In observance of Women in Construction Week (March 5-11,2023) and National Women in Roofing Day (March 5, 2023)  Guardian Roofing and Gutters is committed to their appreciation of CEO Lori Swanson who, in 2005, took the bold step to plant her flag in the construction industry, a primarily male-dominated field, with the opening of Guardian Roofing and Gutters. “Throughout my life, I have been able to witness firsthand and be inspired by the great initiatives and work of women within the industry. Likewise, it has become increasingly apparent that the field continues to support and highlight the opportunities that are available to women in construction. In my role at Guardian Roofing and Gutters, I hope to help encourage women like me, who are willing to make a similar commitment in one of the most vital and rewarding industries that our nation was built on,” says Swanson. Growing up with a family of roofing contractors, Lori’s career and passion were ignited at an early age. During high school and college, Lori worked at the family business, Thompson Roofing- one of the largest and longest-standing roofing companies in the South Sound, to earn her stripes.  “My experience as a young woman in the industry prepared me for this career because I sincerely understood how hard the work was for a man or a woman. I learned literally from the ground up, from the components of the roof to the people in the industry to how it worked in an ever-changing professional ecosystem. One big part of that is navigating the challenges and opportunities afforded to women in construction over the ages,” she says. After she received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Saint Martin’s College, Lori devoted her career full-time to the family roofing business. Due to her early immersive experience that included years of working on the roofing crews, customer reception, and production duties, she earned the position of Office Manager and then went on to become the Vice-President of Thompson Roofing, a position she held while also serving on the Board of Directors of the Roofing Contractor’s Association for a 3-year-term. Her passion for the roofing industry and the opportunity to serve a wonderful community culminated in the formation of Guardian Roofing and Gutters, LLC with her husband, Matt Swanson, in 2005. “As we start looking at the 20th anniversary of Guardian Roofing and Gutters, I am thrilled with the progress and growth that we have experienced within the Pacific Northwest community and construction industry at large. It is, without a doubt, especially rewarding to be in such an illustrious group as the National Women in Roofing (NWIR)  and participate in National Women in Roofing Day,” she concludes.