High-Profile: 2019 Women In Construction Supplement

Women in Construction

March 2019

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March 2019 Annual Supplement

Women in Construction Zoey Zukowski, apprentice for Patriot Building Systems, evaluates her next step onsite at the NH Liquor Store in Lebanon, N.H. / photo by Katie Sweet of Metro Walls & Patriot Building Systems

INDUSTRY EXPERT ARTICLES

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Carol Duhart

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Maria Loitz

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Sarah Giardini

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Nik Middleton

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Nancy Greenwald

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Aimee Hernandez

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Hannah Ginley

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Ingeborg Hegemann

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Women in Construction

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Publisher’s Message

Anastasia Barnes Welcome to the first edition of High-Profile’s Women in Construction (WIC) supplement, our new annual supplement designed to feature women in all positions in construction. This issue is not just about the many amazing women working onsite and in offices, but encompasses all women in the architecture, engineering, and construction space (A/E/C).

Let’s look at the stats. In the U.S., women make up only 9% of construction employees, 13% of engineering employees, and only one-third of American Institute of Architects (AIA) members are female.

On the positive side, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that women in construction earn an average of 95.7% of what men make. That is 18% more compared to other industries, but still not good enough.

As the new publisher of High-Profile and a proud feminist, I embrace the idea of elevating women in this industry, across all platforms. Men make up the highest percentage of leaders in almost every industry there is. As a woman in a leadership position, I realize how I (and this publication) can be a conduit for women and minorities in this industry.

Having only held this position as publisher for a short time, I have felt the

Let’s look at the stats. In the U.S., women make up only 9% of construction employees, 13% of engineering employees, and only one-third of American Institute of Architects (AIA) members are female. On the positive side, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that women in construction earn an average of 95.7% of what men make. That is 18% more compared to other industries, but still not good enough. encouragement and support of both my female and male colleagues, and their passion for making things right within our industry.

I’m proud to have strong mentors to support and guide me through this journey.

Laser Scanning Historic Assets – Coburn Hall Renovation, UMass Lowell The $45 Million renovation for Coburn Hall includes historic preservation and rehab, structural reinforcement, and modernization. photo courtesy UMass Lowell

The three women I turn to for guidance in this industry are Jennifer Hamwey of PCS, Sue Messier of CampbellMcCabe, and Nancy Greenwald of The Construction Institute. I’ve had many conversations (and at least one good cry) with each of these women over the past few years. They all tell me (in their own way) to pull my big girl panties up and keep on going. What’s the worst that can happen? I fail. I failed algebra twice in

high school, and I still turned out okay.

Someone said to me recently, “You have more power now since the rise of the #MeToo movement.” Is this true? Will I be heard? These are the questions we, as women, are faced with on a daily basis.

March 2019 I declare, here and now, I will be an example of a woman who embraces her fears and asks for help from her mentors to become stronger and better in life, love, and business. That’s what I am about. I believe that’s what we’re all about.

In the next eighteen pages, you’ll get to know some of the A/E/C organizations that offer educational resources and networking events to facilitate mentoring opportunities for women in this industry.

You’ll also find a mixture of news, columns, and profiles on a wide variety of women-in-construction topics. Maria Loitz and Sarah Giardini give us their unique perspective on how to attract and retain women in our industry. Cube 3’s CEO, Nik Middleton, explains how his firm and its clients have benefited from having women in leadership positions.

Ingeborg Hegemann of BSC Group shares how her company is developing a STEM workshop for teenagers “in order to inspire the next generation of problem solvers.” Our own Emily Langner shines a spotlight on the organizations that are making a difference for women in the trades, including PGTI, NCTE, and Building Pathways.

I think you’ll love this first issue, and do let us know if there are any topics you’d like to see covered in the future.

As always, enjoy the read!

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March 2019

Women in Construction

Women in Construction Groups Worth Checking Out NAWIC The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) originally began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, Texas. Sixteen women working in the construction industry founded it in 1953. Knowing that women represented only a small fraction of the construction industry, the founders organized NAWIC to create a support network. Women in Construction of Fort Worth was so successful that it gained its national charter in 1955 and became the National Association of Women in Construction. Today, NAWIC provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service, and more.

Every year, NAWIC designates one week in March called WIC Week. This year, WIC Week is celebrated from March 3 through March 9. The purpose of WIC Week is to highlight women as a visible component of the construction industry.

WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry.

It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities.

Below are the seven local New England NAWIC chapters:

Below are some ways to celebrate WIC Week in your organization:

Maine Maine 276 / Eastern Maine 329

•D isplay the WIC Week poster.

• Wear the WIC Week button.

• Add WIC Week salutations to emails.

• Have a local business display NAWIC or WIC Week materials.

• Promote a STEM event for girls/women.

• Host a WIC informational seminar.

• Have a NAWIC booth at a convention/ trade show.

• Make or wear a T-shirt and/or bracelet promoting WIC Week – reminderband. com/c/wristbands.

• Promote NAWIC scholarship to local students – NFSF Page.

• Hold a membership drive or host a WIC career day.

• Post about WIC Week on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. #WICWEEK2019.

• Promote NAWIC on a billboard – www. lamar.com.

• Promote NAWIC on the radio, local TV show/news, and local publications about WIC Week.

• Receive a proclamation or official recognition for WIC Week – resource page.

• Hand out PPE with the NAWIC logo – www.safetyglassesusa.com.

Massachusetts Boston 15 / Gr. Worcester 241 New Hampshire The Granite State 218 Rhode Island No.1 of Rhode Island 52 Connecticut Hartford 165

AGC MA As the leading commercial construction association in the commonwealth, the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) provides member benefits and business resources for the state’s building industry.

The association offers valuable management education, exemplary safety training, and dedicated advocacy for its members and the industry at large, continually improving the quality, integrity, and responsibilities to the

3 general public and its surrounding communities.

The Building Women in Construction Committee (BWiC) was launched in the spring of 2016 in a response to memberdriven requests to create a support network for all women working in the commercial construction industry. Through the efforts of more than 25 active members, the committee continually strives to meet its mission: “Building a network to support and empower women in the construction industry to be confident and successful professionals using practical tools and advice to help further themselves both personally and professionally.”

The committee reaches those goals through various channels that include informative and educational programs, mentoring services, and shared insightful content such as BWiC Blog Articles, BWiC Profiles, BWiC Podcasts, and more.

In 2018, BwiC hosted the first Inspire awards program to celebrate the most exemplary women in construction who demonstrate leadership, generosity, innovation, and unwavering commitment to their career, colleagues, and industry.

Nominations are accepted in four categories: Mentor, Emerging Leader, Rising Star, and Tradeswoman of the Year. A panel of non-GC judges use their extensive knowledge of the industry to choose a woman whose name is synonymous with achievement continued to page 4

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Women in Construction

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March 2019

Women in Construction Groups Worth Checking Out continued from page 3

and who is a successful role model for women starting out in the sector or others choosing to stay and grow the impact, approach, and reputation of our industry.

On March 5, more than 150 industry professionals are anticipated to attend and support the 2019 BWiC Inspire award winners at The Westin Copley in Boston.

The Construction Institute

WWIRE Wellness for Women in Real Estate (WWIRE), a Fort Point Project Management company, promotes and connects strong women in commercial real estate through wellness events. WWIRE integrates the five aspects of wellness; social, spiritual, chemical, structural, and emotional through fitness classes, yoga, meditation, wellness events, and community outreach.

The organization’s social events are focused on expanding connections within the industry while building a stronger mind and body. With so many networking events centered around cocktails, rich food, and late nights, WWIRE promotes wellness programs that provide a fresh environment for women in commercial real estate to connect in a meaningful way.

(Top row, center, l-r) The winners of the 2019 BWiC Inspire awards: BWiC Mentor of the Year, Kimberly Silvestri, BOND Brothers; BWiC Emerging Leader of the Year, Jessica Spivey, Shawmut Design and Construction; BWiC Rising Star of the Year, Nora Kelly, Consigli Construction Co, Inc.; and BWiC Tradeswoman of the Year / @Ziven Drake, J.F. White

Members of the architecture, engineering, construction, and real estate industry participate in WWIRE because wellness programs: • Activate company wellness values.

• Promote work-life balance.

• Encourage networking with industry professionals.

