From the expectation to own office management tasks to the glaring lack of representation in field/leadership roles, the challenges facing women in construction can feel endless.
From the expectation to own office management tasks to the glaring lack of representation in field/leadership roles, the challenges facing women in construction can feel endless.
“When you don’t see people who look like you in leadership roles, it can be hard to imagine yourself there,” says Nicole Rangel, a senior project coordinator at the Biosolids Digester Facilities Project (BDFP). “Women in construction face barriers that men simply don’t—often, we aren’t given the same opportunities or taken as seriously, and mothers usually struggle to find childcare that aligns with our industry’s early hours.”
In 2023, Nicole was presented with a unique opportunity to tackle these challenges head-on in partnership with Kathryn Mallon, a former director with MWH (Webcor’s JV partner at BDFP).
“The idea for the group really emerged from all those early conversations with our CBOs,” Nicole recalls. “They were the ones who pointed out the lack of women on-site and the need for more visibility and support for women in the trades.”
Kathryn and Nicole envisioned a safe space that would champion women across all facets of the project—from Webcor and MWH to BDFP’s many Local Business Enterprise (LBE) trade partners and local hires.
Over the last two years, BuildHERs’ participation has nearly quadrupled from 20 women at the first quarterly meeting to almost 80 at their peak.
“We’ve successfully marketed BuildHERs through branded banners, SWAG items, jackets, and fliers, and we recently launched a new logo to better represent the field,” Nicole says. “I’m so proud of everything BuildHERs has accomplished. It’s become a community that connects women with resources, highlights their contributions, and emphasizes that there’s a place for them in construction.”
In addition to Nicole, BuildHER’s leadership team includes:
“BuildHERs has helped me handle the challenges of being in a male-dominated workforce, especially as a woman of color,” says Deltrea Crayton, a laborer forewoman and QSP inspector at BDFP. “Thank you to BuildHERs for seeing the tradeswomen on-site—your compassion is above and beyond. I truly appreciate them for hearing me and changing the culture for the better.”
Plenty has changed for BuildHERs since its 2023 launch, but their key to success has remained constant: listening.
Before each quarterly meeting, BuildHERs’ leaders go out to the field and ask the women what changes they’d like to see at BDFP and how they think BuildHERs could assist. That feedback drives the brainstorming sessions that follow, during which they begin strategizing solutions to shared challenges, how to incorporate the feedback into the next quarterly meeting, and the logistics required to bring it all to life.
The dedication of allies like Sr. Field Outreach Manager Tyrone Evans and Safety Manager Kendall Cantave has also been essential to BuildHERs’ continued growth and accomplishments.
has also been essential to BuildHERs’ continued growth and accomplishments.
By the time BuildHERs reached its first anniversary, the power of the group’s influence was undeniable. That realization was a gratifying moment for Nicole, who couldn’t believe the community she and Kathryn had envisioned just a year earlier had transformed into a project-wide initiative that empowered women to fully own their place in the construction industry.
“Women who have been in the trades for years have shared how important BuildHERs has become to them and how proud they are to be part of it,” Nicole says. “Other projects and companies have taken note of what we’re doing at BDFP and expressed interest in forming their own BuildHERs groups, which is a major goal of ours.”
Restroom Access: BuildHERs successfully advocated for more women’s restrooms installed throughout BDFP’s project site—"pink for visibility and representation.”
Recruitment & Retention: Since BuildHERs’ launch, BDFP has hired more women, provided new training and promotion opportunities, and increased retention rates among women in the field.
Online Resources: Last year, BuildHERs launched a digital/print newsletter and resource website for tradeswomen and their families.
Offsite Learning Opportunities: BuildHERs sponsored three tradeswomen at BDFP to attend Tradeswomen Build Nations—the world’s largest gathering of unionized tradeswomen.
Women in Construction Week: For this year’s Women in Construction Week, Nicole and her team organized a full line-up of events dedicated to celebrating the women of BDFP while connecting them with valuable resources for professional/personal success.
1st Offsite Networking Event: This summer, BuildHERs hosted their first offsite, after-hours networking event—something several women had requested during WiC Week to avoid interference with work.
BuildHERs responded by organizing their first offsite event at Spark Social, where women were encouraged to bring their kids so they wouldn’t have to worry about finding or paying for childcare on a Friday evening. “We wanted to support them in a real way by ensuring participation wouldn’t cost them anything,” Nicole says.
More than two years later, the feedback for BuildHERs remains “overwhelmingly positive,” Nicole says. Women across the project have shared that the group’s instilled a sense of belonging that they never thought they’d experience in the trades.
“So many women have told me they’ve long been frustrated with our industry’s lack of support for women,” Nicole says. “Every story reminds me why we keep showing up, creating visibility, and taking up space. Hopefully, more women across the industry will take the initiative we have at BDFP and foster that vital sense of community and support for women in the trades at their own projects.”
