Meet The Team - Jessica Richards - Waikato

At Wide Span Sheds, we know that great buildings start with great people. This month, we're introducing Jessica Richards (Jess), owner of our Waikato branch, whose passion for learning, helping others and embracing new challenges has made her an invaluable part of the Wide Span Sheds family.

Jess joined Wide Span Sheds six years ago after deciding it was time for a completely new direction. Previously working as a barber, she was looking for a fresh challenge and wasn't afraid to throw herself into an industry she knew little about.

And throw herself in she did.

From day one, Jess was determined to understand every part of the business. Rather than simply learning how to sell sheds, she immersed herself in the entire process. She spent time on construction sites watching buildings come together, visited New Zealand Steel to see how our steel is produced, toured Metalcraft to understand how roofing and cladding are roll formed, and learnt firsthand what happens from design through to final construction.

That hands-on approach has given Jess a level of knowledge that helps her confidently guide customers through every stage of their project, whether it's a simple garage or a complex commercial building.

Three years ago, Jess took the next step by becoming the owner-operator of our Waikato franchise. Today, she proudly leads the region and is currently the only sole female owner-operator within the Wide Span Sheds NZ network!

Away from helping customers bring their dream buildings to life, Jess is also the driving force behind our National Fieldays presence. Every year she independently plans and coordinates our entire Fieldays site, managing countless moving parts to ensure one of New Zealand's biggest agricultural events runs seamlessly for the Wide Span team.

Outside of work, Jess is equally passionate about giving back to her community.

Over the years she has volunteered across numerous community initiatives, including delivering food parcels to local families, supporting fundraising efforts for Motor Neurone Disease, and working closely with the Graeme Dingle Foundation, a charity she has proudly supported for many years. At this year's Fieldays, Jess even invited the Graeme Dingle Foundation to be part of our site, helping raise awareness for the incredible work they do.

If there's one thing Jess loves almost as much as helping customers, it's chasing adrenaline and new experiences!

In her own words, she likes to "remind herself that she's alive."

This month she'll be taking that philosophy to new heights by jumping from Auckland's Sky Tower to raise funds for the Graeme Dingle Foundation, combining one of her biggest passions with a cause that's close to her heart.

When she's not working or volunteering, Jess enjoys spending time with her 17-year-old son, who is about to begin an exciting new chapter by joining the New Zealand Army—a milestone she's incredibly proud to celebrate.

Jess's journey proves that with curiosity, determination and a willingness to learn, no challenge is too big. Whether she's helping customers create the perfect steel building, organising one of the country's biggest agricultural events or giving back to the community, she approaches everything with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to make a difference.

We're incredibly proud to have Jess leading our Waikato team and look forward to seeing what challenge she takes on next.