• Promote a positive personal impact; mental and physical wellness.

• Stimulate company loyalty.

• Serve as a proven recruiting tool.

• Reduce absenteeism and injuries on the job.

• Reduce health care costs.

• Increase personal connections with peers.

• Promote community outreach.

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WWIRE offers 24+ events per year with select co-ed events as well. If you are interested in attending or getting involved, you can contact Stacie McBurney, manager, at smcburney@the-wwire.com.

PWC Professional Women in Construction (PWC) is a national organization whose mission is to support, advance, and connect women and promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction (A/E/C) and related industries. The two active chapters in New England are located in Boston and Connecticut. You can learn more by visiting http://www.pwcusa.org/.

The Construction Institute (CI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based at the University of Hartford. Its members are made up of everyone — owners and facility managers, architects and engineers, contractors and subcontractors, project managers, consultants, manufacturers and distributors, governmental agencies, lawyers, accountants, and many other support services. CI’s mission is to promote cross-industry collaboration. It has been a way of providing vision, leadership, problem-solving skills and unique, trade-specific education for the past 40 years.

2019 marked CI’s fourth annual The Women Who Build Summit, which has quickly become one of the organization’s premier events. Year over year, speakers and attendees alike rave about the summit’s enriching experience. The one-day-long event consists of a variety of panels, breakout sessions, and speakers all based around supporting and educating women in the A/E/C industry. This year’s event was held on February 21. You can learn more about the Construction Institute by visiting www.construction.org.

Messier-McCabe Earns DHT Credit

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(l-r) DHI National President Mark Berger; member Susan Messier-McCabe; NE Chapter President Jim White; and NE Chapter President-Emeritus Jeff Batick

Maynard, MA – Susan Messier-McCabe, owner and principal of Campbell-McCabe Worldwide, an independent, WBEcertified, door and hardware specificationwriting firm, recently earned her door hardware technician (DHT) credit.

“The Door & Hardware Institute, the New England Chapter and I were proud to present Susan with her newly earned DHT credential at our January chapter meeting,” said DHI Chapter President Jim White, fellow DHI, AOC, CFDAI. “With 37 years of experience in the project management, business development, and door hardware specification fields, she is highly skilled.

She has now embarked on a journey to earn the industry credentials that are consummate with her skills,” he added.

Earning the DHT was just the first step in this journey. Messier-McCabe is currently pursuing the door hardware consultant (DHC) credential, as well.

She then plans to earn the architectural hardware consultant and electrified hardware consultant credentials.

“She has an extremely talented, highly skilled, and credentialed team and does not need to follow this path to knowledge, but she is a sponge for learning and strives to be the expert that clients want to do their work and call for advice,” said White. She is currently the only credentialed woman DHI member leading a specification firm in New England.

Messier-McCabe is a long-standing member of NAWIC and has served as president of the Boston chapter.

Women in Construction

March 2019

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Meet PROCON’s Women in Construction

by Carol Duhart PROCON is an 84-year-old privately owned design-build firm that values the contributions of women in a maledominated industry. The following women have all successfully carved out viable roles with the company. They are in various stages of their careers and share some of their experiences, perspectives, and a common love for building.

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Hannah Ginley

Lynn Kramer Project executive “Never give up!” That’s the best advice that Lynn Kramer ever got in the business, and with over 30 years in construction, those words have served her well. Today, she is a project executive with PROCON where she has been for eight years.

Kramer never wanted to do anything but construction, so after earning a civil engineering degree, she landed a job working for Whiting Turner. “It was definitely a proving ground. At one time I was running the MEPS on a $200M job in Connecticut, but I worked very hard to learn my craft, and finished the project on time and under budget,” she reflected.

Kramer has seen considerable changes in the industry since 1985. “I’d say that the biggest difference is the dramatic reduction in the time from project initiation to building occupancy. When I started out, everything was done by paper. We now have technology adding efficiency and speed at every phase of the project.”

Her passion was evident, as she revealed, “My favorite thing is building relationships with owners and subcontractors.” She also views mentoring as a key component of her leadership role.

Currently, Kramer has a large team of PMs divided across the six commercial projects she overseers in various phases of construction. “I offer them guidance while recognizing that each individual has their own working style. I work closely with my teams to ensure we are leaving a job having learned something new and are continuously improving.”

Lorna Lavelle Project scheduler Lorna Lavelle’s charming Scottish accent and quick humor are easily noticeable. She began her career in the United Kingdom and joined PROCON in 2015 as a project scheduler. A master’s degree in ­energy systems and the environment led her into a PM position working for Britain’s

(l-r) Leslie Del Sesto, assistant project manager; Lynn Kramer, project executive; Lorna Lavelle, project scheduler; Kim Pyszka, assistant project manager

nuclear-decommissioning industry. One of her earliest multimillion dollar jobs was building a 321-mile-long power line in northern Alberta, Canada, over two years. She eventually relocated to the U.S. and transitioned into project controller scheduling, and discovered she liked that position best.

Lavelle’s PM background has been advantageous as a scheduler. She said, “I take the total scope of the job and break it down into manageable segments. I make sure that the phases of work are in the right order, and enough time is allotted to each one.” Her favorite part of the job is the end result. “I love to see a building we’ve done and say that I had a wee part in it.”

tainable building. Thus, after getting an architectural degree, Pyszka stayed on at PROCON as an assistant project manager, focusing on sustainable building practices. She said, “I gather information from our architects and construction team for all of our sustainable projects.” In her role, she not only monitors the company’s environmental building

standards, but she also assists with closeout warranties as well as following up on postconstruction issues.

These four women from PROCON prove that if you work hard and never give up, it’s possible to carve out a successful career as a woman in construction.

Carol Duhart is the creative writer for PROCON Inc.

Leslie Del Sesto Assistant project manager “I have never felt like the only female in the room at our company because there is such tremendous respect for everyone, male or female,” said Del Sesto. She worked at PROCON for five years before leaving to raise her children. She later returned, but on a slightly condensed schedule. “I always knew that if I returned to construction, it would have to be at PROCON. I get to drop off and pick up my kids daily. It is not unusual for me to discuss a project on the phone while driving them around. It shows my kids that I have another important job besides being their mom, and I really appreciate that PROCON allows me to do that.”

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN Construction WEEK and the important impact of women in our industry.

Kim Pyszka Assistant project manager Pyszka interned her way into a construction role while studying to be an architect at Keene State College. But, in her junior year she became more interested in sus-

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Women in Construction

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March 2019

IESC Profiles Four Women in Construction Boston – Interstate Electrical Services (IESC) is recognizing four of its outstanding employees in honor of Women in Construction month.

connect with people. There are few things I have found to be more fulfilling than fostering relations built on understanding and service.”

She is optimistic that “the construction industry is changing,” and that we’ll continue to see more women and minorities entering the trades. “A smart company knows that when it harnesses inclusivity, it is not only building itself into a better resource to reach its customers but widening its talent pool. You owe it to yourself to try new things, you must be brave. It might feel daunting, and you might feel uncertain, but do not doubt that you belong everywhere you go.”

Morgan Doherty Morgan Doherty is the marketing coordinator at IESC. She has been with the company for almost two years, having started out as an administrative assistant and quickly working her way up from within.

Doherty appreciates the passion and drive of her coworkers, and that the leadership team at Interstate “harbors an environment that drives you to learn more.”

As part of the marketing team, she loves that the job “urges me to dive into the deep end of my creative side to

couldn’t find the right field of study that was a fit for her. Five majors and two colleges later, she decided to take a break from studies and worked in retail for a few years. Looking for something more fulfilling, she embarked on a one-year electrical trade training program, and knew she had found her calling. “For the first time in my life, I did really well in school and knew I’d found my place.”

Gallagher is now five months into the electrical apprenticeship program at Interstate and is enjoying every minute of it. “It’s a lot of fun. Everything is so new to me and there’s a lot to learn and I love soaking it all in. I never know exactly what the day has in store, so every day is an adventure.” She is working towards getting a journeyman license and potentially her master license after that.

Gallagher points out that it might never occur to women like her to enter the electrical trade. “In high school, some of my best friends were guys who were doing the electrical program at their vocational school. It never occured to me that that could be a potential career for me. I don’t think electrician is presented as an option to many women. But they should absolutely go for it!”

