Kris Young: Juggling several hard hats

Young talks about learning the trade from her parents

Young’s Career

Kris Young, a woman who wears many hats, started as the office manager for her family’s company, Miller the Driller, in 1974. Miller the Driller is an underground tunneling and boring company located in Des Moines Iowa.  Young’s father Gene Miller started the company in 1948 and ran it with his wife. He encouraged Young and her sisters to learn the trade as well.

Since starting with Miller in 1974, Young worked her way up the ladder in both the family business and the wider general contractor trade. Today, she is the CEO of Miller the Driller and the first woman president of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).  Part of her work with the AGC is traveling and speaking to groups of general contractors.  She is frequently asked to speak to groups of women.  In January 2012, Young spoke with the Greater Wichita, Kansas Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.

Young enjoys helping people realize their dreams

Young has nearly forty years of experience as a general contractor. Go! contacted Young about her views on and advice for women in construction and those interested in construction jobs. “I try to share my story and inspire [women] that they can do anything they want…they just need to decide that that’s the path they want to take. I had a friend who inherited money and decided she wanted to start a construction business, of all things…Others decided they could do what it takes to be a business owner.”  Most of Young’s current work, in construction, involves the planning.  She said that one of her favorite things about the job was having a customer come in with an idea, and getting to plan it out and make it happen.

Kris Young's many achievements

Young’s Advice for Young People

In closing our interview, Young had the following advice for young people, especially girls who want to find jobs in construction.  “Know your job.”  Most of all, “Don’t be afraid to be a girl.  Be smart, and be good at what you do.”

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