Julie Labonte, P.E., our global water program management director, shares her insight into what it means to be a woman in construction. Her perspective is echoed and supported across the multitude of women surveyed in preparation for WIC week.
Women in Construction
How can women shape the future of the construction industry?
Amanda Redick
Project Manager
South Carolina
"… by the same way all people shape the future of our industry — by adding depth and dimension to their teams through differing perspectives. With diversity in our project teams, we are better able to serve our diverse clients."
Jordan Leiminger
Project Manager
Colorado
"... by using our flexible nature to overcome changing site conditions, mediating challenges between stakeholders, and utilizing our detail-oriented mindset to proactively address problems before they become larger issues or claims."
Leticia Delira
Senior Records Keeper/Contract Compliance
Texas
"Through active participation, advocacy, education and leadership – all essential traits to be accepted in the construction industry – we are creating pathways for more women to succeed in the construction industry."
What advice do you give young women considering a career in construction?
Melissa Walker
Indiana Construction Services Lead
Indiana
"When I first started, I had the assumption it might be a negative to be a woman in construction. In actuality, when it comes to advancing your career, networking or being recognized in and around an industry, it improves my ability to being recognized or remembered since there are fewer of us. View being a woman as a positive!"
Tammera Buck
Technical Specialist Construction Materials
Colorado
"Explore all of your opportunities! There are a multitude of jobs within the construction field! There are many organizations out there that will help you. Get involved and reach out to other women in construction who could mentor you!"
Cynthia Ades
Construction Talent Lead
New Jersey
"In speaking with candidates every day and as a mentor to younger women, I always stress you can do anything you want. Give it your all and prove yourself, then no other factors stand in the way. I learned and lived this when I entered the industry and still stand by it today."
Anika Pietenpol
Inspector/Office Engineer
Colorado
"Having a construction management internship helped me understand daily jobsite tasks and gave me a practical application to the content learned in my classes afterwards. Internships are vital to helping determine your interests."
Bringing Unique Perspectives and Skills, Diversifying Teams, Pushing Boundaries
Clarice Kinsella
Program Management Director
Washington
"Having more women in the construction industry has the potential to make it a safer place for everyone to work in. The construction industry will also benefit from an additional dimension of experiences, opinions and resources — everything we need to achieve an ambitious infrastructure build goal."
Sophia Perez
Senior Project Controls Manager
Texas
"Women excel at multitasking, communication and problem-solving. Women can help increase productivity, enhance collaboration toward innovation, inspire organizational dedication, and improve altruism."
Laura Fulton
Senior Project Manager
South Carolina
"Women aren't afraid to debate issues, hence potentially coming up with new approaches to build infrastructure, which could save time and money for the industry and stakeholders."
Elaine Man-Hui Yip
Senior Construction Engineer
California
"Women provide a keen aspect to details and perspective, excel at multitasking and project management, and provide essential skills to help move a construction project forward successfully."
Alyssa Mathura
Construction Coordinator
Texas
"Women can provide a great understanding of emotional intelligence to help navigate successful conversations — yielding positive results for our team and projects."
Nikki DeNiro
Document Control Administrator
Utah
"Women are holding more high-level positions in construction and breathing new life into leadership. The best leaders involve their teammates and encourage growth and change."
