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Women in Construction
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Although women account for only 10% of the building industry, they are paving the way for future generations and breaking glass ceilings in this diversity-challenged industry. Whether she is on the construction site or supporting building projects through marketing, law, communications, engineering, architecture, executive roles and more, The Daily Reporter honors groundbreaking women at its annual Women in Construction Awards!
Save the Date
August 20th, 2026
5PM-8PM CDT
Greenhouse No. 7
2025 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION HONOREES
Accountant of the Year
Alisha Ayres, Accounting Supervisor, Stevens Construction Corp.
Ava Casey, Accounting Manager, Associate Principal, Kahler Slater
Becky Kirklewski, Senior Project Accountant, Catalyst Construction
Administrator of the Year
Katie Bell, Safety & Yard/Shop Administrative Assistant, JP Cullen
Alicia Tremain, Project Coordinator, Selzer-Ornst Construction Company
Apprentice of the Year
Haley Powers, Apprentice, Mortenson
Ida Rivera, Carpenter Apprentice, Tri-North Builders
Mollie Spangler, Commercial Painter Apprentice, Hess Sweitzer
Architect of the Year
Jen Heidenreich, Architectural Designer, VJS Construction Services
Attorney of the Year
Michelle Ebben, Michael Best & Friedrich
CFO of the Year
Katie Fritsch, Chief Financial Officer, Lee Mechanical
Designer of the Year
Sheila Downing, Associate & Senior Designer of Plumbing Engineering Systems, Somerville Architects & Engineers
Estimator of the year
Angie Koenigs, Estimator, Mortenson
Field Leader of the Year
Jen Cizinsky, Sound and Communications Technician, Staff Electric Co Inc
Hu(wo)manitarian of the Year
Rebecca Sadler, Director of Administration, Greenfire Management Services
Megan Willyerd, Project Assistant, Findorff
Innovator of the Year
Dani Szmergalski, Senior VDC Engineer, The Boldt Company
Journeywoman of the Year
Earlivia Anderson, Journeyman, CG Schmidt
Alicia Christ, Journeyman Service Plumber, JM Brennan
Leader of the Year
Sara Kvitek, Executive Vice President & Director of Finance, Somerville Architects & Engineers
Lifetime Achievement Award
Debra Richards, Instructional Chair – Apprenticeship/HVAC-R/Power Engineering/Sustainability, Milwaukee Area Technical College
Marketer of the Year
Rebecca Priebe-Roob, Senior Marketing + Creative Services Manager, VJS Construction Services
Cally Arquilla (Reinders), Senior Marketing Specialist, Findorff
Mentor of the Year
Mary Recktenwalt, Environmental Discipline Manager, Mead & Hunt
MVP of the Year
Jill Ackerman, Assistant Director of Membership Engagement and Workforce Development, Plumbing Mechanical Sheet Metal Contractors’ Alliance
Laura Bell, Statewide Director, WRTP|BIG STEP
Kelli Dahl, Assistant Project Manager, Beeler Construction, Inc.
Office Manager of the Year
Michele Prue, Office Manager, Cicchini Asphalt
Payroll Manager of the Year
Heather Magolski, Payroll Manager, Miron Construction Co., Inc.
Project Engineer of the Year
Shelby Jackowski, Project Engineer II, Mortenson
Norma Lewis, Project Engineer, JCP Construction, LLC
Project Executive of the Year
Laura Hause, Project Executive, Gilbane Building Company
Project Leader of the Year
Jennifer Buck, Associate Principal, Senior Project Leader, Kahler Slater
Project Manager of the Year
Macy Clark, Project Manager, Findorff
Sheri McQuality, Project Manager II, Mortenson
Briana Mitchell, Project Manager, The Boldt Company
Angela Piscia, Project Manager, The Boldt Company
Kelly Tellez, Senior Project Manager, Riley Construction
Safety Professional of the Year
Andrea Dosedla, Safety Manager, Walbec Group
Super Sister of the Year
Michelle Hacka, Cement Mason, Zenith Tech
Sam Kopping, Superintendent, Mortenson
Tamika Ward, Instructor & Journeyman Carpenter, Carpenters Training Institute Madison
Unsung Hero of the Year
Sue Atkinson, Claims Administrator, Hooper Corporation
Jill Berenz, Principal / Controller, Pierce Engineers
Bess MacLeod, Project Assistant & Madison Office Liaison , Findorff
Julie McCarthy, Project Financial Controls Manager, Miron Construction Co., Inc.
Megan Mosher, Asst. Project Manager, Berghammer Construction
Ashley Papp, Project Controller, Gilbane Building Company
Marcia Zalenski, Marketing Coordinator/Administrative Assistant, AG Architecture
Woman-owned Business of the Year
Katie Bilich, Owner / President, C.M. Morris Group, Inc
Although women account for only 10% of the building industry, they are paving the way for future generations and breaking glass ceilings in this diversity-challenged industry. Whether she is on the construction site or supporting building projects through marketing, law, communications, engineering, architecture, executive roles and more, The Daily Reporter honors groundbreaking women at its annual Women in Construction Awards!
