It’s been less than a year since Nataline Lomedico took over as chief executive of Giroux Glass Inc., but she’s been with the company for more than a decade, standing her ground in the male-dominated construction industry. Giroux, a nearly 70-year-old company, bills itself as one of the nation’s top glazing contractors, specializing in providing glass and architectural metals for commercial and residential clients. As chief executive, Lomedico oversees a staff of more than 180 at the company, which is based in downtown Los Angeles near USC and also has offices in San Bernardino, Fresno and Las Vegas. Lomedico, a mother of four, including two young sons, recently spoke with the Business Journal about her work, facing challenges head on and breaking barriers.
Describe your morning routine.
I wake up between 4 and 5:45 a.m. Being the mother of two young sons is a great way to take routine out of the equation. My husband and I juggle getting the kids to school. On the days my husband takes our sons to school, I check emails. Then, I head to the office. Breakfast is usually on the road and consists of yogurt with fresh berries and almonds or a protein shake. On the mornings I take my sons to school, I log on to our cloud network and begin working until 7 a.m. I make my sons breakfast and drive them to school. My commute is about an hour. I usually use that time to make calls.
What does a typical work day look like for you?
I start with a list of priorities. Each day is fast paced and different. Usual work days consist of meetings, conference calls, visiting job sites and planning. I do travel based on the needs of our company. I spend a large amount of time networking, reaching out to clients and seeking business opportunities with companies with similar core values as Giroux. I find time to talk with employees throughout our company. Great ideas come from many of those conversations, but reminding employees they are most important is what makes the extra time spent worthwhile.
Construction is a pretty male-dominated industry. How did you get into the business?
My first job just happened to be in construction, and I took the job because they were flexible to work around my college schedule. I just slowly fell in love with construction. I had a great mentor who encouraged me to continue on, and he put me in very uncomfortable situations as far as reminding me that it’s a man’s industry, that I’d better find a way to fit in. I would meet with engineers and change orders or go into the boys’ club meetings where they puffed cigar smoke in my face. He just told me, “One day, you’ll thank me.”
How do you maintain work/life balance?
What has kept me sane is acknowledging there will never be complete balance. It’s about being present in the moment. There are times when I must miss family events because of work. My time is limited, so I focus on quality of time versus quantity. I’m fortunate to have a wonderful husband who values quality time with family. Together, we juggle being there for both our adult children and our younger children. Their needs are different, but it’s important for us that they know they can count on us.
