Pam Giottini is the kind of lady who gets her hands dirty, who tosses “golden sword yucca” and “Hollywood juniper” and “vitex/chaste tree” into casual conversation, who doesn’t mince words.

“Being a woman contractor: not fun. People say and do things to a woman they would never do to a man.” Fortunately, she has learned over the decades not to let anyone take advantage of her.