Your go-to source
For all the topics we face working in and supporting people
in this crazy, amazing industry!
Here at B3H we are geared toward women in the construction industry as well as the women (and families) supporting men in the industry. We are diving into your passions, challenges, goals, achievements, and while doing that, we also want to provide insightful information to help throughout your journey - whatever your role. As we discuss your topics we will also clue you in, my loyal readers & listeners, as to what inspires us to work in this crazy amazing industry.
WHAT IS
BALANCING
HARD
HATS
& HEELS?
B3H
THE
CONCEPT
B3H is a concept (or some would say ‘a movement’) that comes to life in the form of a blog and podcast geared to provide guidance, information, entertainment, interviews and discussion related to women across both the field and corporate roles of the Industrial Construction world.
Our topics focus on all things that we face as women in this career (or women/families supporting people in this career): the benefits, growth, changes in the workforce, challenges, hardships, interviews, pay, fashion and everything in between. Things that each and every woman in this industry may encounter whether you are a Laborer, Safety Representative, Administrator, Analyst, Purchaser, Manager, or any other role in between.
We also try to relate topics to those of us who support people in this industry - be it husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends and family.
B3H
THE
LOGO
Our vision with the logo was to tell a story of this concept without ever having to speak a word. This is the background behind the thought process.
SCALES
Represent the balancing of two worlds
-
Building on the Right Side: representation for the corporate world of this industry and the people that are directly connected to those roles.
-
Plant on the Left Side: representation for the field employees, I geared specifically toward a power plant due to my personal work experience.
WHITE HARD HAT
Representation of Leadership and Management roles as well as commonly required PPE for field-based roles.
RED HIGH HEELS
Representation of the Sexy Powerful Women we all are regardless of if we wear heels daily or a hard hat and boots! Come on ladies, we all know red heels are a power statement while feminine and sexy!
THE NAME
Balancing Hard Hats & Heels (B3H) is that exactly, it’s finding the balance between being a woman and maintaining everything that makes that such a blessing while also being women in a male dominated industry and being an absolute badass at that too!
THE LADY
BEHIND THE SCENES
Candice Oncale
RENEGADE FIELD ENGINEER
ABOUT ME
I am 36 years old, married to an amazingly supportive man, we have five children from 21 to 9 years old and a spunky grandbaby, and we cannot forget about the two spoiled rotten little “rat” dogs that travel with me.
My husband and I have known of each other since we were kids but did not end up truly getting to know each other until our 30's. We were married in 2024, and both went through life to learn a lot of hardships and lessons before connecting. We both work separately in blue collar traveling industries: me in Power Generation and him in Horizontal Directional Drilling. Our life takes a lot of commitment to keep it solid, but we would not have it any other way.
I believe in mentoring, being mentored, consistent improvement of oneself, hard work, standing strong, and growth. I will always be committed to aiding in another person's success in any way I can benefit their path. I love to see not only another woman but any person around me succeed!
(Formerly Troyer)
MY CAREER
I worked several jobs over a span of 5 years from 16 to going full time with my company at 21, but I will focus on the one that leads me here for now.
In December of 2007, at 18, I got my first job in a power plant. I was visiting a friend of my moms, and her supervisor asked if I could come help them for one week as a Confined Space Attendant (hole watch). He promised good money, and it would be short term, but it would help him out of a tight spot. I reluctantly agreed because I could not picture myself working in a power plant. Let’s just say, that week turned into a month, and here I am years later still in the same industry for the same company and I absolutely love it!
I have held 3 titles in my time throughout this company, but I have always taken on more directive outside of the job description I carried at the time which has done me a great justice. I started as a Firewatch/Helper, Site Administrator, spent a few years as Project Coordinator, and my current role is a Sr. Field Engineer.
Who we Are
BIO/
We'd love to hear from you!
Send us your stories, feedback, comments, thoughts, topic ideas - you name it!