INDUSTRY
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Built With Intention How intention forged the Women of STEEL
W
omen make up just 11.2% of the construction industry’s workforce. Yet more women than ever are entering the trades, project management, and leadership roles. For generations, women have also served in critical project support positions
that keep construction offices running. Whether they wear a hard hat or not, women are essential to every project built and every service delivered. that’s inspiring women nationwide to pursue and thrive in construction careers. Being a woman in a historically male-populated industry can be isolating, but the opportunities are vast—and rewarding. “When I first accepted a position as a marketing assistant at S. M. Wilson, I knew nothing about the built environment. I quickly
fell in love with this amazing industry that beautifies spaces, creates community, and transforms lives,” wrote Amanda Bohnert in her chapter of “Intention: Deconstructing G.R.I.T.,” part of the Deconstructing GRIT anthology series by Jennifer Bardot. “Through grit and the help of great mentors, I created my own career ladder.”
S. M. Wilson Senior Project Manager, Emily Klackner
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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 5, 2026
Photos courtesy of S. M. Wilson
As we celebrate Women in Construction Week, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the powerful origin story of Women of STEEL—the first women’s membership group within the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Born from collaboration and determination, this Missouri-based initiative has blazed a trail