Mothers In Construction (M.I.C.)

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast, Episode 57 - Space to Build with Kathryn Hart Tinnesz. Kathryn wears many hats, but her favorite is being a woman in construction. She is also in the process of fitting into a new one: motherhood. Kathryn has held traditional titles such as Superintendent, Project Manager, and Business Development Manager, but her passion lies in her non-traditional work. She is the owner and host behind Space to Build, an online platform that equips you with community, digital resources, and guidance to find your voice in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries!

In this episode, we speak about the importance of community in our industry and her viewpoint on navigating her career path as an expectant mother Listen to her story !!!

Check out Season 4 - Episode 56 - Life Transitions of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Nicolle Wilkinson.

Nicolle Wilkinson is a licensed architect in the state of Arizona and a certified construction manager through CMAA. Her 30-year career has focused on the planning and management of complex capital improvement programs in both California and Arizona for local and federal agencies.  Her forte is navigating bureaucratic organizations and exceeding client expectations "so they can sleep at night."  She calls herself the "LinkedIn Granny" and posts frequently about women in construction, NAWIC, menopause, being a vinophile, and about the feral cats on her construction site that she cares for. In addition to trying to bring a NAWIC chapter to Yuma before she retires, she is currently mentoring a group of 4 women in construction, meeting with them one-on-one and as a group monthly for a year.  Nicolle is a mother to one living child, a son who is a high school senior graduating this year, and who, thanks to his mother’s encouragement and the generosity of his mentor Shanen Aranmor with Weld Like A Girl, will be attending Tulsa Welding School on a full scholarship starting in July.  Her husband, Greg, is the retired City of Yuma city manager, and a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps.  Nicolle’s next career milestone is to retire to Malta in 2025.  She is currently teaching herself to speak Maltese in preparation for retirement.

In this episode, we discuss menopause and what it’s like to be a mother in construction going through this life transition while maintaining a career the industry. This is another topic that is not discussed loudly enough but impacts many. For some, the symptoms are minimal, but others endure pain and discomfort, which impact their way of life. Nicolle experienced symptoms associated with menopause while running hundreds of millions of dollars in work. She provides tips on what has helped her advocate for her needs, improve her quality of life, and maintain a successful career in a demanding industry. Listen to her story!!!!

Follow Nicolle on LinkedIn @Nicolle Wilkinson

Check out  Mothers In Construction Podcast's, Episode 55 – Psychosocial Safety with Abby Ferri. Abby is a practical, creative, and influential safety and risk management consultant, podcaster, and author. She leverages social media, her voice, and the latest technology to advocate for worker safety and equity. Abby is the Chief Risk Officer at Insurate, where she's part of a team of innovators reshaping insurance around the people it's supposed to protect.

 In this episode, we speak about psychosocial safety factors along with two of the top safety issues facing women in the field: lack of accessibility to adequate bathroom facilities and access to properly fitting PPE. Not having adequate facilities for women has an impact on the health and well-being of workers in the field.  Many avoid hydrating and hold urine throughout their shifts as a way to avoid jobsite conditions.  This leads to dehydration and painful urinary tract infections. Also, although more products have become available, proper fitting PPE that is based upon female body measurement data is still an issue and has an impact on worker safety.

Abby discusses her advocacy work to support better work environments for women in the field and what we can do to elevate our voices to push for an industry-wide cultural change that goes beyond inclusion weeks and trendy statements. The call to action to the industry is to do the right thing and make necessary accommodations to support women in our industry! Listen to her story!!!

Check out Season 4, Episode 52 - Chicago Women In Trades, of Mothers In Construction Podcast.  Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) was founded in 1981 and has been instrumental in improving outcomes for women seeking and working in nontraditional careers. CWIT has published white papers, and chartered initiatives along with strategic partners, to empower and advocate for women in our field.

Today we are speaking to Lark Jackson, who is the Gender Equity Center Associate Director at Chicago Women in Trades' National Center for Women's Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment and is a recognized leader in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion for women working in the skilled trades, including but not limited to the manufacturing, construction and transit industries. She leads the national center's technical assistance work, offering guidance and strategic planning to industry stakeholders on how to best recruit and retain women in the trades.  Listen to her story!!!!

