Debbie Deal

Published On:Tuesday, May 11, 2010

DEBBY Deal is a female perfectionist who has excelled in the traditionally male dominated field of construction. Her company Contemporary Builders builds "green homes" which are a more environmentally friendly and cost efficient option for her clients.

She says Bahamians have become more concerned with energy consumption and their impact on the environment as it relates to the future.

"Before I see a client, they have already done the research and pretty much know what they want and what they think they need for their home to reduce their monthly energy costs as well as their long range maintenance costs," said Mrs Deal.

"I add my input of things that I know may be of greater value for them now and in the long term and during our meetings show them projects where these things have already been done."

She explained that utilising simple measures like tinted glass, trees to offer shade, and having a small reverse osmosis machine under the sink to eliminate buying bottled water, are small changes which can make a huge impact on conserving energy.

One of her biggest payoffs was in 2007, when the financial controller of a company that had hired her to do a warehouse and office extension and subsequent maintenance works, approached and asked if the company would be interested in doing a green subdivision in South Ocean called South Ocean Palms

Recently, she completed a project in Charlottesville with alternate energy, solar panels on the roof, an inverter in the laundry room and battery storage room on the exterior.

"This innovation will be mean big savings for the client, based on my own electricity bills, the solar power system would pay for itself easily in two years."

Mrs Deal explained that her interest in construction was fostered by her father whom she jokes " must have wanted a boy" because she would follow him around and assist him with projects around the house. She attended Sheriden College where she studied design and learnt drafting. She has been in the construction business for the past 25 years.

She and her husband eventually decided to start their own company and she said that it is a good mix as she enjoys the detail side of the business and he enjoys the structural side. In 1994, he branched out to a company that specialisies in ready mixed concrete. Their youngest daughter has followed in the footsteps as she began working for the company in 2007 and also owns her own business- Closets Etc.

Mrs Deal said that her construction team is made up of masons, electricians, plumbers, and pastemen all of whom have a long history of working with Contemporary Builders. When asked about how the crew feels about her being a female, she says that no one treats her like a female "but just another part of the team."

"I have gotten older, and it is a bit more difficult to do, but I am more than willing to pitch in and help, I like being able to do the same tasks I ask the crew to do," she said. "In fact, I did a lot of the tiling and painting herself on the construction site."

Mrs Deal noted that she has a critical eye when it comes to her projects which "can drive a normal person crazy," because she wants everything done as perfect and fairly as possible. She said that unfortunately there are many contractors who create a bad reputation for others by being unethical and greedy by overcharging for items, underbuilding and then adding on blind costs to the consumer. She pointed out that honesty is always the best policy."

"Greed gets you no where. It doesn't take long for the word to get out so I like being honest and fair, totally upfront with my clients and word of mouth will take over from there."

As a woman, Mrs Deal feels that she has an advantage, and a very good sense of how a house should be laid out and should function, particularly when it comes to bathrooms, closets and kitchens; areas that females utilise most.

"No one should limit themselves in a profession due to whether they are male or female," says Ms Deal. "Any woman out there who has the knack, the stamina and education should venture into a career of choice, not circumstance."