What Superintendents Really Leave Behind

Advocacy, mentorship + developing next-gen leaders   By Kiersten “KZ” Kaplan In more than 25 years in the industry, I’ve built almost everything except a bridge or a stadium. Today, I’m leading a major project in Baltimore, Maryland that will add more than a half-million square feet of life sciences research space. But it’s also an opportunity to reach more than 1,000 people, from carpenters and laborers to young professionals starting their careers. I’m at a point where I’m not just building projects; I’m building people. And that means I can help affect how my company shows up in our … Read more

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Young Women Inspired to Pursue Construction Careers at Design & Build Camp by DPR, Girls Inc.

By creating space for young women to discover and learn in a practical setting, DPR Construction and Girls Inc. are helping participants see themselves as future builders, engineers and leaders. That mission came to life at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia project site with joint venture partner L.F. Driscoll. DPR hosted a two-day Design & Build Camp. With a projected shortage of over two million skilled tradespeople by 2030 and women holding less than 4% of labor-based construction roles, diversifying the workforce is more urgent than ever. While the camp supports efforts to close this gap, its deeper purpose is rooted … Read more

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NCCER Releases Recommendations to Support Industry Tradeswomen

The National Center for Construction Education and Research recently published a follow up to its research released in 2023, In Her Own Words: Improving Project Outcomes. As a follow up, NCCER compiled the recommendations made by 176 tradeswomen in the field to assist contractors with recruiting and retaining women in the construction industry. This new publication, In Her Own Words: A Call to Action From the Field, highlights actionable items that contractors can take to build more inclusive projects and companies. “With the construction workforce shortages continuing to grow, and competition for talent getting even tighter, it is time for … Read more

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‘She Builds Nation’ Report Reveals Women in Construction Face Lack of Safety Equipment, Restroom Accessibility Gaps

Lumber, a construction workforce management platform, has released the 2024 “She Builds Nation” report, shedding light on the challenges faced by women in the construction industry. The report was developed from a survey of over 100 women construction owners, executives and decision makers, delving into critical issues impacting women in construction. Among the notable revelations: 67% of respondents cited the dearth of gender-friendly (smaller-sized) safety equipment such as PPEs, safety harnesses, hard hats, etc., with 85% expressing concerns over the absence of maternity-friendly safety gear. Additionally, 64% of women reported the absence of women’s restroom facilities at construction sites, highlighting … Read more

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Shawmut Design and Construction Advances Vital Role of Women Leadership in Construction

Shawmut Design and Construction recently hosted impactful programming for Women in Construction Week, held March 3-9. The firm’s WIC Week activities were curated to align with this year’s theme: celebrating the strength and knowledge of women and their vital role in shaping the future of the construction industry. This year marks Shawmut’s ninth year participating in the national celebration, which recognizes the accomplishments and leadership of women in construction. Throughout the week, Shawmut employee-owners nationwide engaged in open and honest discussions about how the industry can increase female representation, celebrated the progress that has been made and hosted panel discussions, … Read more

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