Kelly Gallagher Kelly Gallagher is a first-year apprentice at Interstate Electrical Services, who

WIC Profile: Heather Waice Project manager at JM Coull After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 2011 with a BS in civil engineering, Heather Waice interviewed at JMC after being recommended by a current JMC employee.

Unfortunately, at the time, the firm didn’t have an available opening in operations, but recognized her enthusiasm and potential and offered to bring her on in a temporary administrative role until a position became available.

A dedicated employee, Waice worked hard to be promoted up the ranks, and it wasn’t long after she was hired that she became a project engineer. Over the next several years, she was promoted, first to assistant project manager, and then to her current position as project manager.

She has managed a number of projects for JMC clients such as Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern University, Charles River Community Health, Safecor Heath, and Waters Corporation.

She has also successfully taken the lead on some unique academic projects.

A prime example of this is the 17,000sf addition and renovation to the Discovery Museum in Acton, Mass.

Additionally, she managed the new 33,000sf, $12.6 million performing

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Allisyn Mowrey

arts center and gymnasium project for Whitinsville Christian School, that is JMC’s largest academic project to date.

Both of these projects earned Associated Builders and Contractors’ Excellence in Construction Awards.

Throughout the past seven years, Waice has demonstrated exceptional professional growth and development and has established herself as an experienced project manager.

As one of the more senior members of JMC’s operations group, she mentors JMC assistant project managers and is consistently recognized for her honesty, integrity, and dedication to her clients and their building needs.

Allisyn Mowrey is an electrical apprentice at Interstate Electrical Services, having been in the apprenticeship program for almost a year. She originally intended to go into the dental field, but at the suggestion of a friend, took an exploratory course in electrical that changed her mind.

She was fascinated by “the whole concept of understanding how electricity worked,” and the thought that she’d be able to wire her own house one day.

Mowrey finds fulfillment in the feeling of an honest day’s work — that she can begin her day with a project in mind and then “at the end of the day I’ve finished my task and then some.” Her approach?

Don’t sweat the small stuff and focus on the big picture. “You can’t let the small stuff get to you — you have to be able to let things go.”

Are women put off by the gender imbalance in the construction trades?

She thinks so, but encourages anyone

interested to pursue the electrical trade.

“Definitely do it! It’s a great opportunity to learn so much.”

Tiffany Stanewicz Tiffany Stanewicz is an assistant electrical designer at Interstate Electrical Services and has been with the company for three-and-a-half years. Previously in the medical field, she was introduced to the electrical trade by her then-boyfriend (now husband), an electrician who is passionate about the field. She was immediately intrigued by the industry.

“The electrical trade provided me an opportunity to create and to build not only on projects but also on myself. Every project seems to bring new interesting challenges. I get to collaborate with an amazing team to overcome obstacles and bumps in the road as they arise all while building a lifelong meaningful career.”

...there’s “never been a better time for women to defy gender norms and embrace their value as a skilled trade worker.” It’s an exciting field that women have historically overlooked, but if more women “had the opportunity to explore it they may fall in love with it.”

Stanewicz values the collaboration necessitated by the electrical trade and especially Interstate’s team-centric approach, where she gets to interact with a number of different departments, noting, “I get to assist with layouts of electrical devices, communications, and fire alarm.

I also get to generate project light fixture schedules, generate photometric analysis models and calculations with various software.” The most rewarding part?

Seeing her completed projects “come alive.”

As for encouraging other women to enter the trades, she says there’s “never been a better time for women to defy gender norms and embrace their value as a skilled trade worker.” It’s an exciting field that women have historically overlooked, but if more women “had the opportunity to explore it they may fall in love with it.”

Women in Construction

March 2019

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Callahan Hosts Women in Trades Summit

(l-r) Kathy Nugent, Bridget Nee-Walsh, Jessica Mapplebeck, Jessica Anthony, Britni Silcox, Hannah Pirez at the 2017 Summit Skilled trade workers attending the First Women in Trades Summit 2017. (Front row, l-r) Hannah Pirez and Jessica Anthony of Callahan Construction, with Quincy High School students

Bridgewater, MA – According to government statistics, only 9.1% of all construction industry employees are women. Callahan Construction Managers acknowledged this workforce discrepancy and hosted its first Women in Trades Summit in 2017.

This year, Callahan will once again collaborate with Quincy High School’s Career Vocational & Technical Education (CVTE) programs (automotive technology, carpentry technology, electrical technology, metal fabrication and joining technologies, and plumbing technology) to host the event and provide local students with the chance to learn more about life in the trade industry.

The half-day, biannual summit allows female students to network with trade unions and community groups in the hopes of developing relationships, mentorships, and future employment opportunities.

Teachers and guidance counselors also attend so that they may support the endeavors of their students. Perhaps most importantly, the summit affords students the chance to hear firsthand about the various experiences of women across a number of trade industries. The event is broken into three segments, with panels offering invaluable career and life advice.

Over 200 female students attended the first event, and Callahan hopes for

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even greater attendance this year. “We were thrilled with the response of the last event, and hope to interact with even more students this year,” said Patrick Callahan, president of Callahan Construction Managers. “We are constantly seeking opportunities to interact with and develop the future of our industry.”

Quincy’s CVTE program offers a unique opportunity for students in the city. In many school districts, students must decide to pursue a vocational

education prior to high school, but Quincy is unique. The city allows students to experience vocational education alongside academic course of studies, allowing them to decide on their career path. One of the goals of Quincy’s CVTE program is to provide students with invaluable, specific workforce skills, which include entrepreneurship and management, as well as technological knowledge and skills. Through collaboration with various industry partners, Quincy believes that the educational resources provided will open doors to careers, colleges, and the future.

This year’s summit participation includes Callahan Construction, Ironworkers Local 7, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office for Career Vocational Technical Education, IBEW Local 103, New England Carpenters.

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March 2019

Addressing the AEC/O Workforce Shortage:

How to Attract and Retain Women in Today’s Talent Pool bias, male-dominated leadership, the pay gap between men and women in the profession, and work-life balance issues.

by Maria Loitz and Sarah Giardini The workforce shortage in the AEC/O industry requires immediate solutions, so why is it that approximately half of the world’s population is being discouraged from the extensive job opportunities in this market?

Greatly outnumbered by their male counterparts, women accounted for only 18.7% of engineering school graduates in 2015. What is more troubling is that 40% of women who earned engineering degrees either quit the profession or never entered the field at all. The same is true for women architects. In the United States, even though nearly one half of architecture school graduates are women, only 18% of licensed practitioners are women. The industry is struggling to attract and retain women in these professions. Several factors account for this, including gender

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We need to understand that gender balance isn’t a male versus female issue. Men and women both need to drop stereotypes and biases, and companies need to focus on ways of working that are performancefocused and performance-enhancing for everyone. Many organizations in the AEC/O industry remain dominated by male leaders, which can create a roadblock for women who are left out of internal social networks but are trying to move up the career ladder.

Fostering a culture of inclusiveness, building a women’s network within an organization, or encouraging membership in organizations such as the Professional Women in Construction, are ways to empower women to grow their networks and advance their careers. The benefits of women’s networking organizations in helping women establish themselves in professions dominated by men is well established.

Gender pay inequity is an issue that crosses all professions and industries,

including the AEC/O industry. According to the 2015 U.S. Census Bureau, women who worked full time in wage and salary jobs had earned 83% of men’s median weekly earnings. Female architects and engineers aggregated earned 82% of what their male counterparts earned, with data showing that civil engineers earned 90.1% of their male counterpart’s earnings. The construction pay gap ranks best overall among all industry professions, with women earning 91.3% of what men earn.

Reasons for pay inequity have been extensively studied. In 2013, the State of Connecticut Gender Wage Gap Task Force identified possible reasons for lower starting salaries and positions.

Occupational segregation, or women choosing traditionally female occupations that pay less than male occupations, is a key factor in the overall disparity. Lack of negotiation skills was identified as another factor for pay inequity. Research has shown that relatively small differences in starting salaries can make a considerable impact over a career.

