“Meet Laurence Brodin: The Woman Who Became a Mason and Managed Two Companies”

Holder of a Hairdressing Master’s Certificate, Laurence Brodin from Ceaucé (Orne) practiced her profession at home for 12 years, in her town and also in Domfront. “I stopped for allergies to products,” she explains.

Two companies to manage

A very active woman, Laurence took over the drugstore on Place Albert-Christophle in Domfront, following Marie-Ange and André Piet. A commercial adventure that will last 9 years.

In 2013, she joined thebusiness from her husband, Philippe Brodin, mason in Ceauce.

It had become restrictive to manage two companies at the same time, especially in terms of administrative formalities. So my husband and I decided to work together.

Collaborating spouse

Having become a joint collaborator, Laurence, who was already in charge of the administrative part of the company, will extend her field of expertise by passing her truck license in order to fetch the goods necessary for the construction sites. “It was also a way to spend more time with my husband,” smiles Laurence.

She learns from him the basics of the trade of mason. “We do a lot of renovations. I make walls, joints, interior and exterior paving, in cement or stone. The work is varied.

“This work remains physical, but the material helps a lot”

The equipment made available to him makes it possible to reduce the arduousness.

This work remains physical, but the material helps a lot. A woman can exercise this trade as well as a man.

She adds: “I work outdoors. I appreciate the contact with customers who are sometimes surprised to see me driving my 14-tonne truck. In general, everything goes well, they take great care and bring us coffee in the morning or at 4 p.m.

Laurence Brodin

For his part, Philippe enjoys working alongside his wife. ” We get along well. It’s the same as if it were a man. I am his mentor. I’m the boss in my business, but at home it’s her, ”he says with a big burst of laughter.

More and more present on construction sites

Versatile, Laurence therefore takes care of the secretariat but also of the building sites. “I am more and more present on construction sites because there is a lack of personnel. Félix, our employee for 1 year, was a lumberjack before. Like me, he was learned on the job, she says.

From the moment you have a good apprenticeship master and you like manual work, anything is possible. There is a future in construction, provided you want to work

Today, Laurence is proud of her career. She managed to reconcile professional and personal life, with her passion as a violinist in the folk group Le Trou Normand in Domfront and as a firefighter at the Ceaucé rescue centre.

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