Check out Season 4 Episode 51 - The Spirit of A Woman In Construction. This episode is a solo podcast with my reflections on the reach back and support we must provide as women in our field. This episode is dedicated to my mentor, my sister, Jacqueline Glover who we lost last month. Jacqi was a leader in the AEC community in Washington, DC. She  touched the lives of many including mine as a role model, mentor and a friend. Although it hurt to lose her, I am so inspired by her life and her intentional commitment to support women and minorities in construction. I’m calling on all my M.I.Cs , my W.I.Cs and all of our allies…Her legacy will live on through others as we stay committed to changing lives in our field ! 

Check out Season 4, Episode 49 - The Power of Words, with Twyla Garrett an exceptional serial Entrepreneur, motivational speaker, homeland security strategist, and compelling author. Twyla is the founder of Growth Management Services (GMS), a Construction Program Management Firm with revenues of over one million dollars within three years of opening, and Integrated Responders Group (IRG), a Full Services Independent Claims Management Firm. She currently resides between Washington, DC and Raleigh, North Carolina, where she manages her multi-successful businesses. Her new book My Mother’s Words is a motivational study on how individuals can turn their worst experiences into their greatest triumphs. We discuss turning pain and adversity into triumph. Twyla details how she took the pain of her childhood and used it as fuel and motivation to become a successful black woman in the construction industry. Listen to her story!!!

Twyla is known for her notable (oftentimes 100% self-funded) business deals, and she strives to provide excellent opportunities for individuals faced with immense personal and social challenges, especially related to abuse. At GMS, she seeks out the homeless and ex-offenders for a second chance and offers them full-time sustainable work. With her ability to speak on delicate and motivational topics, Twyla has been personally invited to The White House to speak on issues relating to creating jobs, economic growth, and the controversial fiscal cliff of 2012. Twyla is also passionate about helping individuals become meaningful persons in life and writes books on how young and emerging entrepreneurs can scale their businesses, so they are big enough to create sustainable employment to those living within their communities.

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast's Season 4 Episode 46  - Tough Decisions with Katelyn Barrett. Katelyn is a Marine Corps veteran, a marine welder and a Mother In Construction from North Carolina. She's a single mom raising a beautiful six year old boy.  In order to pursue her career as a commercial diver and tender, Katelyn made the tough choice to relocate away from her child to work throughout the week  and return home on the weekends. Katelyn is not alone as many women face these tough decisions while in pursuit of their careers. Katelyn's story will encourage other moms to hold on and keep their eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel. Listen to her story!

Check out this week’s episode of Mothers In Construction Podcast dropping Thursday .  Season 4 Episode 45 is with Christine Merdon. Listen to her Story!

Christine Merdon is the CEO/President of Merdon Strategies, LLC, a woman owned small business providing management consulting to federal contractors for strategy, growth, organizational leadership and optimization of team performance. In addition, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland.

Ms. Merdon is a professional engineer, with significant public and private industry experience. She has a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland.

Ms. Merdon had a leadership role for 9 years at the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) as the Acting Architect of the Capitol and Chief Operating Officer. She was responsible for construction, facilities maintenance and operation of the historic U.S. Capitol Building, the care and improvement of more than 570 acres of grounds and the operation and maintenance of 18.4 million square feet of buildings including: the House and Senate Congressional Office Buildings, the Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress Buildings, the U.S. Supreme Court Building and U.S. Botanic Gardens. As Acting Architect of the Capitol, she was a member of the Capitol Police Board, and the President's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Before joining the AOC, Ms. Merdon worked in private industry as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Program and Construction Management with McKissack & McKissack. She has been responsible for successfully managing more than $15 billion in major construction projects and programs including: Washington Nationals Major League Baseball Stadium, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, National Museum of African American History and Culture, O’Hare Modernization Program, and Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorial Renovations.

Her private industry experience also included time spent as a Project Manager and Site Superintendent for Clark Construction.

