Big congratulations to our very own Sammy Cossairt, Tower Crane Operator in Nashville, for being named the 2025 NAWIC Tradeswoman of the Year!
After earning the regional award in Nashville, Sammy has now taken the national stage with this incredible honor. Whether she’s operating at extreme heights, mentoring future builders, or using her voice to empower others, Sammy continues to raise the bar for women in construction.
Her song “Tradeswoman” is now streaming on all platforms! A tribute to the grit and passion driving our industry forward!
So, when I first found out that I won the National Tradeswoman of the Year award, I didn’t believe it. Didn’t even know I was nominated. I called our local chapter president, Brittany Buck, and found out that she had nominated me. So, we both found out together that I had won and would be going to Boston a week later.
My name is Sammy Cossairt. I’ve been a tower crane operator for the last 10 plus years. I’m really honored to have won. I know how many different types of trades there are out there and how many different skills women have that I don’t have. I am still in total shock that I won. I’m still honestly processing and have not been able to fully appreciate it because I’m overloaded with gratitude and happiness.
My name is Brittany Buck. I’m an assistant superintendent with RC Matthews Contractor out of Nashville, Tennessee. Sammy is so tough. I know she works extremely long hours and talk about isolation on a job site. She is truly working by herself and does not encounter many women in what she does.
And just the knowledge and the skill that goes with being an operator, especially of a tall tower crane, is amazing. There’s so much that goes into it. So much awareness that you have to have. Visibility is huge.
So the recognition that Sammy’s getting is going to help bring in the next generation of young female tower crane operators. It’s going to show women who had no idea that there were other women up in those cranes. You know, young girls are going to be able to look up in the whatever city they live in and be like, “Hey, I know I know a girl or I’ve seen a girl online that can do that. Maybe I can do that, too.”
Also, having he support of her companies, having Maxim support gives her a lot of credibility on site. It’s not just a woman’s award from a women’s organization. It’s a nationally recognized award that really shows that she deserves this and she was the best out of the nominations over the entire country.
With Maxim Crane, I’ve never been held off any of the big jobs. My towers have always gotten taller. I was always treated just like everybody else. And that’s part of the reason I’ve become so successful is because I was never once held back. Any girl that has the drive to get into construction needs to do it. If you already want it, then you’ve got that drive. You just got to keep following that and be tough about it.
This is proof that hard work really does pay off. You just got to keep pushing and pushing, pushing, pushing.
