During the week of March 2-8, 2025, we recognize and celebrate Women in Construction (WIC) Week.

The first WIC Week was actually proclaimed in honor of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in September 1960 by Amarillo, Texas, Mayor A.F. Madison. As an international association, NAWIC leadership eventually moved its WIC Week celebration to the first full week of March to coincide with the recognition of International Women’s Day on the first Tuesday in March. WIC Week has been celebrated by NAWIC’s members annually (and officially) since 1998.

WIC Week celebrations aim to bring awareness to the industry and the women in it. Awareness brings knowledge, knowledge brings opportunity, and opportunity brings change.

The statistics of women in the construction industry haven’t significantly changed since the early 1970s, but we are in an upward trend sitting at 11.2 percent overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Moreover, the roles, responsibilities, and effect of women within industry organizations and the companies where they work are changing. The upward tick in statistics is coming. More and more senior leadership on major projects, from demolition to construction, are being led by women in both the horizontal and vertical sectors.

Here are a few NAWIC members and their her-stories — how they arrived at the place they occupy now and how NAWIC has strengthened and amplified their success in the construction industry.

Project Manager, Skanska
NAWIC National President, 2024–2025, and member of the Portland, Oregon, Chapter

I have been building my career at Skanska since 2008. My work primarily focuses on healthcare, K-12, and higher education construction projects, which continuously challenge me to think creatively and collaborate closely with my teams. These projects enhance and connect communities and contribute to initiatives that have a meaningful impact on local areas.

Skanska is a company that prioritizes the advancement of women in construction. As a founding member of the Northwest Chapter of the Skanska Women’s Network, I’ve seen firsthand how the company’s support of these initiatives helps create opportunities for women in our industry — and that’s one of the many reasons I’m so passionate about what I do every day.

I joined NAWIC in 2013, as I was drawn to the organization’s mission of supporting and promoting women in the construction industry. Since then, I’ve benefited from the camaraderie, the opportunities to expand my leadership skills, and the chance to mentor and inspire the next generation of women builders. I am still a member because NAWIC continues to provide a unique platform for professional growth, advocacy, and connection with like-minded individuals.

As the current National President of NAWIC, I’m thrilled to celebrate WIC Week alongside our chapters across the country. In line with our theme, “Together We Rise,” we’re celebrating the collective strength and progress we’ve made as a community.

Her Advice
My advice to women just joining our industry: Be curious and courageous! Don’t be afraid to ask questions or take on challenges that seem outside your comfort zone. Build your network and lean on your mentors — they are invaluable resources as you grow in this industry. Most importantly, believe in your abilities and don’t let self-doubt hold you back.

Owner, Penkin Consulting, LLC
NAWIC Northeast Region Director, 2024–2026, and member of New York’s Buffalo Niagara Chapter

I have been in the construction industry for over 15 years. My professional track has covered commercial HVAC, controls, and commercial flooring. Today I am Owner and Operator of Penkin Consulting. Our main focus is to empower, support, and educate. My time in the field and experience working directly with customers allows for unique insights into what these male-clustered spaces need in order to be more successful.

Worker retention is one such space I can and do address. When people leave the industry because they don’t feel welcomed or included, that’s an issue.

As a women’s history specialist (I was a docent at the Susan B. Anthony Museum in Rochester, New York, for many years and believe that learning from history allows us to make better and more calculated decisions in our lives, our relationships, and our professions) and as an empowerment coach, I work to make the construction industry a more inclusive place for everyone. Technology is certainly in our favor, but we can’t automate away the fact that we need people and we need to be better — so let’s build community in our businesses so it feels like a place people want to return to!

In 2012, I joined NAWIC because I needed to learn how to be a professional and I was looking for guidance. I found it.

It was just three years after I started my career in construction (and shortly after my mom passed away) that I was introduced to NAWIC. My first meeting was at an airport hotel with a dry chicken dinner, an overpriced glass of white wine, conference tables in a U-shape with a podium at the front, and some guy named Robert and his rules of order. It was a room of 14 professional women in construction who all knew something I didn’t know, yet were eager to share their knowledge with me. These women saw the future in me, and it’s because of NAWIC, its mission, and its members that I remain in this industry.