CREW Network released their 2016 Industry Research, which shows that women are asking for raises almost as often as men; however, they are rewarded raises 25% less often. According to CREW’s research, women under 40, on average, make approximately $25,000 less annually than men in the same age bracket. As women and men age, the gap grows to $50,000 annually. Using the same data, CREW network’s survey found the pay gap increases significantly between mid-level/associate position and senior level position. Supervisors should use objective statistics and measures when providing information, voicing concerns, or providing feedback. The more objective the performance evaluation criteria are, the easier it is to evaluate men and women in the same manner.

Leaving the workforce during childbearing years can affect women’s earning potential in future years. It is estimated that having a child costs the average high-skilled woman $230,000 in lost lifetime wages compared to similar

women who never gave birth. Having children has relatively little effect on a man’s earnings, although men without children earn less, on average, than men with children.

New moms who have access to paid family leave are more likely to return to work nine to twelve months after having a child. Moreover, women who report leaves of 30 or more days are 54% more likely to report wage increases in the year following the child’s birth than are women who take no leave at all. However, women that take a prolonged leave of absence are faced with a substantial setback in their wages upon their return to the labor market.

Considering one of the most prominent factors for leaving the AEC/O industry is related to time with family, paid family and medical leave benefits could create a more desirable work environment to retain employees. By fostering a culture that promotes flexibility for all employees, including work-at-home and flexible schedules, an organization can create a supportive environment that attracts and retains loyal employees.

Overall, the AEC/O industry faces significant issues in retaining, replacing, and growing our workforce. By equitably promoting and developing women, we can create a desirable path that will attract an even larger pool of tomorrow’s talent, allowing the industry to develop its current workforce to positions of leadership from within.

This article is an amended excerpt from the book, The Future of the Design and Construction Industry: Construction Industry Conversations, a selection of essays by the Construction Institute’s 2016-2018 Board of Advisors.

Maria Loitz, FSMPS, CPSM serves as an associate principal and director of marketing for BVH Integrated Services, P.C. in Connecticut.

Sarah Giardini is a business development / marketing coordinator for JCJ Architecture in San Diego, California.

Women in Construction

March 2019

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Women in Construction: CUBE 3

by Nik Middleton At CUBE 3, we believe in equal opportunity, and we’re proud to have a strong team of women lead various roles within our organization. From providing financial support, to the hands-on design work they lead with our clients, they unquestionably improve our business and our culture — with humor, dedication, and humility.

As our business has grown and evolved over the years, so has our female workforce. The 35 women on our staff, including Angela Juliano, Danielle Meri, Michele Quinn, and Talia Cannistra, have proven to be visionary leaders across our business, bringing keen insight and a strong voice to our national presence.

Collectively, their impact continues to influence and inspire the work we do.

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In this industry you always need to be pushing the envelope to stay ahead.

Keeping up is just not good enough. If you see a new product that is really innovative . . . figure out a way to use it before it becomes commonplace. It’s a fast-paced environment, and deadlines are plentiful, but you need to find ways to stay engaged and passionate. Also, you need to keep learning in order to continue to grow professionally. Never stop learning. Go see places you have never been before and pull design in from all elements of your life.

— ANGELA JULIANO Angela Juliano, LEED AP, NCIDQ, IIDA, principal, remarks: “In this industry you always need to be pushing the envelope to stay ahead. Keeping up is just not good enough. If you see a new product that is really innovative . . . figure out a way to use it before it becomes commonplace. It’s a

Women in Construction, Lawrence, Mass.

fast-paced environment, and deadlines are plentiful, but you need to find ways to stay engaged and passionate. Also, you need to keep learning in order to continue to grow professionally. Never stop learning. Go see places you have never been before and pull design in from all elements of your life.”

Our senior team continues to lead from the front, and they believe in helping everyone achieve their goals. They mentor and encourage all professional advancements, including becoming a registered architect. Michele Quinn is one of our newest registered architects.

She continues to grow and always strives to become a better leader, sharing this knowledge for upcoming designers: “Architecture school tends to teach us to be competitive. Rather than follow this lead, I recommend finding a support group of fellow classmates or coworkers that you can relate to in your endeavor. At the end of the day, if you all want to be licensed, you all can be; having a support group to ask questions with, get advice from, and be accountable to can prove to be very helpful when studying gets tough.

Use this group as a motivator to keep working toward your goals, but remember that everyone is different, has different situations, has different study styles, and different personal and professional commitments. Just because you study together does not mean that you will be successful at the same rate. Take the time that you need and be supportive, ” said Michele Quinn, AIA, senior project manager.

This talented team has been at the helm of some of our favorite ongoing projects, including The Standard at State College, Illini Tower Student Village, The Nightingale, and Upper Falls – Needham Street.

Our mission is to provide the best design experience and value for the unique needs of each of our clients, and our diverse team of architects and interior designers work daily to meet those challenges and exceed our collective expectations with their thoughtful, creative approach.

Nik Middleton, RIBA is founding senior partner / CEO at CUBE 3.

CUBE 3 Office, 160 State Street, Boston

Campus Living Villages The Edge Student Village | Philadelphia, PA

Lawrence, MA

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Boston, MA

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Miami, FL

architecture | interiors | planning 978.989.9900

info@CUBE3.com

CUBE3.com

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Women in Construction

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March 2019

Women and Men at Work: The 2019 Women Who Build Summit

by Nancy Greenwald and Aimee Hernandez In the growing A/E/C world, the need for professionals who are sure of themselves and their abilities is ever growing. What skills do we need to lead the industry into the future?

A powerhouse panel of industry leaders kicked off the Construction Institute’s day-long Women Who Build Summit, February 21, by sharing insights gained through their personal stories.

Laura Cruickshank, associate vice president, master planner and chief architect, of the University of Connecticut, told us that an important lesson she’s learned over the years is “to keep the big picture in mind while focusing on the details.” Frank Hayes, chief operating officer/building division president, BOND Brothers, Inc., whose industry career

Women Who Build Summit / photo courtesy of Mark Sandersont

began in the field, told the audience that they need to cultivate three types of skills as they move forward in their careers: technical, management, and leadership.

“Learn to be a good communicator” was the advice from Kevin Griggs, president and CEO of Fuss & O’Neil. Patricia Filippone, executive director, University of Massachusetts Building Authority, says her approach has always been to learn as much as she can about the jobs she has done and to take risks. “Put yourself

WIC Profile: Julia Hall Community compliance coordinator at Dimeo Construction Company Julia Hall’s career in construction started when she took a temporary assignment as a front desk receptionist for Dimeo Construction Company in Providence, R.I. She settled in quickly and excelled in this role with her natural ability to communicate and help people.

She received her associate’s degree in liberal arts from the Community College of R.I., and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhode Island College.

In May 2019, she will receive her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Rhode Island.

Hall was promoted to community compliance coordinator and now travels all over New England to promote an increase in women, minority, and resident trade workers.

Hall has met with and supported various nonprofit, private and public organizations in their efforts to mentor, recruit, educate, and retain women and minorities in the construction industry.

As community compliance coordinator, her accomplishments include: recognition from the Greater Lowell Workforce

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out there,” she advised, which means letting people know what you can do and what you want to do. Their advice about undesirable qualities was just as valuable.

According to our C-suite panel, the three attributes that are most negative are “ego,” “being too political,” and “failure to listen.”

“How Obstacles Can Become Opportunities” was the title of the keynote speech by Denise M. Berger, chief of operations/engineering department, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who shared her personal career growth story and all the trials and “aha” moments that moved towards her present position. Three themes emerged from her story.

“Be an advocate for yourself.”

If you know your value and you know your strengths, don’t be afraid to demonstrate them in your career.

Board for extraordinary service and dedication to greater Lowell’s connecting activities program, and becoming a member of the American Contract Compliance Association.

Through these outreach efforts, Hall can introduce people, as young as high school students, to the possibility of a career with Dimeo or the contractor and subcontractor communities.

It’s also important to educate prospective members that the industry does not limit its employees to just one track; many people from the trade side can easily transition to the corporate/ professional side as Hall did.

She is also part of the AGC MA Diversity + Inclusion Committee.

“Have a vision.”

Figure out what you want out of your career and life, and create a game plan to make that happen.

“Accept challenges.”

Never be afraid of a challenge. Challenges are the time to show the world what we can achieve.

Muhammad Ali once said, “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.” If fear of failure prevents you from believing in yourself, that fear can separate you from your true potential.

