects that became exponentially more complicated by COVID-19-related disruptions.
"It wasn't one thing—it was everything," Klein says. "Tariffs on materials coming from China drove costs up dramatically. Then we had Storm Uri, which shut down production along the Gulf Coast. And that ship in the Suez Canal—you know, it got stuck sideways and brought everything to a halt." For Klein, managing these crises wasn't just about securing materials, it was about managing chaos.
In the face of such disruptions, Klein's strategic thinking and relationships were more crucial than ever. "How do you manage chaos?" she asks. The answer, for Klein, lay in strong industry relationships, especially with 84 Lumber. Throughout the pandemic, 84 Lumber sent out regular reports, detailing pricing trends and material shortages. "They sent out detailed reports showing pricing trends, material availability, and market conditions," Klein explains. "With that information, we could anticipate problems and adjust our approach accordingly."
It wasn't just about finding materials—it was about understanding the market dynamics. "My job is to educate my clients," Klein says. "I had to put everything into perspective—why certain pieces of the supply chain were having issues. And it was a lot to manage."
The Future of Construction: Fostering Opportunities for Women
With the construction industry facing a projected workforce shortage of nearly a million workers, Klein is determined to not only address this gap but also inspire more women to join the trades. "There are so many opportunities in construction, and we need more women in the field," Klein asserts. "It's a great industry to reshape communities. It offers the chance to build something that lasts."
Klein is also a vocal advocate for mentorship and support for other women in construction. Through her involvement in the Women in Construction (WIC) Week, which celebrates women's achievements in the field each March, Klein helps highlight the challenges and successes of women like herself.
"There are many paths into this field—whether it's through a university program in construction management or starting at an entry-level position, it's about learning on the job and being open to new opportunities," Klein encourages. She's a firm believer that women can thrive in the trades, despite the obstacles. "It's not easy, but construction offers endless possibilities for growth. Find people who will support you and help you overcome the challenges."
Klein is no stranger to the challenges of being a woman in construction. "When I first meet general contractors, owners, etc., they assume we're small and can't handle large-scale projects," she says. "They think I can't bond or perform a big job."
To combat these assumptions, Klein doesn't just talk—she shows. Whether it's lunch meetings to foster strong relationships with prospective clients or pointing to major projects her company has completed, she demonstrates her firm's capabilities through action.
A particularly satisfying moment took place at home in Georgia, "I was pitching a job in Atlanta, and we could see the Hilton Signia going up. I just pointed to it out the window and said, 'See that? We're on that one.'"
The Hilton Signia is a true testament to Klein Contracting's expertise and an impressive addition to its portfolio. It stretches 40 stories, with nearly 1000 hotel rooms and over 100,000 square feet of event space, and the largest hotel ballroom in the entire state. It's the tallest building on Atlanta's west side and the largest hotel in downtown Atlanta built in the last 40 years.
"It was an exciting project that I really wanted to be a part of. You know, you're changing the landscape of Atlanta," she said.
Rising to the Top: A Legacy of Reinvention
From her beginnings in IT to her leadership in the roofing industry, Klein's story is one of constant reinvention. She's demonstrated that with the right mindset, strong relationships, and a willingness to adapt, you can succeed.
Klein's work on landmark projects like the Hilton Signia and her ability to navigate the global supply chain crisis proves that, in construction, success isn't just about putting up buildings. It's about building resilience, forging lasting partnerships, and paving the way for others—particularly women—to follow in your footsteps.
As she continues to break new ground in the construction world, Klein's legacy is clear: she's not just reshaping the skyline of Atlanta, she's reshaping the entire industry, one roof at a time.Bottom of Form
ABOUT 84 LUMBER
Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, 84 Lumber Co. is the nation's largest privately held supplier of building materials, manufactured components, and industry-leading services for single and multifamily residences and commercial buildings. The company operates 320 facilities which include stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, and engineered wood product centers in 34 states. 84 Lumber also offers turnkey installation services for a variety of products, including framing, insulation, siding, windows, roofing, decking, and drywall. A certified national women's business enterprise owned by Maggie Hardy, 84 Lumber was named as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2024 by Newsweek and was named one of America's Top Retailers 2024 by USA Today. The company was recognized by Forbes as one of America's Largest Private Companies in 2024 and 2023, and also made the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest-Growing Companies in 2023. For more information, visit 84lumber.com and join us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
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