engineer ing, to the machine and fabrication shops where Kelly bars, masts and main frames are welded, to the final assembly where the finished rigs come off the line,” she says. Watson Drill Rigs are 100% made in the U.S., and she notes that the company is very proud of that fact. Kennedy still has many fans at Drive- Con, where she used to work. Jill Rennenkampf, like many others, describes Kennedy as enthusiastic and outgoing. However, she adds that Kennedy has “tremendous” product knowledge, and does not work “just to make a sale.” Her outstanding attribute, according to Rennenkampf, has been her early embrace of technology. She did that “long before others” in her industry. An ICE employee, Joe Carobine, adds his comments, saying, “I have known Jill for over 25 years and found her to be very committed to success. She is a personable, hardworking, customer-oriented, problem-solving person, with a great sense of humor.” Bill Maher, president of McKinney Drilling Company, is another long-time friend and colleague. He describes Kennedy as a valuable resource to McKinney and Seaboard Foundations (a sister company to McKinney), at first in the vibratory hammer business, and now with Watson, selling drill rigs. “Kennedy is not your normal salesperson — she not only handles the sales end but she also follows up on how the machinery is operating.” “She has been valuable,” he says, “when we do have issues with the machines. She makes sure the right people at Watson know about the issues, and sees that they get resolved for us.” Beyond that, he considers her a great friend with a tremendously outgoing personality. Women in Construction Kennedy notes how things have changed since she entered the construction field in the early 1980s. Back then, most in the construct ion industry had certain preconcept ions about females in construction. The construction industry has changed tremendously. Today there are many more women engineers, project managers and other professionals: attitudes toward them are changing. An excellent example of changes in this industry is DFI’s new Women in Deep Foundations Committee, which held its first meeting in October 2014 and now includes over 50 women and men. Kennedy thinks DFI is a “great mix” of equipment manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and engineers. She is also very active in ADSC, both local chapters and the national level. 58 • DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2016