The overarching theme of the day – collaborate to construct your future — brought together more than 280 industry professionals to learn, share experiences, and network.

True leaders are those who create leaders. Whether leading by example as a role model, mentoring, training, or supporting, true leaders are those who share their expertise and support throughout their careers. As an organization dedicated to promoting collaboration, leadership, and communication, the Construction Institute was proud to honor two individuals — Champions of Change — who exemplify those qualities.

The 2019 Champions of Change were awarded to Laura Cruickshank, associate vice president, master planner and chief architect, University of Connecticut and James Kodman, associate director of facilities engineering and construction at Pratt and Whitney. Over the years, each has demonstrated a consistent and generous commitment to mentoring young people in the industry and a special commitment to supporting the training and advancement of women.

The overarching theme of the day – collaborate to construct your future – brought together more than 280 industry professionals to learn, share experiences and network. The Construction Institute looks forward to holding its fifth Annual Women Who Build Summit in 2020 Nancy Greenwald is the executive director of the Construction Institute.

Aimee Hernandez is a senior at the Barny School of Business, University of Hartford and an intern with the Construction Institute.

Women in Construction

March 2019

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A Team Effort: Providing Stepping Stones for Women to Succeed in Construction empower women and give them a path into a rewarding career that provides job satisfaction, financial stability, and the flexibility to still care for their families.

Together with the PGTI, they are working toward the goal of having 20% women in the building trades by 2020.

by Emily Langner Associate Editor High-Profile The Policy Group on Tradeswomen’s Issues (PGTI) has outlined 13 strategies for increasing gender and racial diversity on construction sites. In addition to protecting labor agreements, establishing a comprehensive reporting and monitoring system, and imposing fines on subcontractors that don’t comply with their contracts, two of the strategies for diversifying the industry appear strikingly straightforward: Prioritize diversity and hire more women.

While it may sound easy, and Massachusetts is actually ahead of the curve when compared to the national average, the challenge is one that requires well-planned and well-executed solutions, and is definitely a team effort.

The Northeast Center for Tradeswomen’s Equity’s (NCTE) campaign, Build a Life That Works, is a Massachusetts outreach and marketing campaign designed to raise awareness about opportunities for women in the union building trades. Jordana Monteiro is the outreach coordinator for Build a Life That Works and says the first step is showing women that this is a viable career path for them. According to Monteiro, one important function of the organization is to “help women recognize that this work is something they are capable of doing, and that there are already a lot of women doing it.”

The NCTE does this by hosting Tradeswomen Tuesday events every month in Boston and Springfield. These info sessions are an introduction to the industry and a chance for attendees to talk with other women already working in construction about their experiences onsite, what hourly wages they can expect, and the variety of jobs available.

The sessions are open to anyone and, with no prior registration required, are a great opportunity for women to discover if a career in construction is right for them.

Monteiro is also the case manager and outreach coordinator for Building Pathways, an organization that creates opportunities for low-income area residents to access and prepare for building trades apprenticeships and familysustaining careers in the construction industry. Building Pathways offers a free

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Current demographics of women and people of color in registered apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts 2018 (Quarter 3) / data provided by the Division on Apprenticeship Standards, 10/18 / courtesy of PGTI

six-week pre-apprenticeship program and has a goal of 50% enrollment of women in its classes.

The program prepares students for an upcoming apprenticeship. Students learn the history of labor and construction, receive their OSHA 10 and CPR certifications, receive hands-on experience and case management on issues such as childcare, transportation, housing, healthcare, and financial and legal services.

Monteiro considers the course the first step for someone who is serious about entering the construction industry.

Monteiro says an important part of the pre-apprenticeship program is the diversity training it provides to all who enroll. “Learning the history of construction is important so people can understand why incorporating women is so important,” she says. “Another great part of Building Pathways is that we’re teaching women and men together. They grow together, they love and care about each other and support each other, and want to see each other succeed. We’re trying to get these groups out into the field to be the leaders and to bring this message of accepting and supporting each other, and showing others the importance of having that diversity.”

Building Pathways and NCTE are giving women the knowledge, the tools, and the support to succeed in the construction industry. They work to

There’s really nothing a woman can’t do. It’s important to make sure they are educated about the many different career options that exist in construction, and to ensure that the opportunities are made available to them.

If they will take that leap of faith and believe in themselves, we’re always going to make sure they have the support they need to succeed.

— JORDANA MONTEIRO Monteiro says, “There’s really nothing a woman can’t do. It’s important to make sure they are educated about the many different career options that exist in construction, and to ensure that the opportunities are made available to them.

If they will take that leap of faith and believe in themselves, we’re always going to make sure they have the support they need to succeed.”

Tradeswomen Tuesdays for women interested in construction careers Join us to learn about opportunities for women in the union building trades.

Upcoming Dates: Roxbury, MA March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5, December 3

Holyoke, MA May 28 September 24

Springfield, MA March 26 July 23 November 26

For more information: BuildALifeMA.org or 857-800-8881

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Women in Construction

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March 2019

Women at Windover: Strength in Numbers the construction industry.

Below are six of our many celebrated women leaders within our project management group that we are proud to call teammates and co-owners. by Hannah Ginley At Windover Construction we have a mantra: “We ‘are our people’ includes all our people.”

As an organization, we firmly believe in creating and fostering opportunities for all members of our team, so creating a space where women within the industry can learn, grow, and succeed is of the utmost importance.

At Windover Construction we have a mantra: “We ‘are our people’ includes all our people.”

When it comes to leadership within the construction industry, the statistic of women in those positions gets even smaller. Thus, we’re proud to celebrate the women in our project management group, as many have spent over a decade of their lives focused on honing their skills and perfecting their craft in

Sylva Benanchietti Assistant project manager A results-oriented professional with 25 years of experience, Benanchietti’s drive and sense of urgency are tempered by her accuracy and quality of the details of any work for which she is responsible.

“I take immense pride in the work I have accomplished at Windover. I believe if you enjoy and take pride in what you do, this will show positively in your output. The variety of my role contributes to a great sense of accomplishment.”

Meg Kearney Project manager Approaching every project with a wellrounded background and expertise of 15 years on the job, Kearney works to create trusting partnerships with each project stakeholder and project team.

“I’m very proud of my career, which started with the Rogers Williams

(l-r) Melissa Narva, Dawn Mooney, Meg Kearney, Lisa Sletten, Jennifer Robitaille, and Sylva Benanchietti / photo by Windover Construction

University construction management program and has grown from my professional experiences in project management. I have earned a seat on RWU’s Advisory Board that gives me the opportunity to give back and advocate for students so they have the tools to become as successful as I have.”

Dawn Mooney Assistant project manager Focused on creating a lasting and memorable experience for all clients and team members, Mooney has over 16 years in the industry across all sectors.

Celebrating

Women in Construction

Academic | Nonprofit & Commercial | Residential www.windover.com

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“I am thankful for the positive relationships I have been building within the industry and am humbled

by Windover’s support as I continue learning from my mentors and building confidence in my abilities.”

Melissa Narva Project manager With 15 years in the industry creating trusting relationships, Narva understands how to achieve her clients’ expectations within budget while working on fastpaced time lines.

“The best part of what I do is seeing a project come together from start to finish — all the hard work I put in has a tangible result. It is very rewarding to drive around Boston and the North Shore and point out projects I’ve worked on. It reminds

me of all the great relationships I’ve built with clients, architects, and subcontractors.”

Jennifer Robitaille Senior project manager A proactive and dynamic team player, Robitaille uses her 18 years of experience to balance the project schedule within budget and deliver a result that exceeds all expectations.

“With projects that span months, you become somewhat of a family, so making and maintaining relationships with internal and external teams far beyond the completion of the project is very fulfilling.”

Lisa Sletten Project manager With over 11 years of experience, Sletten is a critical thinker, always taking a team approach to construction efforts while maintaining positive relationships with both clients and peers.

“I greatly value the lessons and information I have learned and continue to learn from my colleagues on the job, as these opportunities and experiences have set the foundation of my career.”

Hannah Ginley is chief people officer at Windover Construction Company, Beverly, Mass.