She began her career with the U.S. Navy for a total of 17 years, which included an assignment to White House Military Office as a Project Manager.

Throughout her career, Ms. Merdon has won many projects excellence awards and she is the proud recipient of the 2016 D.C. Professional Engineer of the Year. She is a distinguished member of the National Academy of Construction. She is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers, former Chair of the Board of Visitors for the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland, and the past president of the National Capitol Region ACE High School Mentor Program. She is a distinguished member of the National Academy of Construction.

She resides in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, Michael, and daughter Nadya.

Check out this week's episode of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Kathryn Tyler Prigmore.  Listen to her story!

Kathryn Bradford Tyler Prigmore, FAIA, NOMAC, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, CDT Ms. Prigmore has over 40 years of architectural experience as a practitioner, educator, and regulator. Her strong project management skills include an inimitable understanding of the dynamics that facilitate project delivery. Ms. Prigmore has provided design, technical oversight, and project management for award-winning projects of a wide range of sizes, types, and delivery methods – including those with sensitive and classified defense and federal missions. She has overseen project teams with more than fifteen consultant firms and up to two hundred staff for clients in the federal, defense, civic, and private sectors. 

Active in professional and civic affairs, Ms. Prigmore has served on AIA and NCARB committees at the national level that serve to bridge the chasm between education and practice. She has been a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) since 1982 and was elevated to Fellowship in 2002. A member of AIADC for 30 years, she transferred to AIANOVA to help develop the Fellows Committee, a position she held for many years while an AIADC member.

Ms. Prigmore is the Founding Collaborator (with Barbara G, Laurie, AIA – deceased) of Riding the Vortex: African American Women in Practice. Beginning in 2007, this initiative provides inspiration, mentoring, and public speaking opportunities for African American women at all levels the profession in venues throughout the United States. Ms. Prigmore and her three collaborators – Kathy Dixon, Katherine Williams, and Melissa Daniel – received the AIA Whiney M. Young, Jr. Award in 2022. Many of the young African American women currently active in the profession are part of the expanding Vortex network. Prigmore is in the process of reviving Black Women in Architecture, an organization with its roots in the early 1980s. Ms. Prigmore served as a Trustee of the Branch Museum of Architecture and Design and as past Chair of the AIA National Ethics Council; National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Committee on Examination; and the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. Awards and honors bestowed upon Ms. Prigmore include a Lifetime Achievement Award – Women of Color Magazine; President’s Medal – NCARB; Outstanding Faculty Member – Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences; inclusion in several Marquis Who’s Who publications; and inclusion among the Outstanding Young Women in America. In 2018 the National Organization of Minority Architects Council (NOMAC) inducted Ms. Prigmore into the Council of Elders. 

Ms. Prigmore was recently selected to lead the Washington, DC office of Moody Nolan as Studio Director/Principal. Recently an Adjunct Professor of Practice in Virginia Tech's Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, Ms. Prigmore is a former Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Architecture for the Howard University School of Architecture and Design. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Building Sciences and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as well as a Master of Science in Engineering from The Catholic University of America. Notably, she was one of the first 20 African American Women registered to practice architecture in the United States, and maintains licenses in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Ms. Prigmore is also a LEED Accredited Professional with a Building Design + Construction specialty; an NCARB certificate holder; and a certified Construction Documents Technologist.

Check out  Episode 41 of Mothers In Construction Podcast - Girls Can Do Anything with Mollie Elkman, author of The House That She Built and Amanda Jewell , author of Panda the Project Manager - Builds Her First Home. Both of these ladies have authored books that encourage representation of women in the construction industry through children's literature. It’s important for us to normalize women being in our industry by showing our children it’s possible. Reading about it allows them to dream and explore endless possibilities.

Mollie Elkman is a mom and the owner and president of Group Two, a national full-service marketing partner for home builders. With a deep understanding of new home marketing and a forward-thinking approach, Mollie has helped continue to keep Group Two at the forefront of the industry for over 50 years. She has shared her thoughts with thousands across the housing industry, including business owners, builders, and sales and marketing professionals. Mollie is the author of the children's book, The House that She Built, published by NAHB Builder Books. She is passionate about proactively sharing the successes of those in housing in order to diversify and grow the number of people in the skilled trades.

