2024 Construction Champions: Construction Dive celebrates top women leaders shaping the industry

Women in Construction Week is upon us once again. In honor of this occasion, Construction Dive announced a new batch of Construction Champions today. This year’s fourth iteration of the esteemed Construction Champions list recognizes 31 exceptional women who are forging new paths for innovation and inclusivity in the commercial construction industry.

Hundreds of submissions poured in during the first two months of 2024, resulting in an exemplary group of 31 inspiring leaders who are reshaping the industry in the categories of Up-and-Coming, Rising Stars, Mentors, Tradeswomen, and Industry Veterans. Construction Champions not only celebrates their individual achievements but also underscores their collective impact as role models and advocates for gender diversity and inclusion within a historically male-dominated industry. 

The 2024 Construction Champions are:

Rising Stars: While relatively new to the industry, these commercial construction pros are already making their mark.

• Kritika Agrawal, VDC Manager, Clayco
• Annelise Barbieri, Assistant Project Superintendent, McCarthy
• Gabrielle Bishop, MEP Coordinator, DPR Construction
• Marissa Gallegos, Senior Benefits Specialist, Big-D Cos.
• Sam Villalobos, Senior Project Engineer, Skanska

Mentors: These women carved a path within the industry and now strive to help others follow.

• Brittoni Calhoun, Operator Engineer, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 513
• Ashley Campbell, Senior Vice President, HITT Contracting
• Ruthann Ellis, Vice President of Construction Learning and Development, Landmark Construction
• Heather Kurtenbach, Business Agent & Political Director, Iron Workers Local 86
• Tatanisia Lumley, Director of Training and Operations, Building Skills NY
• Amber Schnader, Senior Cost Manager, Warfel Construction
• Vanessa de la Torre, Health, Safety and Environment Supervisor, PCL Construction

Tradeswomen: They use their hands and their heads to shape commercial construction and promote the industry’s career benefits for all.

• Louquana Davis, Craft Based Leadership Coordinator, Bechtel
• Stacie DiNovo, Journeyman Pipefitter, Limbach Co.
• Skylar Dossenbach, Site Superintendent, Renewable Energy Group, Rosendin
• Jessica Loney, Master Electrician, Grand West Electric
• Jen Stutzman, General Superintendent, Gaylor Electric
• JC Sykes, Carpenter Foreman and Executive Director, Black Girls Build

Industry Veterans: These leaders are renowned for their breadth of experience and skill.

• Pamyla Fountain Brown, Vice President, Regional Director of Community & Citizenship, Turner Construction
• Lynn Hansen, CEO, Crowder Constructors
• Ileana Holguin, Vice President, Institutional Business Unit, Clayco
• Ellyn Lester, Assistant Dean, Construction and Architectural Technologies, Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Angie Simon, Past President, SMACNA
• Sarah Tacker, Vice President, Northern California District Manager, Flatiron

Up and Coming Leaders: These Champions are agents of change, guiding their individual companies and the industry as a whole.

• Alexandra Beletic, Project Field Engineer, Bechtel
• Sarah Buchner, Founder and CEO, Trunk Tools
• Katie Evans, Project Manager, Skyline Construction
• Rebecca Ozols Goss, Vice President of Growth and Growth Strategy, Bell Construction
• Marisa Palomo, Vice President, Arizona region, PENTA Building Group
• Tracy Passarella, Senior Project Manager, Gilbane Building Co.
• Samantha Sweeney-Annarumma,Senior Vice President, Subcontractors Trade Association

Construction Dive’s daily newsletter will highlight a different category of women in each issue this week. To get the newsletter sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to Construction Dive.