Women in Construction

March 2019

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WIC Profile: Lucy Frye

WIC Profile: Sheryl Guglielmo

Senior project engineer at C.E. Floyd Company

Project manager at DiPrete Engineering

Lucy Frye has been with C.E. Floyd Company for over five years. She’s currently tasked with managing the company’s office renovation and expansion while continuing her responsibilities on a theater addition and art studio renovation at The Umbrella in Concord, Mass.

Frye double majored in architectural studies and art history at Connecticut College. “While I studied architecture in college,” she says, “I was attracted to the construction industry because it allows me to get involved in and learn about so many different aspects of a project rather

Sheryl Guglielmo joined DiPrete Engineering in 2006 after earning a degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. As a project manager, Guglielmo is responsible for client satisfaction throughout a project’s life cycle.

Over the past five years, the majority of Guglielmo’s work has been concentrated in the Massachusetts markets. She is currently working on a number of the firm’s projects in Dedham, Canton, Fall River, Walpole, Norwell, Belchertown, and Methuen.

She has also had the opportunity to reach into the northern New England markets, recently completing the permitting of a convenience and fueling facility in Salem, N.H. “Sheryl’s significant talent in design and project management, and her knowledge of the Massachusetts regulatory system and real estate market, is a valuable asset to our firm,” said Dennis DiPrete, president of DiPrete Engineering. “Her strong work ethic and commitment to her clients is outstanding.”

Guglielmo is also leading the civil design for the 200,000sf Infinity Meat Solutions project located at Quonset Business Park.

Frye’s advice to anyone joining this industry is to build a supportive network around you. than just design. While this work certainly keeps me on my toes, I love being able to work with the different trades and see all the moving parts come together into a complete building at the end.”

Frye’s years on the crew team at Connecticut College taught her valuable skills such as time management and working with all different personalities.

At school she managed a full course load while rowing 3 hours a day, forcing her to learn to schedule her day effectively and prioritize items, both of which she does daily at C.E. Floyd.

While in rowing the goal is to go fast and row well no matter who you’re teamed up with, she credits her success to forming relationships with the people she works with: the client, subcontractors, architect, and her coworkers. Frye’s advice to anyone joining this industry is to build a supportive network around you.

One of her most notable projects is her ongoing involvement with the redevelopment of Garden City Center dating back to 2012.

“The best part about my job is working for a company who is truly invested in my success,” said Guglielmo. “When I am encouraged to do what I do best every day, I can have more positive, creative, and innovative moments to share with clients and colleagues.”

Guglielmo serves on the Attleboro Planning Board and is on the planning committee for the International Council of Shopping Centers’ New England Conference & Deal Making. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, climbing the leaderboard on her Peloton, and outdoor cycling in the warmer months.

ALTA/ACSM LAnd TiTLe SurveyS | BoundAry And TopogrAphiC SurveyS due diLigenCe STudieS | ConCepTuAL pLAnning | SiTe engineering

Ursuline Academy Architect: ARC

AdA iMproveMenTS | reguLATory perMiTTing | STorMwATer MAnAgeMenT

Photo: Warren Patterson

LeASing exhiBiTS www.cefloyd.com

| ASSeT MAnAgeMenT SupporT |

ConSTruCTion ServiCeS

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March 2019

WIC Profile: Kimberly Joyce

WIC Profile: Lisa Podgurski

Senior project manager at Colantonio Inc.

Manager of business development, IBEW Local 103 & NECA Greater Boston

With 30 years of estimating and project management experience, Kimberly Joyce has honed the necessary skills to run a successful construction project, but it is her teamwork talent that she values most.

Her background includes a BS in architectural engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology and a wide range of projects in the academic, industrial, biopharmaceutical, hospitality, office, and retail markets, which has connected her with a diverse set of owners, designers, and subcontractors.

The best part of my job is collaborating with so many different kinds of people on every project.

“The best part of my job is collaborating with so many different kinds of people on every project,” said Joyce. “I’ve learned how to read my project partners and to understand how they prefer to communicate. Knowing their priorities and following through on expectations are key to being a good team player.” She says that her work also requires close attention to detail, strong organizational skills, the ability

to multitask, and an excellent memory, especially when running multiple projects at once.

Joyce loves that she learns new things on every job and that she is never bored.

She also enjoys Colantonio’s family-like work culture. Her favorite Colantonio project so far was the Mystic Water Works, an adaptive/reuse project for the Somerville Housing Authority. She found it deeply satisfying to repurpose an abandoned, historical building as affordable housing for the elderly.

Joyce keeps just as busy on the weekends, when she and her family spend time traveling and enjoying the outdoors, especially skiing, hiking, biking, and the beach.

Lisa Podgurski has been a driving force of the booming growth of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 and the National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston since becoming manager of business development in 2014.

Before being recruited by the union for her thorough expertise in business, construction, and green technology, Podgurski represented open shop, nonunion contractors for nearly 10 years as the executive director of the Massachusetts Electrical Contractors Association (MECA). She made the switch to the union industry to earn better benefits and equal pay to her male counterparts – something she never came close to obtaining in her many years in the open shop sector, despite her accomplished career.

In addition to spearheading new business development for Local 103 and NECA of Greater Boston, Podgurski serves as the union’s liaison to the renewable energy industry. She has honed her experience in green policy after many years of lobbying on Beacon

Hill. As Governor Patrick’s appointee, Podgurski served as a member of the Net Metering Taskforce, which proposed new, statewide policies surrounding renewable energy. Podgurski also sat as on the Electrical Licensing Board per Patrick’s gubernatorial appointment.

Today, Podgurski also serves on the planning board in the city of Quincy, where she resides. Podgurski is a powerhouse in Local 103, NECA and the electrical industry at large and a fantastic role model for young women looking to break into construction.

WIC Profile: Kenell Broomstein Business agent, IBEW Local 103 Kenell Broomstein is a dynamic and powerful leader who has earned her way from a rank and file IBEW Local 103 electrician to becoming the first woman of color to take on a business agent role at a major Boston construction union. As a business agent, she represents union membership in a range of capacities including generating work opportunities and engaging with community, industry, and political stakeholders. Recently, she led the union’s rigorous endorsement campaign in support of now U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, – coordinating Local 103’s organizing hours and liaising with Pressley’s office.

Broomstein is a leader of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus as well as a member of the IBEW International Women’s Committee, inspiring young women each day to push forward and stand up for their equality. She is an advocate for key issues within the trade industry, such as extended maternity leave, clean break areas, and nursing stations for mothers on the job.

Broomstein currently sits on the advisory board of Lynn Vocational Technical High School (her alma mater),

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as well as the Electrical Board of Madison Park Vocational High School in Roxbury, where she mentors young women across the state that are interested in pursuing careers in the building trades.

This year, Broomstein graduated from Harvard University’s Trade Union Program. She continues to develop her craft and strives to be a leader and positive role model for trades workers’ and women’s rights.

Women in Construction

March 2019

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WIC Profile: Ashley Williams

WIC Profile: Michele Marchand

Engineering department manager at Lockheed

Project manager at Lockheed

Ashley Williams manages the production and revision of shop drawings for various fenestration and panel products and has a hand in every project that Lockheed fabricates and installs.

She coordinates revisions to drawings based on feedback from general contractors, architects, engineers, vendors, project managers, and foremen, as well as reacting on the fly to coordinate updates necessary due to measured field sizes and existing conditions.

She leads her department to produce top-quality fabrication prints in addition to material orders and documents needed for frame fabrication on all projects.

Williams started her career at Lockheed as a CAD technician in 2010, bringing with her experience as the lead CAD technician at a leading building materials company, and quickly proved her skill and passion for producing great work.

She is detail-oriented, concise, thorough, informed, and eager to share her expertise and tips with the seven in-house CAD technicians she now supervises.

She works hard to be a valuable and adaptable mentor, leader, and resource for the Lockheed team as a whole, all

while ensuring she upholds the high set of standards she’s helped to cement in Lockheed’s engineering department.

Her goals for the future include streamlining department processes to boost efficiency, further building out her department with talented and passionate professionals, and seeking out new industry technologies to keep Lockheed a step ahead for their valued customers.

Williams is a tireless worker, but when she is not working, you can find her spending time with her husband, kids, and pets, at home and around New England.

She enjoys family time, baking, and crafting with her children.

Michele Marchand joined Lockheed as a project manager in 2010 after gaining five years of combined experience at a glazing contractor and leading building materials company.

