Amazons of Installation
It is no secret that women are a driving force behind the creative design and successful appointment of commercial interiors. When it comes to field work, however, they are largely absent in the industry they have formed in their likeness.
Ancient Greeks portrayed the Amazons as a group of women with impeccable strategy, physical and mental strength, and ability/agility to pivot amid adversity. The relevance and necessity of these qualities remain at the forefront when discussing the design and delivery of commercial interiors today.
Enter Installation Specialists, Inc. (ISI).
In the spring of ‘73 Bud and Shirley Sprenzel founded ISI to bridge the installation gap between end users and the manufacturers/dealers they enlisted to outfit their spaces. They were perfect partners raising a family and a business in Chicagoland, and the combination of their strengths made them unstoppable. Bud was a visionary, salesman, and laborer. And Shirley’s delicate approach to client relations, keen eye for operational efficiency, and ability to command respect from industry partners took the Midwest by storm.
From the onset ISI recognized the value of the female perspective. Women have historically held critical, structural roles within the installation company and today oversee all project coordination, product receiving, and project management functions. Installation crews aside, women comprise 40% of ISI’s workforce today. For the sake of this article, we take a deeper dive into three team members who consistently raise the bar above competitive reach. Additionally, they have reframed the male typecast plaguing field work within the industry. Introducing ISI’s Amazons: Catherine Senchuk, Jennifer Schott, and Jennifer Gremo.
Meet Cathy
Cathy joined ISI over 28 years ago and has been formative in the company’s solid reputation and expansion. She was (and continues to be) a critical advisor in the development of ISI’s communication protocols, proprietary operating systems, reporting functions, and strategic growth into new vertical markets.
With longstanding tenure, she helps ISI remain agile and flex to the ever-changing world of commercial interiors. Her deep understanding of the industry’s complexities commands respect from both field staff and upstream partners. As the logistical backbone of the ISI operation, Cathy oversees project coordination, receiving, scheduling, and fleet deployment teams.
Her management style consistently drives home that it takes a village to thrive in business. Much to her credit, ISI continues its long history of valuing the different viewpoints that men and women bring to the industry. This critical distinguisher sets ISI apart from the gender bias that lurks in competitors’ shadow cultures. The respectful and level playing field ISI continues to foster in the industry casts a wide net. It was under this net, in fact, that our other two Amazons often engaged with ISI.
Meet the Jens
Jen Schott and Jen Gremo have worked in commercial interiors for over 25 years. Schott previously served as a major manufacturer’s architectural wall specialist and dealer trainer. Gremo’s capacity was that of designer and project manager at both architectural and dealer level companies. Over the decades, projects continuously called for collaborations between each of their companies and ISI. The respect they experienced by both ISI field and office staff was a far cry from others in the industry.
The Jens are now ISI’s dynamic duo triple threat. Together they create the only installation project management team in the Midwest with both dealer and furniture manufacturer experience. And as women in the field, they turn heads with their entrepreneurship and pioneering ways.
Their roles inherently create interactions with facility and property managers, security crews, engineers, electricians, and construction trades. The Jens have been critical driving forces behind ISI’s mainstream implementation of PlanGrid, SnapTracker™, and other tech-savvy platforms that bleed into dealer, manufacturer, and contractor realms. Because they come from dealer/manufacturer backgrounds, their ability to problem solve furniture and field dilemmas is unique. They are versed in manufacturer parts, pieces, and fabrication techniques and inherently understand the intent behind dealer typicals and layouts.
The Jens are on a mission to push their inside-out knowledge from the creative and field sides back to the industry, and continuously coach partners on installation drawing best practices, appropriate phasing and tagging for efficiency in the field, and site considerations such as elevator size and dock access.
Progress Requires Perseverance
While there has been an uptick in female representation in the industry, few are present at site construction meetings and decision-making roundtables. The numbers clearly show a disproportionate number of women on the field side of commercial interiors (and likewise a disproportionate number of men on the creative/design side).
The Amazons of ISI pointedly state ‘…the field can offer a rather harsh environment. Having a strong sense of self and inquisitive and direct nature is a must.’ Further, ‘…any opportunity is an opportunity to learn. A successful approach to field work is one that acknowledges that everyone you encounter has the ability to teach you something.’
It is with great intent, therefore, that Cathy and the Jens have long mentored women trying to bridge that gap. The crossover from design and manufacturing worlds to installation or other trades can be very much seamless with a strong support system. They have surrounded themselves with teams that realize the value women bring to ALL roles. They have also sought employers, like ISI, that are champions for equality without bias.
With her roll-up-her-sleeves attitude and transparent approach to communications, Cathy has become a beacon for dealer and manufacturer teams across the nation that filter work through Chicagoland. She has built a reputation for making miracles happen amid construction chaos, while asserting that every industry partner has a sizeable stake in the successes and failures of a given project.
From the frontlines, the Jens have built a fledgling network of female low voltage cablers, electricians, pipe fitters, and painters. A quick wink and tip of the construction hat as they pass by is an unstated affirmation that women are very much valued and needed in the field. And that there are other females there who have paved the way. The Jens unapologetically ask questions when they need more information and are happy to share their wealth of experience with anyone who asks or is struggling for direction.
Passing the Torch
Shirley Sprenzel planted the seed for women within the field decades ago when she and her husband founded ISI. Over the years it flourished and today the innovation and dedication of strong women has helped the company grow to be the second largest of its kind in the nation, and second-to-none in the Midwest. The Amazons of today are helping elevate the industry to new levels of professionalism, inclusivity, and client experience. Their contributions will undoubtedly have long-lasting and positive effects on everyone within the commercial interiors industry.
About Installation Specialists, Inc. (ISI):
Established in 1973, ISI is Chicago's largest commercial interiors installation company. They install, receive and deliver, and provide asset management services for commercial furniture, architectural walls, window coverings, millwork and other interior products. ISI consistently sets the bar for expertise, professionalism, and best practices among peers.
ISI is an active member of Facilities Services Network (FSN), an international group of independent installation firms which set new benchmarks for performance and value in the management, installation, and care of contract furniture.