Women’s panel inspires and empowers BC&E members
Be authentic.
That was the overarching theme during a recent Women Building Baltimore panel discussion that focused on the female perspective in the very male-populated construction industry.
The panel was comprised of leaders from BC&E member companies covering all aspects of the industry: Kristin Huber, Director of Marketing & Operations at Advance Business Systems; Katie McInnes, Executive Vice President of Gray & Son, Inc.; Lisa Tenley, Vice President at Plano-Coudon Construction; Gretchen Wagner, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Principal at GWWO Architects and Annette Walter, President & CEO of Timber Industries.
The panelists provided insight into their careers and the intense juggle between personal and professional life. They offered sage advice to the more than 60 BC&E women in the room.
“Don’t be who you think you are supposed to be,” Huber said. “Be yourself. The authentic brand is the best brand.”
The panel was the first of several 2024 events that will be part of BC&E’s Women Building Baltimore initiative.
“This is a collaborative group providing a welcoming and supportive platform that encourages relationship building, celebrates professional successes and empowers women to thrive in the industry,” said Marianne Crampton, President of MK Consulting Engineers and Chair of the Women Building Baltimore Committee.
The panel embraced exactly that in their discussion. They were open, honest and authentic.
“If you are the only woman in the room, you learn how to have confidence and command a room so moving forward you are taken seriously,” said Wagner.
“I visited job site after job site. I had the dirty boots and I would climb up those ladders like everyone else,” Tenley said. “I think after a while that earned respect.”
The panel agreed that women have to take it easy on themselves — something each of them had to learn.
“You are always growing and turning into a newer, better version of yourself,” Walter said.
“You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room,” said McInnes. “You just need to make sure you have a team of people surrounding you who can help you along the way.”
