WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Yahaira Parrales achieves leadership role
with Miguel Lopez Jr. Asphalt Maintenance
Florida Construction News special feature
From an entry level data entry
position, Yahaira Parrales learned the
industry, and the business of Miguel
Lopez Jr. Asphalt Maintenance. Today
she is the company’s chief of staff
and an indispensable member of the
team. Parrales attended South Miami
High School and then went on to
study at Miami Dade College. She
spent some time working for law
firms before finding her way to Miguel
Lopez. Over her 10 years with the
company, she learned various aspects
of the business, becoming office
manager and the go-to person at the
company before her most recent
promotion earlier this year.
“Whether it was clients, employee
issues, paperwork….I had a handle on
it all and wanted to be sure I would
provide what people needed and that
18 – FALL 2017 — Florida Construction News
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
nothing fell through the cracks,”
Parrales said.
She says she enjoys the diversity
and the challenges of the role she
now currently holds. While she says
drive, hard work, attention to detail,
organization, and the ability to
communicate have gotten her here,
patience has also been key.
Understanding from the beginning
that as a woman entering a male
dominated field she would be
challenged, she says: “The men in
this industry aren’t used to dealing
with women in higher roles. I can
name only a handful of companies
that have women in top executive
positions.” Understanding that, Parrales says
in the early days she took a sit back
and observe approach, learning as
she went along and ensuring that
when she had something to say, it
was of value and accurate. “Once you
walk into a meeting and the others
there understand your role and that
you know what you are talking about,
you can see how quickly the room
changes and they will pay attention.”
Parrales says construction is a
tough field for a woman and that you
must have a thick skin and be willing
to put in the work in order to succeed.
She says, for instance, that can mean
long hours and structuring your time
to be able to manage the demands
and hours the industry requires.
She says she is proud to have
achieved her current role, to have the
responsibility of the job and to be
counted on. While most of what she
has learned to date has been on the
job, she is also taking continuing
education courses in bookkeeping
and accounting to further develop her
skills, and her role within the
company. Andy Abbate, public relations
executive with the company, says
Parrales is easily third in her ranking in
the company, preceded only by owner
brothers Miguel and Eduardo Lopez.
“When the company relocated after
28 years at our previous location,
Yahaira was in charge of coordinating
the entire move from packing to
permitting and guaranteeing we were
up and running on day one,” Abbate
said. He says her gentle manner,
patience, and attention to detail are
key in keeping the company running
and ensuring staff are happy in their
roles and that she is indispensable to
the company.
Parrales says the industry has been
good to her. While it isn’t for everyone,
given the work that is required and the
ability to look past gender issues
where they exist, she says there are
great opportunities for those who are
up for the challenge.
OUR SERVICES
ASPHALT PAVING & PATCHING
STRIPING SEAL COATING
ADA COMPLIANCE
DRAINAGE / WATER & SEWER / SITE WORK
DISASTER RECOVERY
954-749-7234 info@lopezinc.com • www.lopezinc.com
PAVEMENT REJUVENATION
Florida Construction News — FALL 2017 – 19