2024 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION HONOREES
The Daily Reporter Lifetime Achievement Award
Pam Fendt, Milwaukee Area Labor Council
Administrator of the Year
Sandra Balk, Kahler Slater
Kelly Frank Kemnitz, MSI General
Architect of the Year
Misty Hintz, VJS Construction
Business Developer of the Year
Amanda Busche, VJS Construction
Jill Didier, Miron Construction
Designer of the Year
Maria Welch, Bray Architects
Engineer of the Year
Rachel DeSombre, raSmith
Educator of the Year
Karen Feliciano, Milwaukee Area Technical College
Field Leader of the Year
Trish Sund, Tri-North Builders
Forewoman of the Year
Ashley Barforth, Stark Pavement
Christina Breitlow, Mattox Plumbing (also a WIC honoree in 2019)
Kendra Hribar, CG Schmidt
Hu(wo)manitarian of the Year
Tanya Faber, Corporate Contractors Inc.
Elizabeth Hayes-Kotecki, Patriot Fence
Leader of the Year
Melanie Parma, Somerville Architects and Engineers
HR Professional of the Year
Raj Ravi, Hooper Corp.
Maria Seitz, Miron Construction
Innovator of the Year
Amanda Huebner, Pierce Engineers
Amy Stevenson, GRAEF
Tiffany May, Berghammer Construction
Amy Provost, JF Ahern
Interior Designer of the Year
Aga Artka, Aga Artka Interior Design LLC
Katy Frey, Kahler Slater
Lean Champion of the Year
Karen Newhouse, Miron Construction
Marketer of the Year
Amalia Flatley, The Boldt Co.
Amanda Highlander, Tri-North Builders
Mentor of the Year
Jes Andrist, JM Brennan
Mary Collins, Gilbane Building Co.
Shelley Karlik, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters
Amanda Schauer, Gardner Builders
Maiken Westphal, Westphal & Company
MVP of the Year
Megan Bettinger, Common Links Construction
Amy La Mere, JP Cullen
Kari Lilly, Selzer-Ornst Construction
Office Manager of the Year
Penny Drager, Stevens Construction
Project Manager of the Year
Justine Berens, Findorff
Bailey Gasper, Tri-North Builders
Tara O’Toole, Miron Construction
Jordan Quackenboss, JF Ahern
Amy Michels, Mead & Hunt
Super Sister of the Year
Christy Ford, Walbec Group
Chellei Harris, City of Milwaukee
Ashley Szweda, C.D. Smith
Trailblazer of the Year
Tiffany Schroeder, Findorff
Unsung Hero of the Year
Michelle Forge, Gilbane Building Co.
Jessica Jahner, JM Brennan
Deb Mehling, Milwaukee Area Bricklayers
Ainae Schmaus, CornerStone One
2023 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION HONOREES
Sitlalic Aguilar – VJS Construction
Christy Babcock – Walbec Group
Cheyenne Brandt – HM Brandt LLC
Andrea Bukacek – Bukacek Construction Group
Maureen Carlson – Greenfire Management Services
Adrienne Caron – Gilbane Building Co.
Katherine Erwin – Walbec Group
Jessica Grensavitch – Findorff
Carol Grundahl – IBEW Local 159
Dena Gullickson – Stevens Construction
Sara Gulotta – Postorino Construction Finishes
Amy Hacker – White Buffalo Trucking
Sharon Hulce – Employment Resource Group
Heidi Jutrzonka – Common Links Construction
Amanda Kohlbeck – H.J. Martin and Son
Ammu Kuricheti – IBEW Local 159
Jessica Lazo Figueroa – Hooper Corp.
Mady Less – Gilbane Building Co.
Megan MacLaughlin-Barck – Larson Construction
Katie Miller – Tri-North Builders
Melanie Mussey – Corporate Contractors
Melinda Pogwizd – Kahler Slater
Julia Randles – Corporate Contractors
Chloe Slaven – Riley Construction
Dorothy Snow – Altius Building Co.
Danielle Stamborski – Mortenson
Simmi Urbanek – Greenfire Management Services
Kathleen Vanderstappen – Mortenson
Lori Walter – Tri-North Builders
Lindsey Yoder – Sign Art Studio
2022 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION HONOREES
Kara Albrecht – Bray Architects
Jessie Cannizzaro – Milestone Plumbing Inc.
Michele Cartwright – Common Links Construction
Erika Cleaver – Tri-North Builders
Katie Connell – Building Advantage
Jennifer Dressler – Symbiont Science, Engineering and Construction
Jacquelyn Elder – ZoKa Solutions
Colleen Hoffmann – IBC Engineering Services
Nicole Howland – Wellenstein & Sons
Jennifer Kolp – VJS Construction Services
Ashley Markham – Riley Construction
Karen McKenzie – Advocate Aurora Health
Jennifer Podevels – Best Erectors Inc.
Kristen Quinn – Payne and Dolan Inc.
Elaina Runingen – Hunzinger Construction
Kelley Shawchuk – Gilbane Building Co.
Jennifer Tebon – Stevens Construction
Jean Hurt Taylor – Hurt Electric Inc.
Stephanie Thomsen – Walbec Group
Theresa Weinert – Staff Electric
Jac Weitzel – Building and Construction Trades of South Central Wisconsin
2021 Women in Construction Awards Photos
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