Maria Mavrikos started her structural steel fabrication business in her parents’ study. Picture: Mike Richards.By Rebecca Fraser
WHEN it comes to building a business, it is hard to look past the director of Hallam company Structural Challenge, Maria Mavrikos.
Ms Mavrikos, 31, has taken the operation of her structural steel fabrication business from the study of her parents’ house to a 1860squaremetre, twostorey factory in Hallam.
In ceremony last month, Ms Mavrikos was recognised by the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) and presented with two awards.
The first was the City of Melbourne Crystal Vision award for advancing the interests of women in the construction industry and the other was for outstanding achievement as a businesswoman.
Ms Mavrikos said that through her eight years’ industry experience she soon realised that steel fabricators were traditionally great tradesmen with handson technical experience but had basic administration and projectmanagement skills.
The Chadstone resident said she was on a “big high” for the weekend after she was presented with the awards.
“It has been a great honour for both myself and for the business to be recognised by NAWIC.
“It has just been a huge buzz for us
“After a fouryear battle we are finally being treated like equals,” she said.
Structural Challenge opened in 2000 and the company’s current projects include the extension of Highpoint Shopping Centre, a multiunit factory development in Port Melbourne and a resort complex in Vanuatu.
The company, located in Star Crescent, now has a staff of 40 working both on and offsite concentrating on the commercial building market, by providing structural steel drafting, fabrication and erection.
As winner of the Crystal Vision Award, Ms Mavrikos will be automatically nominated for the national Crystal Vision Awards to be presented in October.