Amanda Jewell is a mom of two girls, who are growing up around the construction industry and are fascinated by the home building process just like their mom. Her family has been in the home building industry and has been for over 40 years, French Brothers Homes. Amanda's father is currently building his personal home and does not have time to do many of the tasks involved, so he asked her for help. She became Panda the Project Manager. During this building process, and through the family business, Amanda has seen first-hand the challenges women face in construction, as well as the fascination little girls have with home construction.

Additionally, Amanda has a Masters in Mental Health Counseling, and am a Nationally Board Certified Counselor. She has worked with adults, children, and teens individually and facilitated group counselors for teens and adults. With a family history in construction and a background in counseling Amanda combines STEM themes with emotional and social development in children’s literature.

Check out Mothers In Construction podcast's Episode 40 - Be Kind To Yourself with Bailey Mitchell. Bailey is a mother of two and a 14-year human resources professional in the DC area. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters. Bailey started in construction working for a DC metro area based general contractor in recruitment for close to 7 years. Prior to working in construction, Bailey worked in higher education for over 6 years in recruitment and training.  While working in higher education, she earned her master’s degree in Human Resources Management from the Catholic University of America.

Most recently, she has joined Casey Construction Group as the Director of Human Resources. Casey is a Commercial Drywall & Floor Prep contractor in the metro Washington area and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Bailey’s passion for helping employees succeed and thrive in their roles is what keeps her motivated in the crazy world of construction! She especially loves being a mentor and motivator for women of all ages who are passionate about the construction industry. She encourages us to be raw, honest and emotional . Bailey also challenges us to put a more positive spin on “Mommy Brain”. So often we use it negatively but as she reminds us, what brain is more powerful and efficient as a mom brain. Listen to her story ! 

Check out this week's episode of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Andrea Mesis-Bruno, President and CEO of D&A Construction Advisors, a specialized consulting firm focused on business development and marketing in the New York and New Jersey Real Estate and Construction industries. Andrea was born and raised in the New York/New Jersey and has over 26 years of proven industry experience. Andrea has always succeeded in unlikely roles typically held by men. Today, Andrea works with the most demanding NYC developers to build the ever-changing NYC skyline. Working in such a masculine field, she carries herself with a tough unwavering confidence, but always as a lady and role model for young women in her field. She has mastered the delicate balance of being a loving single mom to her son and powerful construction executive.

In this episode we talk about the importance of women supporting each other by holding each other UP and not DOWN.
Andrea also shares her personal story with us. She encourages the woman down on her luck to “Get Out The Bed”. If she only knew back then her hard days as a single mom trying to survive would turn into owning a successful company and being a force in one of the toughest markets in our industry. Listen to her story!

Check out M.I.C. Episode 34 - Pivoting Through The Pain with Jilandre Linton. Jilandre is a Pre-construction Project Manager with two children.  As a child Jilandre dreamed of being an Architect.  Having a mother that dabbled in construction gave her the opportunity to experience blueprints and an appreciation for the wonderful aromas that accompanied design.  She graduated from the illustrious Howard University and right after started a career as a Junior Architect.  For the past 6 years she has worked for a panelized construction company starting out as Design PM, to PM, to her now current position as Pre-construction PM. 

14 years ago Jilandre’s daughter was diagnosed with Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy , a rare genetic disorder. Jilandre was forced to make tough decisions throughout her career and was even laid off from a company due to the demands of caring for her child. She held true to what was important; being a mom and putting her family first. Today Jilandre excels in her career and her beautiful 14 year old daughter is a thriving , award winning , competitive gymnast who has even competed on American Ninja Warrior Junior. Her story is a true testament to the strength of a woman. Jilandre tells us to “Breathe, take care of yourself and everything else will fall into place.” Listen to her story! 