She initially acted as an assistant to Lockheed’s veteran project managers, processing submittals, inputting purchase orders, logging change orders and submittals, and creating correspondence.

Her responsibilities quickly increased as she gained experience and demonstrated her skill and strong work ethic. She now oversees and manages the design, purchase, and installation of subcontract and general construction work, also managing deliverables and communication throughout entire construction projects.

While she was initially responsible for a yearly maximum of $5 million in work, Marchand now runs over $14 million of business.

Marchand is known throughout Lockheed as being a reliable, organized, thorough, considerate, fair, outspoken, observant, and detail-oriented team member.

She’s eager to take on new challenges and committed to producing perfection for customers. She enjoys working on projects from start to finish, seeing occupants’ enjoyment of finished products, making great

connections in the office and at the job site, and watching individuals she mentors grow and reach their full potential.

She acknowledges that women in the construction field still fight the stereotype that women don’t know as much about construction as men, but hopes this perception will continue to crumble. She overcomes this challenge by working hard and producing top-quality work day in and day out, consistently proving herself as an extremely valuable asset to Lockheed and everyone she works with.

Outside of work, Marchand enjoys relaxing with her family and attending to the bee hives in her backyard. She likes going to festivals and concerts, spending time with friends, and going to the beach in the summer.

Celebrating Women in Construction!

Woodland Elementary School (2016) Milford, MA

Project Manager Michele Marchand and Engineering Department Manager Ashley Williams are just two of the highly skilled, accomplished women who help make the Lockheed workforce exceptional.

Eastern Connecticut State University (2016) Willimantic, CT

Fairfield School of Nursing (2017) Fairfield, CT

Union Station (2017) Springfield, MA

Michele has managed countless successful commercial projects from start to finish, some of which are highlighted to the left, while Ashley oversees the production and revision of shop drawings on every single project Lockheed fabricates and installs.

These impressive women are highly valued and appreciated here at Lockheed. Thank you to Michele, Ashley, and all of the hard working women that contribute to Lockheed's continued success!

lockheedwindow.com • 800-537-3061 • P.O. Box 166 Pascoag, RI 02859-0166 www.high-profile.com

Women in Construction

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March 2019

WIC Profile: Alex Banks

WIC Profile: Kristen Ragosta

Project manager at Timberline Construction Corporation

Associate at Kenney & Sams, P.C.

Alexandrea Banks is the newest team member at the firm and brings over six years of experience in the construction industry. She has a Bachelor of Science in architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration with a focus in project management and sustainability at Clark University. Her background includes comprehensive experience with managing a diverse portfolio of projects ranging from $250,000 to $30 million. As a project manager, Banks has transitioned into new project accounts within the corporate and academic market sector with clients such as Bentley University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is also spearheading and developing a robust Corporate Responsibility Program with the senior leadership team, to implement into the company culture.

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program at Timberline encompasses the internal policies and strategies around four main initiatives that includes community, workplace, environmental, and market place. With the Timberline leaders, Banks has outlined a guide surrounding these initiatives to continuously

Kristin Ragosta counsels clients concerning complex business disputes pending in federal and state courts, where she has conducted over 100 trials, as well as in pretrial resolution processes. Her expertise is in strategically resolving design and construction issues, which complements her experience with employment and general litigation matters. She relentlessly focuses on client objectives, which define desired outcomes.

Ragosta is originally from Cranston, Rhode Island. Her family came to the United States from Europe in the 1900s, and her Italian relatives began selling meatballs to construction workers. As the family grew, members went on to serve in WWII and to become lawyers, judges, and probation officers. She followed suit as a public servant, starting her career as a lawyer in the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, where she honed her trial and advocacy skills.

Over the past decade, Ragosta has focused her career on advising participants in the construction industry.

Until August 2018, she was the youngest partner at the Boston law firm Donovan Hatem LLP. She has now joined Kenney & Sams where she continues to provide

improve the programs to ultimately make Timberline a better place to work She has taken best practices from her previous experience working for a large national construction management firm.

As a LEED Green Associate, Banks is able to provide our team with insight into processes, procedures, and costs associated with The WELL Building Standard, fitwel, and LEED. She has built the reputation for creative problem solving, team building, minimizing costs, and maximizing productivity.

In her free time, she loves to be outdoors whether hiking, kayaking, surfing, or camping. Her goal is to travel the world in her lifetime in order to get a better understanding and appreciation for the world around her.

excellent legal services to her design, construction, and business clients. She has been ranked by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Construction Litigation in Boston for the past three years.

Ragosta is married to Andrew Sparks, who is a family law attorney in Boston.

She and Andrew have two children, Kate and Drew. She is passionate about paving a path that integrates her dedication to zealously representing clients with her desire to spend time with her family, travel, sample exotic fare, and watch and participate in sports; and helps younger generations of women feel empowered to do the same.

WIC Profile: Brenda Kolbow Survey project manager at TFMoran

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At TFMoran, both the Bedford and Portsmouth offices proudly employ a number of women in construction.

One of these women is Brenda Kolbow, the survey project manager at the Portsmouth office, where she oversees a wide range of survey projects.

These projects include construction layout, local and state permitting, existing conditions plans for engineering design, and attaining municipal approvals for residential and commercial projects.

Kolbow has over 13 years of experience and is a licensed land surveyor in New Hampshire, Maine, and North Carolina. She earned an associate’s degree in surveying technology from Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton, N.C., while working in that area at a small surveying company.

“That was a huge benefit to me because it allowed me to be a part of projects from beginning to end, from the field to the office,” said Kolbow.

After getting her education and starting her career in North Carolina, she made the move north six years ago and says she is not looking back. “This area has provided great opportunities for me and my family, and I am very

happy to be here.”

Working in the construction industry is very technical with little room for error, which can be stressful at times, but she says she enjoys the challenge and seeing all the components come together: “From a small residential project of putting up a fence, to a commercial retail building, it is really satisfying to see the results of your hard work.”

TFMoran is honored to have her, along with other women professionals on its team.

Women in Construction

March 2019

17

WIC Profile: Jessica Anthony

WIC Profile: Hannah Pirez

Project executive at Callahan Construction Management

Assistant project manager at Callahan Construction Management

Jessica Anthony is constantly adapting.

“I love this career because I’m learning and improving each and every day,” says Anthony.

She worked her way up in the industry, beginning as an assistant project manager, improving her trade and building upon her previous experiences.

“I love working at Callahan because we all come from different professional backgrounds. That said, we can all collaborate, offer different experience, and achieve an outstanding result on our projects by providing unique perspectives.”

As Callahan grew, Anthony worked her way up, and appreciated the number of women the company was hiring. “It’s a testament to Callahan as an organization.

They want to hire good people — male, female, it doesn’t matter. They expect us all to contribute and move the company forward.”

Throughout her time in the construction industry, she has found that when she respects her colleagues, they in turn respect her.

Anthony graduated with a civil engineering technology degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology after

initially planning to become an architect.

Her change of heart came with the realization that she wanted to be part of the day-to-day construction operations and work with a team towards execution of a common goal.

“I love that I can drive through the Boston area and see 50 projects and locations that I’ve worked on in my career.

I am proud of the impact I have been able to have on the Boston community, and this pride drives me in managing our future projects.”

Growing up, Hannah Pirez always took an interest in construction. Watching her father manage his construction company, she traveled to job sites and gained insight and understanding into what construction entails.

After she graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in management, she joined Callahan Construction with the goal of project manager.

She researched various firms but chose Callahan because of its emphasis on family. “At Callahan, you’re not just a number — you’re working for a family and they appreciate everything you do for them. Growing up in a family-run business, and now working in familyrun business, you work harder. You feel you are working towards a greater cause because you feel you are a part of the family.”

Pirez noted that being a woman in a field of mostly men is sometimes a challenge; however, her ability to rise and take charge is what sets her apart. She understands the challenges from both a leadership and worker’s perspective,

gained from her experience in the industry.

“I feel I bring a different perspective on things — my experience working with my dad has allowed me to learn how best to address issues that may arise, such as a difference of opinion with a subcontractor.”

She uses her innate knowledge to show her strength as an assistant project manager and earn her stripes to move up.

“Callahan is a place where you get as much as you give, and I’m grateful for the opportunities and resources that have been provided.”

