Entrepreneurship News & Analysis

Traci Quinn's Pink Hats Construction: Success After Prison Release

Traci Quinn, after serving three years in prison for cannabis trafficking, founded Pink Hats, an all-female construction company in Chicago, in 2020. Despite entering a male-dominated industry, she aims to specialize in redevelopment within Chicago's underserved communities. The construction workforce in the U.S. comprises about 11% women, with black women making up less than 7%. Quinn utilized her experience and took construction classes to succeed, combating sexism and racism along the way. The company's establishment highlights the challenges and resilience faced by women in the construction sector.