Check out M.I.C. Episode 33 - Put Yourself First At All Costs with Jennifer Todd. Jennifer Todd is President of LMS General Contractors, DBE and WBE demolition, and environmental contractor. She is also the Founder of A Greener of Tomorrow, a 501c3 nonprofit geared toward the skill trade advancement of minority youth & young adults. Todd is a 2021 ENR Top 20 Under 40 Professional, 2020 Top 25 ENR Newsmaker, and 2020 CBO Outstanding Women in Construction finalist. Todd is an ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law graduate. Jennifer Todd is a member of ASCE’s Industry Leaders Council and National Association of Black Women in Construction.

 In her fifteen years in the industry, Jennifer has reached so many heights and has made admirable accomplishments. She’s an award winning entrepreneur, boss, advocate, public speaker , advisor, wife, friend, ear, motivator . Sometimes having a huge plate doesn’t include us listening to our bodies. Jennifer shares her testimony on how a serious health scare changed her perspective on work life balance. Jennifer tells us to “Stop, Look and Listen” to our bodies and “Put Yourself First At All Costs” . Listen to her story !

Check out this week's episode of Mothers In Construction Podcast. M.I.C, Episode 32 - I’m Not Supposed To Be Here is with Daniela Velasquez. Daniela is the CEO of Velasquez Construction Solutions,  an industrial and commercial electrical contractor in Wharton, TX.  She has been a member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) for the last three years. She is the past NAWIC Safety Chair and is currently serving as Recording Secretary. Daniela won the NAWIC Executive Award in 2021. In her free time, Daniela serves as a troop leader for Girl Scouts of America. She aspires to be a good role model and play a supporting role in advancing women in construction and women everywhere. 

Daniela discusses her plight from being a teen mom and high school dropout all the way to now being the CEO of a company ! When we’re in the thick of life’s struggles or unfavorable circumstances we can often get caught up in those moments not knowing why we have to endure. We are here to tell you to hang in there. There’s always a purpose . When you get to the other side of the storm it becomes your testimony to help others. Daniela is doing just that. Her goal is to continue to help others provide for their families and  to inspire other young women, the young “Danielas”,  to explore endless possibilities.  Daniela tells us to look at the step in front of you because it's all that you need to propel forward. 
Make sure you tune in to hear this amazing woman. She’s nothing short of inspiring . Listen to her story !

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast's  Season 2 Finale  Episode 30 - We Did That with Cheryl Casatelli and Ilina Ewen. We discuss the Trilogy Apartment Building project completed in Raleigh, NC with a workforce that included 66 women! In an industry where women only make up 10 percent of the workforce, this ratio of women on one project is unique. The women on this project crushed every stereotype and made their stamp on the industry by showcasing their abilities and hopefully making waves for greater representation of women in construction. Cheryl who was a field engineer at the time shares her experience working on the project while Ilina discusses the importance of women  in our field. Listen to their stories!

Cheryl Casatelli is an Assistant Superintendent . She began doing small projects in her dad’s workshop where she first fell in love with using power tools. She helped renovate homes alongside her father and spent summers helping in his handyman business. Cheryl parlayed this experience into a career in residential and commercial construction, serving in a variety of roles from sales to flooring to preconstruction. She was her company's first woman in the field engineer role and has extensive experience in multifamily projects. Her most recent project was a concrete tilt up wall building for a global client. Cheryl was even interviewed by ABC for a feature story about the growing number of women entering skilled trades and construction management.

Ilina is a writer, marketing and brand strategist, communicator, advocate, and ally for equity and representation. With over 25 years of marketing and communications experience in the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors, Ilina specializes in translating consumer insights into profitable ideas.

In 2003, Ilina started her own consulting firm helping clients identify their brand and create effective communications and marketing strategies. In addition to her firm, she has worked as a communications and brand strategist, Chief of Staff to the former First Lady of North Carolina, and Communications Director for several organizations. Ilina currently serves as the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for a commercial construction management company in the Southeastern United States.

