Every year we celebrate Women in Construction week by acknowledging the many contributions women have made to architecture, engineering and construction. Whether it was over a century ago, or in our current day and age, any woman who works within some facet of construction is helping to shape the industry’s future. Here, we honor just a few of the pioneering women who left a mark on our industry:

 

1. Elizabeth Diller – Elizabeth Diller is a Polish-born American architect and Founding Partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the company she started with her husband back in 1979. In recent years, she was named to Time’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the World. She headed up the Museum of Modern Art’s recent expansion, and her company was hired to create London’s new Centre of Music. She has also taught architecture at Princeton.
2. Nora Stanton – Nora Stanton was both the first woman to graduate from Cornell University, and the first female member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Born in 1883, she eventually worked as an engineer and chief draftsman at the Radley Steel Construction Company and as an engineer for the New York Public Service Commission.
3. Julia Morgan – Julia Morgan was the very first woman admitted into Paris’ École de Beaux-Arts, which is one of the greatest architecture schools in the world. She has designed buildings across the world including the famous Hearst Castle in California.
4. Emily Roebling – You’ve probably seen, or at least heard of, the Brooklyn Bridge. Emily was responsible for its completion, taking over the project when illness took her husband’s life.
5. Elsie Eaves – The first woman to become a full member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Ms. Eaves worked for the US Bureau of Public Roads and several railroad companies during her career. The amazing talent she had was being able to gather information and create massive databases to spot trends, all without using a computer.

These are just five brilliant women who made an impact on the industry, there are, of course, many more women who were instrumental in moving the areas of construction, engineering and architecture forward and we celebrate each and every one of them.

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We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge our own female employees who help make our company what it is today, and who blaze trails each and every day, in our company and in our industry, including (but not limited to):

 

• Erika Cleaver: Senior Project Manager (Madison Office) – Erika has been working in this industry since 2010 and joined our team in 2015. Erika is responsible for ensuring the success of each of her projects, from start to finish. This includes developing the pre-construction budget, negotiating contracts, managing the schedule, maintaining client and vendor relationships, and successfully closing out the project on time.

“It’s so rewarding to watch incremental progress turn into a tangible, completed project and knowing I played a part in making someone’s vision a reality!”

 

• Caitlin Gale: Project Engineer (California Office) – Caitlin has been in the industry since 2012 and with Tri-North since 2019. Working at our west coast location, she is a vital component in our project management process and assists project managers, estimators and superintendents with all parts of the project.

“The construction industry is not your boring 9 to 5 desk job. It is fast paced, exciting, and constantly evolving. Every day, I walk into the office not knowing what challenges I will face from the office to the field.”

 

• Katie Miller: Project Manager (Milwaukee Office) – Katie started in the industry back in 2002 and has been with us since 2012. You know your project is in good hands when Katie is on the team. Her thoroughness and attention to detail are what brings clients back for additional projects.

“My favorite thing is when the team comes together and thinks creatively in order to solve a problem.”

 

• Trish Sund: Superintendent – Trisha has been in the construction industry since 1997 and with Tri-North since 1999. When it comes to coordinating everything in the field on your construction project, it’s Trish who’s in charge, and nothing slips her radar. She makes sure the work is proceeding on time and acts as the liaison between Tri-North and the owner’s on-site representative.

“What I love the most about working in construction is the variety of jobs we build at Tri-North and how everyone comes together as a team to complete a project.”

 

• Jolene Wouters: Office Manager (Madison Office)- Tri-North hired Jolene as an executive assistant in 2015, where she excelled, and her organizational abilities became clear. She has since moved up to Office Manager and her list of accomplishments within the company is so extensive it would be nearly impossible to capture it all. Jolene really helps to keep everything on track, but she does so while also bringing light to the entire office.

“In the field and the office, everyone on the team depends on everyone else to get the job done together and that results in an amazing sense of accomplishment and teamwork!”

 

Women in Construction week stands as a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much farther we have yet to go. We recognize and support those who have paved the way before, and those who continue to so, and want to thank all the amazing women who contribute to our industry today.

 

Tri-North is ready to help

Whatever your construction or expansion needs, contact the experts in construction project management at Tri-North. We’ll work with you to create budget, help you find the right land, assist in getting the permits, and help bring the vision you see for your business to completion.