Now, nearly 20 years later, Krehl has carved out a niche for herself in a traditionally male-dominated industry, earning recognition for her dedication to both her family and career.

Entering the industry

As a self-described “goal-oriented … very type-A” person, Krehl, 34, said she needed something to work toward from an early age.

So beginning in eighth grade after hearing about the architectural engineering program at Penn State, Krehl set her sights on construction.

Abby Krehl stands with husband, Noah, and sons, Baker and Kit. The Martinsburg native and preconstruction manager at Gilbane Building Co. has been recognized by the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania as a “Hard Hat Mom” for her contributions to the construction industry as a mother. Courtesy photo

“I was like okay, I feel like I have strengths in math, I feel like I have strengths in the creative side … and it felt like a really good combination of the two skill sets I had and I was like great, a goal I can work towards,” she said.

After earning a place in the building systems engineering five-year bachelor’s program in fall 2009, Krehl chose the construction management subspecialty.

This involves “building the building on paper” prior to physical groundbreaking, determining the steps of the subsequent work and outlining project scope and use, she said.

After graduation in spring 2014, Krehl worked for Barton Malow in State College until 2016 before moving to Turner Construction, where she was eventually recruited by Gilbane Building Co. in September 2024.

Krehl now serves as a preconstruction manager for Gilbane and was recently recognized by the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania as a “Hard Hat Mom” for her contributions to the construction industry as a mother.

MBA annually recognizes a number of prominent women in the construction industry in May — the month of Mother’s Day — for their role in “shaping the construction industry every day while also having the most challenging, yet rewarding, job of being a mom,” according to their website.

According to Krehl, construction can be a very male-dominated industry, but has diversified over the past 10-15 years.

“It’s so much more of a welcoming space now,” she said.

According to Gilbane Vice President James Dudt, Krehl’s recognition is a testament to her resilience and impact in the construction industry, embodying the values Gilbane espouses.

“We are incredibly proud of (Krehl) for being recognized as a Hard Hat Mom by the Master Builders’ Association for the dedication she brings to both her career and her family,” Dudt said in a statement.

Work/life balance

For women like Krehl who juggle a demanding career and a growing family, finding a healthy balance of time spent at work and at home can be a “huge challenge.”

“Everybody has a life (outside of work) you’re entitled to live, and everybody needs balance,” she said.

Sometimes, such as during the runup to a major construction project at Gilbane, Krehl said her work/life balance can temporarily shift from equilibrium.

Other times, when her husband, Noah, has a busy period at his accounting job, Krehl said she steps up to take on more responsibilities at home.

It is this highly choreographed dance that allows Krehl to find success in both spheres of her life.

“We live and die by our calendar,” she said.

Krehl and her husband regularly plan their combined calendar months in advance to ensure they can both make every work meeting and child’s birthday party, and that nothing gets left by the wayside.

While Krehl and her husband are both from Martinsburg and attended the same high school and college, they didn’t connect until a hometown carnival her freshman year at Penn State.

Now, the couple lives together in their newly purchased home in Gibsonia, just north of Pittsburgh, with their two young sons, Kit and Baker.

“If I didn’t have Noah, this whole thing would collapse,” Krehl said.

Krehl also credits her Gilbane colleagues for working with her to meet the demands of her shifting schedule, saying it is “so important” to have the support of her team.

Family support

Krehl credits her family for providing the relentless encouragement throughout her journey that has allowed her to flourish.

Her maternal grandfather, Tom Thompson, her mother, Heidi Kreider, and her brothers, Aaron and Adam Kreider, all play a huge role in Krehl’s “great support system.”

Her father, Loy Kreider, played a formative role in shaping her eventual decision to pursue a career in construction.

After spending more than 25 years working for New Enterprise Stone & Lime, Kreider, who previously served on the Martinsburg Municipal Authority board, eventually took a position at HRI Inc. in State College.

While Krehl completed a summer internship program at PennDOT while she was still in college, she unexpectedly crossed paths with her father at one of the first job sites she ever visited. She was surprised to discover he had been assigned to the same project, providing a moment of intergenerational bonding, Krehl said.

And while Krehl has since worked on countless projects across the state, this serendipitous moment has become a cherished memory of her time in construction.

“(Krehl) is a special person,” Kreider said. “She’s not afraid to make it in a man’s world, and as a dad that makes me proud.”

Krehl isn’t the only one of Kreider’s children to follow him into the construction business — his middle son, Adam Kreider, works as a surveyor for Charles J. Merlo Inc. in Loretto.

It “means a great deal” to Kreider to watch them follow in his footsteps and to see Krehl make her mark on the industry.

“She’s such a go-getter … she’s an inspiration for me,” Kreider said.

Loy and Heidi Kreider frequently make the two-hour drive out to Gibsonia to visit Krehl and her children, providing a constant source of support despite the distance.

“(Kreider) is the best dad that exists in the entire world,” Krehl said.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.

The Krehl file

Name: Abby Krehl (nee Kreider)

Age: 34

From: Martinsburg, now lives in Gibsonia

Education: Central High School class of 2009, Penn State Bachelor of Architectural Engineering class of 2014

Career: Preconstruction manager at Gilbane Building Co.

Family: Husband, Noah Krehl; sons, Kit and Baker; parents, Loy and Heidi Krieder; brothers; Adam and Aaron Kreider