On long, hot paving days in Georgia, when tempers can flare as quickly as the asphalt cools, Abbigail Kenner, affectionately known as “Ms. Abby”, is smiling.
“I don’t let any job, or anybody, stress me out. Period,” she says. “I don’t let anyone steal my joy.”
That mindset, rooted in discipline and faith, has carried her through nearly four decades in asphalt. Today, Ms. Abby is an asphalt roller operator for C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., a company she once pursued with unwavering determination. For her, it is more than an employer. It’s home.
A Natural on the Roller
Kenner has been operating rollers since high school. Construction was familiar territory as her father worked in the industry, but he hoped his daughter would choose something “easier”.
“My dad always told me he wanted me to go to college to be a vet,” she says.
But Kenner quickly realized she didn’t want to be stuck inside. She tried landscaping and other jobs, but she still found herself drawn to the crews she saw building and repairing highways. One day, she pulled off to the side of the road and asked a dirt crew if they were hiring.
“Next thing I knew, I was out on a highway dirt crew,” she says.
Not long after, she encountered an asphalt roller and climbed on.
“My boss noticed I immediately knew how to operate and put me on an asphalt crew. I taught myself everything I needed to know about rollin’. The rest is history.”
She’s tried other roles in highway construction, but she always returned to asphalt. “Nothing is better than asphalt,” she says. “I’ve just been rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ every day and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
A New Start in Georgia
About a year after her mother’s death in 2010, Ms. Abby moved from Alabama to Georgia. She was determined to start fresh and determined to land at C.W. Matthews.
She met Clay Garland, a division manager, at a career fair the company was hosting, where she told him she had been trying to get hired since moving to Georgia. That’s where she was given her chance.
“He gave me a job and the rest is history,” she says.
Ms. Abby calls her crew an extended family. She relies on their support and unwavering friendship. She credits her foreman, Jonathan Lozano, and the people around her for helping her stay grounded and motivated. She pays them back with a positive outlook every day.
“Everyone always asks me why I’m smiling on the long, hot days on the job,” she says. “Life is too short. I’ll choose to be happy always. Praying every morning gets me out of bed and into the right mindset to tackle every day with a joyful heart.”
Pride in the Details
Ask Kenner what makes her most proud, and her answer reflects the mindset of a true craft professional. She sees each success as a reward for her constant focus.
“When I roll and don’t leave a joint, oh my goodness. No better feeling.”
She doesn’t point to one standout project or milestone as the defining moment of her career. Instead, she measures success day by day.
“Every day I try to get better and better,” she says. “I try to make every day something to be proud of.”
That consistency has shaped her reputation on the crew. And her positive attitude, she believes, is as critical as her technical ability. “Being joyful every day helps boost the energy on my crew and keeps us going.”
Opening the Door Wider
As an African American woman operating heavy equipment in the asphalt industry, Kenner represents a small but growing segment of the construction workforce. She believes the industry can do more to make women feel welcome and supported.
“I wish the industry as a whole did a better job of welcoming women in with open arms, letting them know they’re valued as much as the next guy, they’re safe here and they can make a true impact,” she says.
Her message to young women, especially women of color, is direct and practical.
“If this is something you really want to do, come in and give it your all and give it your best,” she says. “It’s not easy work but give it everything you’ve got. Ask questions, work hard and show them you’re here to work. Keep going and always keep striving to be better.”
Looking Ahead
Nearly 40 years into her career, Kenner is not finished growing. She would like to become a foreman one day or perhaps move into the office, though she laughs at the idea of leaving the roller behind entirely.
“I’d still be out rolling every now and then,” she says.
After decades on the mat, her impact extends beyond the smoothness of a finished roadway. Through her skill, resilience and unwavering joy, Ms. Abby leaves a mark on every crew she joins. In asphalt, as in life, the details matter, and attitude can shape the road ahead.
