Women in Construction Week 2026 Spotlight
Jessica Jewett – Kernen Construction
As part of Women in Construction Week 2026, we are proud to spotlight Jessica Jewett, Estimator and Project Manager at Kernen Construction — a professional whose diverse background brings depth, precision, and perspective to civil construction in Humboldt County.
Jessica has been with Kernen Construction for about a year and a half, where she serves as both an Estimator and Project Manager. Before transitioning to the private side of construction, she spent approximately eight years with the City of Arcata in a variety of roles within the Environmental Services and Engineering Departments, including Compliance Technician, Engineering Technician, and Projects and Grant Manager.
Jessica earned her degree in Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University. She began her career in public service as a part-time maintenance worker sampling grease traps for compliance with discharge regulations — a hands-on introduction to the realities of infrastructure work. That experience led to drinking water compliance sampling, then into engineering support, and ultimately to managing projects and grants for one of the City’s largest capital improvement projects to date.
Her move into private construction has allowed her to apply that broad public-sector experience in a new way. Today, she continues to refine her skills in construction estimating, drawing on her understanding of regulations, engineering, and project management to see the “whole picture” behind every bid.
Jessica offers candid advice to young women entering the construction field:
“You’re probably not going to fully fit the preconceived mold that’s waiting for you and, in my experience, you’ll have to prove yourself along the way. Don’t get discouraged. Keep a healthy ego about yourself, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty (literally), and if all else fails, keep it moving.”
She emphasizes that having experience across multiple roles within civil construction has been invaluable in understanding how projects truly function from start to finish.
Outside of construction, Jessica has another remarkable dimension to her story — she holds a degree in Dance and is trained in classical ballet. She did not begin her engineering career until she was well into her 30s, demonstrating that there is no single path into the trades or into leadership.
Jessica Jewett’s journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and the value of bringing diverse experience into construction. We are proud to highlight her achievements and celebrate her growing impact on our industry during Women in Construction Week 2026.