Working Mother magazine named Ilina one of the top working mom bloggers in America. She uses her voice literally and figuratively as a public speaker and writer and has been known as an “accidental activist” who dedicates her time and talent to advocate for myriad issues. Specifically, she works towards social justice, community building, child and family resources, and women’s rights.  Ilina is a doting mom to two teenage sons and has been married for 22 years.

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast's Episode 29 with Amy Garber and Bob Symon.

Amy Garber is counsel in the Construction Practice Group at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP.  She has been practicing litigation and construction law since graduating Cornell Law School in 2008.  Her practice includes litigating cases of all sizes in federal and state courts and before the federal Boards of Contract Appeals and American Arbitration Association, as well as providing contract guidance to client involved construction projects.  Amy has been a Mother in Construction since her baby boy was born in November 2020.  Since then she has navigated motherhood, transitioning to and from maternity leave, and working (and litigating) from home.

Bob Symon is Partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP. He  practices in the areas of construction and government contract law. Notwithstanding his extensive litigation experience, Bob has developed a reputation as a quick study and someone who recognizes the benefits of resolving contract disputes at an early stage through negotiated settlements or alternative disputes resolution mechanisms (such as mediation) before the onset of extensive and costly discovery efforts. However, even when cases have proceeded through discovery to arbitration or litigation, results typically have exceeded client expectations due to his tenacity, organizational skills, preparedness and persuasiveness. Bob is also a father of two.

Amy and Bob discuss their experience with Amy transitioning into motherhood.  Amy developed a  plan and both she and Bob made accommodations and adjustments in an effort to execute the plan seamlessly to support Amy as a new Mother In Construction. Listen to their story !

Check out Mothers In Construction's episode 28 with Nephetia Brown. Growing up in East New York, Brooklyn, Nephetia always knew that she would be a successful professional and decided to steer her attention into becoming an electrical apprentice in March 2007. Working for Local 3, IBEW, she was trained and taught the trade, and also became a Journeywoman March 13, 2018. Nephetia  took advantage of opportunities and gained certification in solar paneling, electrical wiring, telephone and data and also project management, just to name a few. She currently resides in New Jersey where she takes pride in caring for her three sons, Tyshaun, Rishawn and DaeShawn.

During her second pregnancy Nephetia had a fall at work which ultimately caused her to question her career. She details how she left the field for a short period of time but her love for construction brought her back stronger and better. Listen to her story!

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast's Episode 27 with Natassia Melendrez-Knutson, CEO of Project Support Services.  

Natassia began her career at a geotechnical engineering, material testing & inspection firm when she was just 21 years old, and because of her integrity, intelligence, and honest hard work, was quickly promoted from dispatch to Project Closeout Manager. Over the years she gained unparalleled experience and continued growing. When she reached her peak growth within the company, she noticed an obscure disparity between men and women in leadership roles - and it was at this point she decided to forge her own path, advocating for women business owners in the school construction sector/industry, especially within the realm of project support services.

At 28 years old, Natassia began independent consulting services with only $1,000 in her bank account, an idea in her mind, and endless gumption to make it a reality. Independent consulting soon transitioned into a base of solid clients, and the start of her new business, Project Support Services, was born, a Project Management Firm in the construction industry.

PSS continues to grow and defy the odds, making up part of the mere 9.1% of women in the construction industry. Natassia wants to empower and inspire other women business entrepreneurs, especially within the construction industry along the way.

Natassia shares her journey with being a Boss and lets us know it's ok to not be liked 100% of the time. Listen to her story!

Check out Mothers In Construction Episode 27 with Coralee Beatty of Thrive HQ. After 25 years in the construction industry, and successfully selling her trades business, Coralee now shares her knowledge, experience and expertise with other women in construction and trades to build their business for greater profitability, flexibility and freedom. In addition, Coralee advocates for women in trades to empower them to take control of their future in the industry by helping them start a business and doing so on the right foot, providing best practices for growth and success.

Coralee wholeheartedly believes in the power of women and believes together they are stronger. Her purpose is to support women in construction to maximize their business potential and live a life they love. Listen to her story!

