It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Diane Ausavich that she recently became the first woman president of the Milwaukee Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). As a Certified Remodeler (CR), she has devoted countless hours to promoting education and awareness of the industry, including chairing Milwaukee/NARI’s annual Fall Home and Remodeling Show and Spring Home Improvement Showcase. That is in addition to her work as the cleaning division manager for Carl Krueger Construction, Inc., an award-winning design/build firm in Milwaukee that specializes in disaster restoration. Ausavich is IICRC-certified (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration) for fire and water restoration.

The road to success in a field largely dominated by men began when she tired of her banking job and asked her father, Carl Krueger, if she could join the business. “My dad sensed I was frustrated with my job, and he told me if I ever wanted to change careers, he would have a place for me. Well, one day I had enough and I called him on it,” she said. “I did a lot of field work in the early days, coordinated sales and marketing, and now estimating. I love every part of what I do. There hasn’t been a day I have regretted going to work.”

The road to success in a field largely dominated by men meant Ausavich had to prove herself able to do as much work as any of the male crewmembers. “When I would show up on a work site, I could tell from the looks on the men, they doubted I could do the work, but when I started hauling 2 x 4s and 50-lb. bags of cement, I earned their respect.” she said. “Sometimes I still get a skeptical look, but things are better now than it was 10 years ago.”

More women are finding a career in the remodeling/construction industry a viable choice, but Ausavich has made workplace diversity a priority in her agenda as Milwaukee/NARI president. “There is not another woman behind me on the executive board, so it could be another 10 years before there is another female president,” she said. “There are many women who work for remodeling or building firms as estimators, designers and office support, but women in the field are still a novelty. I want to encourage women to explore the opportunities within the industry. My advice to anyone who has an interest is not to be afraid to try. If you persevere, you will be successful.”

Ausavich’s goals are not limited to educating women about industry opportunities. She also wants to promote the benefits of Milwaukee/NARI membership to minorities, such as black and Hispanic contractors. “We have a new membership coordinator, Rae Ann Arrigoni, and some of the things we have talked about include approaching the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as well as the local chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction, to come see what our organization is all about,” she said.

Membership in an association such as NARI indicates a Remodeler’s commitment to the profession and a commitment to the remodeling industry and its image. Members pledge to abide by standards of honesty, integrity and responsibility in the conduct of business, which also benefits the consumer. Members are offered educational seminars and course study to become certified in their field. The accreditation is supported by continuing education units and is reviewed annually.

“My dad urged all of us in the business to pursue a different angle in order to develop our expertise and growth. Mine was NARI,” Ausavich said. “I met Mark Brick (CR, past local and national president of NARI) and Dave Pekel (CR, and current board member), and they took me under their wing and helped me step up my level of involvement,” she said.

In addition to her responsibilities as president, Ausavich also is working to grow Carl Krueger Construction. “Our main business is insurance restoration, so we are somewhat recession-proof, but we are not weather proof,” she said referring to the mild weather this year that has cut down on seasonal flooding and storm damage problems. “Now our primary goal is to revitalize our remodeling division, which is how the company began.”

Working with homeowners to repair damages caused by fire, wind, water and even tear gas, is a challenge Ausavich never gets tired of. “There are many unusual situations and every job is different. I’m never bored,” she said, noting the positive side to helping others. “There is a sense of accomplishment when you can go to a homeowner who has suffered a loss and return a treasured item, such as a photo album, all cleaned and intact. When you can say to them, ‘You thought it was gone, but here it is,’ and to see how much it means to them is a very heart-warming experience.”

When she is not working in the field, at the Milwaukee/NARI office, or caring for her 4.5 year-old grandson, whom she calls “the light of my life,” Ausavich loves to read. “I’m a strong proponent of reading and using libraries. If you know how to read, you can teach yourself to do anything,” she said.

Ausavich and her husband, Joe, reside in Brown Deer, a suburb of Milwaukee.