In honor of Women in Construction Week, we’re spotlighting five outstanding women selected by the Women of Webcor (our employee resource group for women, open to ALL Webcorians) leadership committee who have made exceptional contributions to Webcor while embodying our core values.
The common denominator between the two was a fascination with complex systems—whether mathematical or interpersonal.
Today, Avery navigates the high-stakes procurement phase of the SFO West Field Garage project by leveraging the technical precision of her engineering degree alongside the communication nuances she refined in theater studies.
Raised in King City — a small agricultural hub about two and a half hours south of San Francisco — Avery’s early ambitions were focused on mechanical engineering. But during her senior year of high school, her mother, noting Avery’s background in theater and her natural charisma, suggested a pivot to the stage.
She spent two years in theater before the pull of mathematics became impossible to ignore. While other students were struggling through statistics and math homework, Avery was the one offering help. She realized that while she loved performing, she craved the logic she found in mathematics. She returned to engineering at San Francisco State University (SFSU) just three months before the COVID-19 pandemic moved her education behind a Zoom screen.
While some pursued their degrees for the eventual paycheck, Avery’s motivation remained pure: a genuine love for math. Today, as a project engineer at Webcor, she has found a way to marry that technical precision with the interpersonal skills she refined through her theater studies.
Beyond Procurement and Schedules
Avery joined Webcor after meeting the team at an SFSU career fair — an event she now hosts and attends as a recruiter. Though she initially leaned toward civil engineering without a specific focus on construction, she found herself captivated by the architecture and the tangible nature of the work.
"I can fall in love with anything I do as long as I love the people," she says.
Working on the SFO West Field Garage project for the last 18 months, Avery has immersed herself in the procurement stage, seeing firsthand how design is formulated within a schedule before manifesting in real life. But for Avery, the "how" of building is inseparable from the "who." She has made it her mission to bring a sense of humanity to the job site, whether she’s running meetings or managing subcontractors.
"I work really hard to just love being at work," she explains. "I’m willing to tell people when I’m not doing well, which opens up a level of vulnerability that allows others to do the same with me."
The Challenge of the Only Woman in the Room
Avery is candid about the realities of being a young woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The challenges aren't always overt; often, they are systemic and subtle. She notes the common tendency for the only woman in a room to be reflexively asked to take meeting minutes, order food, or handle administrative tasks, while her male peers are directed toward the field.
She recalls a moment when her Project Director, Wayne Campbell, stepped in as a vital ally. When Avery pointed out these gendered expectations, Wayne didn't just listen — he validated her experience in front of the group. When some colleagues questioned if it was true, Wayne’s insistence that it was "absolutely true" shifted the room’s perspective.
"It takes one male ally to make them believe you," Avery says. "You can't fight this battle alone."
Mentorship and the Next Generation
Avery’s journey is supported by mentors like Outreach & Partnership Manager Sharla Sullivan (pictured with Avrey below), who lives just a few blocks away. This "neighbor feel" has provided Avery with a safe space to discuss the industry's challenges. Sharla’s advice is pragmatic: these challenges are part of the business, but they don't have to define your personality.
For Avery, the goal isn't to conform to a rigid, stereotypical "construction persona." She wants to be herself — bubbly, stern when necessary, and heard. She is already paying it forward, teaching new PEs and even senior PEs the ropes of procurement and schedule management.
Whether she’s rock climbing, painting, or teaching her partner how to find calm through art, Avery carries the same philosophy: “Connection is my superpower,” she says. By playing music before meetings and getting to know the families of the people she works with, she is creating a more efficient, communicative, and ultimately more human environment at Webcor.
As she looks toward the future, her focus remains on the people. "A huge part of building is communication and understanding each other," she says. "I hope to bring that connection to every project I touch."