Have you heard?

Anastasia Barnes interviews guests in the AEC/O world discussing how we can transform our industry by embracing forward-thinking ideas, new technology and innovative solutions. Meet the leaders, visionaries and disruptors that are taking action to build a better world.

Look out for our next podcast:

Episode 1 Listen to Episode 1 on our website at https://www.high-profile.com/build-better-podcast/ or look for Build Better with Anastasia Barnes on SoundCloud and iTunes!

Episode 2 On Episode 2 of Build Better, Karrie Kratz of Gilbane Building Company tells our listeners how her company sells leaders, not buildings, and because of this Gilbane is at the forefront of training their employees – their most prized asset.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

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Women in Construction

18

March 2019

From Honey to Madame Chairman: A Retrospective

by Ingeborg Hegemann My first memorable construction oversight job was for a wetland mitigation project where the contractor really did call me “honey” and I was inexperienced, worried, and nervous. But the wetland ended up doing fine and DEP told me “You did it, this works!” Since that time, I’ve been involved with innumerable and diverse construction projects. I’ve also had the fortune to work with amazing teams – both internal to BSC Group and external, including clients, resident engineers, and contractors.

One of my construction monitoring projects was for a roadway improvement project in western Massachusetts. The grades were steep, the slopes difficult to stabilize, and retaining walls were high.

I was to meet the resident engineer to discuss an erosion issue. I parked my car, after dropping my kids off early at day care to get to the job site, and walked up the road, past the vehicles and equipment, through the noise and the activity, and

saw an eight-month pregnant woman standing near the point of concern. She was the resident engineer! I think we both started laughing when we realized both of us expected we would be meeting a man.

Looking to the future, BSC is working to develop a STEM workshop for youth ages 12-18 in order to inspire the next

Reaching children, especially girls, early can help address the gender and socio-economic gap that exists in many STEM fields and have a tremendous impact on the way we plan our infrastructure and for the future.

exists in many STEM fields and have a tremendous impact on the way we plan our infrastructure and for the future.

My career has seen real change in the number of women in construction. BSC’s support of women in the industry is solid. I am now one of 27 women at BSC acting as environmental or engineering construction inspectors and monitors on highway, utility, commercial, and residential construction projects. What’s more, the role of women at BSC Group is not just widespread across disciplines, but

also deep in our management team. A full third of our employee owners are women who have assumed leadership positions in the firm; 25% of our principals are women. And last summer, I was honored to be elected chairman of the company’s board of directors, taking my career full circle from “honey” to “madame chairman.”

Ingeborg Hegemann, PWS, is executive vice president and chairman of the board of directors for BSC Group.

WIC Profile: Heidi Aliski and Anette Balestrand

generation of problem solvers. The STEM sciences logically extend into the construction field. Reaching children, especially girls, early can help address the gender and socio-economic gap that

Heidi Aliski

Anette Balestrand

Heidi Aliski is the project manager and Anette Balestrand is the assistant project manager of Erland Construction.

Heidi Aliski started at Erland 12 years ago, joining the company as an assistant project manager.

Prior to 2007, she worked for a general contractor and a few architectural firms — having studied architectural engineering in college.

She was promoted to project manager in 2017 after successfully completing several complex projects and demonstrating her astounding leadership skills.

Anette Balestrand joined Erland a little more than a year-and-a-half ago. In that time, she has moved up through the ranks — starting out as a project engineer, transitioning to project engineer II, and ultimately taking on the role of assistant project manager.

Prior to joining Erland, she worked for an architectural products company and an exterior fabricators company.

While the challenges faced on a job are experienced by both sexes, for women in construction it can be difficult to work in a field that is predominately male.

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These issues can be overcome by building trust and attention to detail, which is exactly what Aliski and Balestrand did on a recent independent school project.

The duo completed a 20,250sf phased demolition and construction of a building that remained fully operational on an occupied school campus in Concord, Mass.

Having teamed up for the first time, they worked hard to develop how they would communicate — establishing their roles and responsibilities while understanding that as a team, they needed to remain flexible, learn from each other, and step up whenever needed.

They took the time to listen to one another and worked together to resolve issues more efficiently because of these communication efforts.

This is the same approach they took with the project team and the client — ultimately building collaboration and strengthening the team’s overall communication.

Women in Construction

March 2019

19

NECA Boston Celebrates NAWIC’s Women in Construction Week 2019 Boston – The NECA Boston Chapter proudly joined with Massachusetts construction industry organizations in celebrating National Women in Construction (NAWIC) Women in Construction Week, March 3 through March 9. The event highlighted the diverse and critical roles women play at all levels of the construction industry.

NECA Boston Chapter has many outstanding women among its membership, who have made significant contributions to all facets of the electrical construction industry. In fact, a number of NECA Boston member contractors, are women-owned businesses, including: • Absolute Renewable Energy KATE WEINSLAW • Aetna Fire Alarm Service Company, Inc. KATHLEEN GUINEE

NECA Sue Mailman Girls in Trades

organization in the electrical construction industry.

It’s an industry that’s so important to the future of our region and America. To be able to work closely with so many women leaders in our organization, as well as with our partners at IBEW Local 103, is inspiring. Together, the diversity of NECA contractors and our partners at IBEW is empowering the

• Chapman Construction Group VICKI CHAPMAN • Coghlin Electric Contractors, Inc. SUSAN MAILMAN • Dagle Elecrical Construction MAUREEN DAGLE • L .J. Mishel Electrical GINA MISHEL

WIC Profile: Danielle Skilling

• Radiant Electric, LLC. TARA SAXTON • Seaport Energy GINA MCLAUGHLIN

Kathleen Guinee

• Swan Electric MARIA FALLON • Yates Electric Services, Inc. JULIE MERRILL NECA Boston pays special recognition to the contributions of Kathleen Guinee, president of Aetna Fire Alarm Service Company, Inc., who serves on the NECA Boston Board of Trustees, and is the first woman-elected Chair of the Mass. Board of State Examiners of Electricians.

The Chapter proudly recognizes Susan Coghlin Mailman, principal of Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Inc., who serves as the current president of Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts. She also is a member of the Mass. State Apprenticeship Advisory Council.

NECA also congratulates the Greater Boston union electrical industry labor partners at IBEW Local 103, and the vision of Business Manager Lou Antonellis for the appointment of Kenell Broomstein to the position of business agent. The first female business agent in IBEW Local 103 history, she also serves as the second

current and future generation of women as electrical construction professionals.”

Gowin is actively involved in several industry organizations geared toward mentoring, including Massachusetts Girls in Trades, the National Electrical Contractors Association’s Women in NECA, and with the NECA Boston/ Wentworth Student Chapter.

Susan Mailman

district representative for the IBEW International Women’s Committee and is a member of the Greater Boston Labor Council Futures Committee.

Kenell continues to build a powerful career and is making significant contributions to the union electrical industry.

Kristen Gowin, assistant manager of NECA Boston Chapter, spoke of women in construction and also of her own career: “I am proud to have been able to build my career with NECA, the leading

Community affairs specialist in Massachusetts for Gilbane Building Company In this role, Danielle Skilling ensures all Gilbane projects in the Boston area are compliant with the company’s internal workforce diversity goals, as well the Boston Resident Job Program.

Nearly 30 years after being told that construction “wasn’t for girls,” Skilling has now established herself as a subject matter expert in the field of workforce diversity within the industry.

When asked about her current role and what she enjoys most, she said, “I love helping people find opportunities within the trades. Ensuring that we achieve our goal in regard to workforce diversity is great, but it is only part of my job; working in the community really gives me the most joy. Whether it be helping a young man get into the roofers’ union so that he is able to work one job instead of three or working with a young woman to explore a career path within the trades that will translate into a lucrative and rewarding career, I see a piece of myself in almost every person I mentor.”

Skilling is actively involved in various organizations throughout Massachusetts,

including Building Pathways Employer Advisory Committee, Massachusetts Girls in Trades, Madison Park Technical High School, and Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School.

She is an ACCA Master Compliance Administrator and is gearing up to pursue her Executive Certified Master Compliance Administrator Certification.

She will lead a workforce diversity program at the organization’s 2019 annual conference.

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Women in Construction

20

March 2019

Proud to Celebrate Women in Construction

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