Professional Women in Construction - New York Chapter (PWC-NY) recently hosted an industry panel at The Yale Club in New York City. Over 100 people attended a Transportation Forum to hear news from industry leaders at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), Amtrak, and NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and to network with like-minded peers.
Panelists Jeannie Kwon, Vice President, Mega Program Development and Coordination, Amtrak; Kathryn Mallon, Chief Operating Officer, NYC Department of Environmental Protection; and Amanda Rogers, Deputy Chief Engineer, PANYNJ, presented details on capital projects and upcoming opportunities. A panel discussion followed, moderated by AECOM's Carol Boehm, where they offered insightful answers to questions about the industry from the attendees.
They addressed some of the new programs and strategies that their organizations have implemented to increase and enhance diversity initiatives and create change.
The panelists also reported that many companies have extended diversity efforts beyond the make-up of the organization itself to include supply chains and business partnerships, and that companies are committed to doing business with minority-owned, women-owned, and otherwise underrepresented vendors and partners.
In addition, the Transportation Forum discussed the local impact of the Equity in Infrastructure Project, which exists to reduce the racial wealth gap by improving public infrastructure contracting practices to create more prime, joint venture, and equity contracting opportunities for historically underutilized businesses.
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The Transportation Forum was made possible by the support of top sponsors E-J Electric and HNTB; and event sponsors AECOM, Amaracon Testing and Consulting, Armand, Citnalta, Gedeon Consulting, and WSP.
The event co-chairs were Rebecca Clark, Vice President of Operations, Skanska USA Civil; Bill Fife, PWC Transportation Forum Advisor; Katie Nilsen, Vice President, Development & Strategy, E-J Electric Installation Co.; Aine O’Dwyer, PE, Principal & CEO, Enovate Consulting; and Elizabeth Thompson, Vice President, Civil Department Manager, AECOM.
Professional Women in Construction is a nonprofit organization founded in 1980 to support and connect women and promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction, and related fields. The Transportation Forum was one of many PWC informative industry programs that are held throughout the year to help women advance in their careers.
PWC’s members represent a broad spectrum of the industry including general construction and specialty contractors, architectural and engineering firms, environmental services, and suppliers. Because the core client industries have many needs, PWC also draws representatives from law and accounting firms, insurance/surety and bonding companies, banks and financial services, graphic designers, printers, computer consultants, travel agencies, marketing specialists, and more. Membership is open to professional women and men, private companies, and public agencies in construction and allied industries.
