Women in Construction Week
This week (March 1-7), we join the industry in celebrating Women in Construction (WIC) Week! It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the women who play a vital role in all areas of the construction industry.
To honor this week, we are proud to spotlight two incredible and inspiring women from our team: Joanne Gomez and Christina Delgado. By sharing their stories and insights, we hope to highlight the growth they have achieved and the impact they have made in this industry.
Spotlight – Joanne Gomez
Project Manager
Joanne has been in the construction industry for 28 years. She “landed” in the business by chance, starting out with no formal industry education or network of contacts. However, after jumping right in, she soon came to realize that she enjoys the constant change in her workdays. When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, she points to seeing the final product once a build is complete.
Regarding the challenges that women face in the industry, Joanne notes that being taken seriously can be difficult, having experienced firsthand how others sometimes try to minimize her input because they are unfamiliar with her construction background. For her, it comes down to this: “It’s the push to prove yourself and once that happens, there’s a shift. It’s also about not demanding respect from someone, but rather earning it.”
Joanne’s career path was shaped by the women who inspired her early on. She looks back on a project where she met a Project Manager named Anne. At a time when it was rare to see a woman in such a role, watching Anne run a high profile freeway project on a day-to-day basis provided invaluable training. By observing how Anne handled situations and maintained an environment of mutual respect, Joanne learned leadership skills that she still carries with her today.
When reflecting on her most proud or memorable moments, Joanne explains that they constantly change: “Finishing a complex, challenging project is always a proud moment.” However, one memory that stands out is when she took her older brother on a tour of the completed Cali-Virgin project. Her family usually only hears about the projects she works on, so walking through the facility made him realize the scale of her work. He turned to Joanne, clearly surprised, and asked, “This is what you’ve been working on?” Seeing that reaction from her brother was in her words, “priceless.”
Having been in the field for a long time, Joanne has seen the industry change considerably for women. She shares that women were typically found in interior designer roles. However, now you see more women across every role in the industry—from electricians and operators to structural engineers and architects. Her one piece of advice for any woman considering a career in construction is clear:
“If you truly believe in your own ability, take the risk; there is reward. This industry is like any other industry.”
Spotlight – Christina Delgado
Assistant Project Manager
Christina has been working in construction for nearly 5 years. She chose this industry because she was looking for something different and challenging, also adding that she “might have been convinced by a friend” to take that leap. Today, she finds that the most rewarding part of her job is the constant growth. She thrives on the complexity of construction and values the fact that she learns something new every day.
When discussing the biggest challenges of being a woman in the field, Christina explains that building confidence in a male-dominated industry can be difficult, often feeling as though she is playing catch-up. Fortunately, she has been guided by inspiring women throughout her career. Leaders like Joanne, Rita, and Stevi have all served as powerful examples of success to her.
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