We chatted with Stratford Building Corporation Drafting Manager, Clarice May, to discuss her time at the company, overcoming challenges, and her thoughts on the future of the industry.
Q: How long have you worked at Stratford?
A: 7 years, but it usually feels like I have only been here a couple years.
Q: What was your first position at Stratford? What other positions have you held?
A: I was hired as Assistant Manager for the Drafting Department. Outside of working here, I had my own business and was also a Job Captain at several Architectural and multi-discipline firms.
Q: What has been the most memorable project during your tenure at Stratford?
A: There isn’t any one project that stands out. My favorite projects are residential, because I like thinking of people living there every day, in the spaces we are drawing and building. Projects where we are given more latitude to design are my absolute most favorite!
Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Stratford?
A: Coming from stick-built Architecture to Modular has posed design challenges that have been fun to work with. Pushing the envelope on what we can build, to make our product more competitive with stick-framing, is the greatest challenge I face.
Q: What challenges do you see facing the industry?
A: I think people are still skeptical of Modular and automatically think of mobile homes. Modular is so much more! We can do everything from small homes to super high-end custom homes and businesses. We have the ability to do much of the construction while the site work is being done, which shortens overall construction time, which in-turn means quicker move-in time. We have more opportunities to be good stewards of the materials we use, than a normal construction site.If only people really understood all we can do, I think they would really be excited about Modular construction.