Dr. Tiffany Turner is a Hospitalist Physician, board certified in Internal Medicine.  Dr. Turner practices at a community hospital in Northern Virginia.  She is also the owner of Virtual Wellness MD, a telemedicine practice that provides online doctor's visits.

Dr. Adana Llanos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, where her research focuses on understanding sociobiologic factors that contribute to inequities in cancer outcomes. She obtained a PhD in genetics from Howard University and MPH in Epidemiology from the Ohio State University.

Both of these wonderful women share the top health risk factors in women and stress the importance of health awareness and selfcare. Listen to their stories!!

Check out Episode 23 of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Chuck Knisley and John Richmond. Chuck is a Senior Superintendent with 28 years of experience and John is a Project Manager with 6 years of experience in the construction industry.   Both Chuck and John have worked on project teams with the host Tonia Rivers. They share their experience as male allies who both have had to work alongside and support a Mother in Construction. Listen to their story!

Check out Episode 21 of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Kalie Jacinto. Kalie is a Project Engineer III in Anaheim , California with over 12 years of experience in the industry. Her current market sector is healthcare. Kalie has been married for 9 years and is the mother to a 7 year old son and 7 month old daughter. Kalie is transitioning back to work from maternity leave. She details her experience on this week's episode. Listen to her story! 

Check out Episode 20 of Mothers In Construction Podcast with SFC Lemar Rivers, husband of the host. Lemar is an Active Duty Army service member, a dedicated husband and father. He details the dynamics of a military family and how he provides love and support to his M.I.C. Listen to his story!

Check out this week's episode of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Gaye Francis, BE MAICD FIEAust. Gaye is a career engineer in Australia, and a founder and current Managing Director of Apto PPE that designs and manufactures fit-for-purpose women’s and maternity high visibility workwear engineered for safety and comfort. Gaye details her experience as an engineer, a mom in construction and advocate for women. Listen to her story!

Renee Hamilton is the Chief Executive Officer at Toll Road Investors Partnership (TRIP II), Dulles Greenway in Virginia. Prior to joining TRIP II, she worked at Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for over three decades, served as the Northern Virginia Deputy District Administrator since 2013 and currently serves as a board member on the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance. 

Renee Hamilton has over 33 years of experience in the construction industry and is a Mother in Construction with two beautiful children. Check out M.I.C. Episode 18 where she details her experience making the tough decision of career vs family . Listen to her story!

Pascale Sablan, FAIA is an Associate at Adjaye Associates in New York.  She is the 315th living African-American woman registered architect, Founder and Executive Director of Beyond the Built Environment LLC, recipient of the 2021 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award and the NOMA National President Elect, just to name a few.  More importantly Pascale Sablan is a M.I.C, Mother In Construction ! Check out Episode 17 as she details her journey of finding the right firm to support her goals as an architect, advocate for justice and diversity in the built environment and being an outstanding mom to her five year old son. Listen to her story!

Check out the Season 1 Finale of Mothers In Construction Podcast. The children of the host speak about the importance of M.I.C. from their point of view. Listen to their story!

Mark Banks  a construction executive is the son of Mother in Construction,  Wanda Jean Banks who was founder and CEO of WJB and Associates, a multifaceted general construction and consulting company founded  1971 in California. Check out her story and how growing up with a mother in construction molded Mark into becoming an ally for women in the industry.

Kathy Wilson a Mother In Construction along with President and CEO of Mite Services Inc. , tells her story as a quality control manager with 38 years in the business. She details her construction experience as a mother and now grandmother on the path to retirement. Listen to her story!

A Mother In Construction tells her story as a single mom and superintendent in the construction industry. She walks us through her experience starting as a new mom and then details how she eventually turned the corner to overcoming her circumstances so that she could provide a fulfilling life for her child and maintain her career. Listen to her story!

A Mother in Construction with four boys tells her story as a director of construction at a development company who journeyed to find the right fit for her talents within the industry.  This is a true testimony of perseverance and endurance.  Listen to her story!

A Mother in Construction tells her story as a Building Inspector, one of few women in her field. Hear how she pushes through to excel in her career despite being underestimated and underrepresented in the industry. Listen to her story!