By / Jessica Kirby
Women in Construction (WIC) Week is an opportunity to amplify women’s voices and an opportunity for them to show appreciation for one another and all they do to make construction better, says a representative with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
WIC Week ran March 6-12, and the theme this year was Envision Equity, with a focus on raising awareness about the wide range of opportunities and roles available for women including tradeswomen, project managers, administrative positions, and business ownership.
“As we know, they [women] make up a very small population in the construction industry, so we really want to be able to amplify their voices and raise awareness that women are here, they are a valuable asset to every single construction company, and they bring so many great skills,” said Makenzie Plusnick, communications manager with NAWIC, in a press release. “It’s important that construction companies are aware of the importance of adding women to their team.”
Every year, the team at SMACNA-Western Washington knocks WIC Week celebrations out of the park, and this year was no different. Although the presentations were virtual, they were informative, engaging, and just plain fun.
The festivities kicked off March 6 with the All State Hot Chocolate 5K Race, including a 15K virtual option. The event brought members together for fun, fitness, and camaraderie.
On Monday, the NAWIC Puget Sound Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and special guests gave a free virtual presentation that included a DE&I Panel. Guests included Rita Brown, President/CEO, BCC+; Ally Jencson President/CEO, Frontline Floor Coverings; Jeanette McArdle Project Executive, Prime Electric; Jennifer Morales, Underwriting Consultant, CNA; Melanie Ryan CEO, MFR Coaching Consulting; Shannon Tymosko, Electrical Apprentice, IBEW Local 105; and Gerri Harris, President, G. Harris Consulting, LLC.
There’s no one better to speak on Shattering the Glass Ceiling than Angie Simon, president of Western Allied and immediate past-president of SMACNA National. She gave a virtual presentation on Tuesday that encouraged strength, confidence, and innovation as men and women move forward into a new future for the sheet metal trade and the construction industry in general.
Angie told her story about how her father encouraged her to follow her interest in engineering, about how one of her first bosses told her he was a chauvinist and challenged her to convince him to change, and about being asked to leave a construction trailer because girls weren’t allowed—even though she was the project manager on the job. She also spoke of the great honor she has felt building a team as CEO at Western Allied, about finding balance between speaking out and getting the job done, and about the women and men with whom she has collaborated to build an admirable and rewarding career in sheet metal.
She left listeners with three important pieces of advice:
Leadership and learning are indispensable to one another. “I have always said I want to learn something new every day,” Simon said. “Learning helps me be a better leader. And I learn from everyone—interns, other contractors, my peer group, and SMACNA board members.”
A good, humble leader realizes they don’t need to know everything; they just need to hire good people around them.
“My former boss said it was his goal to surround himself with people smarter than him,” Simon said. “I have done that same thing, and our team at Western Allied is amazing. If I were gone tomorrow, the team would be fine and continue on without a problem. Leading is about serving the organization. If you are a good leader, you will have enabled them to be good and you should be proud of that.”
Routine is the enemy of innovation. “If you catch yourself saying, ʻI do it that way because I’ve always done it that way’, don’t be afraid to shake things up because change is hard but it’s good,” Simon said. “We are always changing, and if you aren’t, you aren’t moving forward.”
Members gathered Wednesday morning for AGC Culture of Care, a virtual breakfast and presentation meeting spotlighting ANEW and Arcade Wayfinding.
Kim Peterson of Uniquely Savvy knows the importance of making a name for yourself in the business world. She said everybody has a personal brand and that you are your brand. In her presentation, she shared that people need to buy into your personal brand before they buy your product, service, ideas, or brand of leadership. The question then becomes, “How can you holistically and authentically package to S.E.L.L. (speak, engage, look, and lead) the brand called “you” out loud with confidence, clarity, presence, influence, and impact?” In her presentation, Peterson shared tips for understanding what a personal brand is, why it’s a critical cornerstone in one’s professional development, and how you can begin to build and harness yours to attract more of who and what is right for you in your career, business, and life. Who wants to achieve greater fulfillment, confidence, and success with greater ease? You do.
Finally, to wrap up a fulfilling week of reflection and celebration, members enjoyed a virtual guided Loving Kindness Guided Mediation with Envision Equity Integration with Be Mediation. Anahi Russo Garrido, PhD, instructor with Be Mediation, began practicing meditation in 2001 in Mexico City and has studied Zen meditation since 2006. She is a graduate of the Sage Institute for Creativity and Consciousness, Meditation Leader Training Program and holds a PhD in Gender and Women’s Studies. She is the author of Tortilleras Negotiating Intimacy: Love, Friendship, and Sex in Queer Mexico City. She also teaches college and writes on transnational feminist and queer theories and immigration, and is developing a new writing project on meditation and activism.
WIC Week included a clothing drive all week for Rosie’s Closet—a resource set up to reduce barriers women face when entering the construction industry. In an effort to support female apprentices and others who are new to the skilled trade occupations, Washington Women in Trades created a women’s work clothes clearinghouse called Rosie’s Closet. Recognizing that job site clothing is both expensive an not readily available, Rosie’s Closet is committed to reducing barriers to women in the trades, providing access to the gear they need to be safe and comfortable on the job.