Her Advice
The most valuable advice I would give to anyone starting out is to find your community and don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” or ask for help. None of us — women or men — know the answers to everything, nor are we expected to. It is better to admit you are learning than to pretend you know it all. That is how you can find a mentor, find a friend, and learn new things!

WIC Week Events
As part of WIC Week, the Buffalo Niagara Chapter plans a Habitat for Humanity Build Day, a coffee networking happy hour, and their third annual Girls in the Trades Day with local students.

Penkin Consulting has multiple speaking engagements scheduled during WIC Week, including events sponsored by NAWIC Philadelphia/The Baldwin Group, Turner Construction, and the Building Owners and Managers Association of Buffalo, New York.

Project Manager, ReArch Company
NAWIC Vermont 2023–2025 Chapter President

I have been with the ReArch Company for the past three-and-a-half years. ReArch is a general contractor with offices in Vermont and New Hampshire. While we focus mainly on commercial projects, we also mix in high-end residential. ReArch’s family mentality lends itself to high-performing teams. Since starting here, I have witnessed a concerted effort to create a diverse team, inclusive of all genders and ethnic backgrounds. A diverse team means stronger problem solving and overall better construction management.

About a decade ago, I began my career in construction at a local Vermont hospital as their Project Manager. I jumped from there into residential construction but soon realized that was not for me and switched back to the commercial side of the industry. I set a career goal in 2023 to promote and source out local resources for women in Vermont’s construction industry. Enter NAWIC.

I initially joined NAWIC as a member-at-large because there had been no established chapter in Vermont since the 2008 recession. Seeing the amazing leaders that NAWIC builds and the culture it promotes, I knew our state would benefit from its own chapter once again, and that aligned perfectly with my career goal. By December 2023, we had chartered and reestablished the NAWIC Vermont Chapter with just over 30 members, and today we have nearly 50 members on the roster.

While we’ve made many strides as women in the industry, there is still plenty to do. NAWIC Vermont is poised to lead the charge to not only promote those women already in the industry, but to encourage the next generation. The sisterhood is a real thing, and every time our chapter meets or we host an event, you can feel the power emanating in the room. Instead of tearing each other down, we lift each other up and offer support and encouragement to all.

Her Advice
Growing up, I used to think it was uncool to do the “boy” things outside of what societal norms dictated. Well, eventually I realized society’s opinion didn’t matter. I found my voice and decided construction was the right fit for me. I encourage all young adults to really consider what they’re passionate about and disregard the constraints of so-called societal norms. What you’re really interested in or talented in may not align with their ideals, but you’ll be happier and more fulfilled by sticking to what makes you, you.

WIC Week Events
During WIC Week, NAWIC Vermont plans to host a gender equity education seminar and an industry-wide networking event.

Construction firms of all sizes and types are encouraged to participate in WIC Week and show support for their women employees.

Many NAWIC chapters organize a variety of WIC Week activities, including networking events, panel discussions with women leaders, community service projects, job site tours, lunch and learns, and STEM outreach activities. These events offer valuable opportunities for members to connect, learn, and inspire the next generation of women in construction. Visit wicweek.org for a complete list of national and local events.

Across the U.S., NAWIC has nearly 6,000 members from 120 chapters. NAWIC is committed to championing women to impact the direction of the construction industry, providing education, community, and advocacy.

NAWIC meetings are open to guests because our supporters and allies are what keep us going. Together we are able to keep learning and growing. The organization will hold its 70th Annual National Conference at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts, August 20-23, 2025. For more information, visit nawic.org/2025-annual-conference.

Catherine Schoenenberger is President of both Stay Safe Traffic Products, Inc., and New Hampshire Construction Career Days. She was NAWIC’s National President, 2017–2018, and is an active member of the Granite State Chapter in New Hampshire. She also serves as Associate Director of the Massachusetts Highway Association. She can be contacted at StaySafeTraffic@aol.com.