Learn more | wawomenintrades.com/rosie-s-closet
Donate or shop Rosie’s Closet | Drop-off at ANEW, AOP’s Kent Training Center, PSF, Hermanson, SMACNA-Western Washington, Holaday Parks, or ACCO.
Shop for Rosie’s Closet at Amazon Wish list:
amzn.to/34ALVEL
NAWIC’s first official WIC Week took place in September 1998. In the 20 plus years since, WIC Week has grown to become an event recognized industry-wide for encouraging networking, connection, sisterhood, and building a strong community of construction women. As WIC Week gained momentum, the event was moved from September to March to coincide with Women’s History Month. This enabled WIC Week events to cover a wider range of topics related to women’s struggles within the workplace in general, including the history of women’s rights, striking balance as working mothers, and how to be a mentor for young girls.
Learn more at NAWIC | nawicpugetsound.com
2022 WIC SPOTLIGHTS
Words and photos courtesy of SMACNA-Western Washington
I started drafting in high school and loved it. It wasn’t long after that when I decided drafting was my future. In the early days of my career, I did irrigation drafting and designing. After deciding I needed more of a challenge, I discovered mechanical drafting and found my place on the Holaday-Parks team. Watching projects go from conceptual sketches to real-world objects still amazes me.
The most interesting project I’ve ever worked on was the Seattle Space Needle—there is no other building like it. And my most memorable project was the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle. This was the first jobsite I ever visited that I had worked on, and I’ve never forgotten the impact that visit had on me.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry has meant having to prove myself as an expert and build trust with others in the industry so they believe in me and my abilities. I have also had the opportunity to bring different ideas from a different perspective to each project—which I feel makes a better-rounded team.
I’ve been at Holaday-Parks for 17 years and consider the people there my “work family.” I feel as close to some of my HP coworkers as my actual family. Within the CAD department, the atmosphere feels like I’m spending time with friends—we joke, laugh, and communicate openly and easily. The team works on projects from small to complex. We all collaborate and learn from each other, and I know my role as a CAD professional is important and more than “just drafting.” Looking ahead in my career, I’d like to start programming in our 3D drafting software (BIM) to automate tasks and assist with faster layouts and designs. BIM will be an exciting challenge for me, and I’m ready to add this to my skillset.
For those women out there thinking about a career in the construction industry—the sky is the limit. There are construction jobs in an office as well as at a jobsite. My advice would be to work hard and take advantage of all the learning opportunities that cross your path. Who knows, that next opportunity might just be working on the Space Needle! ▪
I interned with ACCO Engineered Systems in Orange County, California, during my last summer in college. During my internship, I was exposed to a variety of projects and enjoyed the collaborative and hands-on environment that accompanied the construction industry. Following graduation, I returned to ACCO full-time as a design engineer. Throughout the course of my career, I’ve relocated to ACCO’s Seattle office, worked to develop our internship program, and have worked closely with our construction department to improve interdepartmental communication.
When I first started working in the construction industry, I felt a pressure to fit a certain mold. It took many years for me to realize that my differences were strengths. I began to shift the perspective I had of my peers from “comparative” to “combinative.” Environments that are diverse in skills and personalities curate well-balanced teams, promote a healthier working culture, and ultimately produce higher quality deliverables. ▪
The year I officially entered the construction industry was 1989. What I love most about my career is that every day is different. I’m part of a team that builds places for people to work, live, play, and be cared for. I’ve worked for general contractors, electrical contractors, envelope remediation engineers, and now a mechanical contractor. I have completed ground-up facilities, tenant improvements, high-tech grocery stores, medical clinics, re-surfacing on a high-rise tower, and service.
Two projects are high on my list of most memorable. First, Lumen Field and Exhibition Center. To be part of the electrical team responsible for power and personally tracking over 260,000 light fixtures was amazing. The most challenging project was as an owner representative on a 26-storey building in Miami, removing stucco that was failing and replacing it with a new water barrier. Hanging in a swing stage 25 storeys above the ground is exhilarating and frightening!
My current role as service manager with Holmberg Mechanical has been an amazing road in my career path. I learn something new each day, have a great team to work with, and the opportunities are endless. ▪
I was inspired to join the construction industry by a mentor I had while at University of Washington. He was a project manager and described how rewarding the construction industry could be. My boyfriend also inspired me to join the industry, as he works for an electrical contractor. After graduating, I attended a career fair and was offered a position as a field controls technician at a controls contractor. Around a year later, I leveled up to a mechanical contractor, and I am now working as a project engineer.
It’s important for women to be in the construction industry because it helps bring more women into the industry. And with more women in the industry, it’s a step toward making the industry more diverse and better overall. There are several women in leading roles at my company that inspire me. ▪
After completing my bachelor’s of science in Chemical Engineering at San Jose State University in 2014, my career path led me to the construction industry as a part of the project management and operations team at Miller Sheetmetal.
As a project manager, I’m instrumental when it comes to working with the engineering and owner teams by adding a level of mechanical understanding to the contractor role. I most enjoy the technical difficulty of every project and building positive work relationships with our end customers.
I believe women should be in construction because we bring diversity, different perspectives, and a detail-oriented organizational strategy that ensures overall project and company success. ▪