The MWH/Webcor JV’s Biosolids Digester Facilities Project (BDFP) isn’t just a massive infrastructure project critical to Webcor’s portfolio—it’s one that embodies our Community core value in a way no other project has before.
The MWH/Webcor JV’s Biosolids Digester Facilities Project (BDFP) isn’t just a massive infrastructure project critical to Webcor’s portfolio—it’s one that embodies our Community core value in a way no other project has before.
Through its Local Business Enterprise (LBE) engagement, BDFP has generated over $300 million in economic impact benefiting local businesses in Bayview-Hunters Point (District 10), one of San Francisco’s most underserved and racially diverse neighborhoods.
“XBE participation (the umbrella term for diverse businesses, e.g. LBE, MBE, WBE, etc.) matters for so many reasons,” says Project Outreach Manager Chris Bardales. “It creates access to opportunity while stimulating the local economy, champions the growth of small businesses, builds a list of potential trade partners, and demonstrates to potential clients that we’re committed to supplier diversity and impactful community partnerships—something that’s becoming a higher priority for an increasing number of clients.”
When the American Contract Compliance Association (ACCA) released its annual call for National Training Institute (NTI) speaker abstracts, Outreach and Partnerships Manager Sharla Sullivan knew it was the perfect opportunity for Chris to share his inclusive contracting expertise with fellow outreach professionals striving to drive similar results at their own projects.
“I participated in a contractor’s panel at the conference last year and knew it was time for Chris to present this year!” she says. “The opportunity to connect with other outreach and compliance professionals at ACCA’s NTI and learn what’s working and not working from real case studies is hugely valuable.”
Established as a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring equitable employment and contracting practices, ACCA offers training, networking, and support for contract compliance professionals across the U.S.
Chris agreed to submit an abstract in partnership with MWH Contracts Manager Caroline Galle. Last month, they presented their case study, “Building Inclusive Supply Chains: A Case Study on the Impactful Role of General Contractors in Supplier Diversity Compliance for a Public Megaproject,” at the 2025 NTI conference in Colorado to rave reviews.
“The audience was completely engaged throughout the entire presentation,” says Dept. Manager, Estimating/Outreach Rosa Arevalo. “Chris and Caroline received a lot of great feedback and questions, even after they finished presenting. I would love to see them come back to ACCA next year and lead a presentation on local workforce development.”
On the final day of NTI, Chris and Caroline kicked off their presentation with an introduction to BDFP, the surrounding Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, and BDFP’s LBE requirements before diving into the tools and strategies that fueled their outreach and engagement with District 10’s LBE community.
“Chris and Caroline expertly detailed the steps they took to create and execute an LBE procurement strategy centered on proactive engagement, diversified contracting, setting specific LBE requirements by scope, and, most importantly, with the buy-in of the client, team, and community,” Sharla says. “I loved how they focused on examples and even shared a situation where something they tried didn’t result as expected. They pivoted to a new strategy based on what they’d learned, which resulted in even greater XBE participation. The result? A project that reflects the community inside out.”
They wrapped up with a detailed analysis of the local economic impact driven by BDFP’s LBE engagement throughout the project. “I was excited for the opportunity share our buyout/LBE-related successes and strategies with industry peers,” Chris says. “It’s amazing to realize everything the project team’s accomplished through collaboration and dedication. Several of the strategies we presented could serve as starting points for other projects.”
Aside from being a valuable learning opportunity, the story at the heart of their case study was genuinely inspiring, Rosa says. Their authenticity and commitment to the Bayview-Hunters Point community, regardless of the BDFP’s LBE requirements, resonated deeply with the entire audience.
“It was obvious that they both truly care about uplifting Bayview-Hunters Point residents and equipping them with the necessary tools for success,” she says. “They weren’t just trying to check the boxes. They wanted to make a difference—and they did.”
For decades, Safety Manager Larry Spencer has encouraged high school graduates who can’t fathom another four years sitting at a classroom desk to consider workforce development programs and apprenticeships.
Contrary to what most students are told, college isn’t for everyone—and that’s OK.
As an industry veteran and former high school football coach, Safety Manager Larry Spencer understands that better than anyone. For decades, he’s encouraged high school graduates who can’t fathom another four years sitting at a classroom desk—and after that, many more sitting at an office desk—to consider workforce development programs and apprenticeships.
“You finish the program without any student debt and often get paid to learn your craft,” he says. “It’s a great option to pursue instead of college.”
In late 2020, Project Director Ted Williams connected with Fortitude Careers, a Peninsula-based nonprofit just getting off the ground. Designed to introduce young adults from underserved communities to the construction trades, Fortitude equips their students with the basic certifications and skills (both technical and soft) needed to get started in construction.
The entire program is free of charge to participants.
About 72 percent of Fortitude graduates have landed industry jobs after completing their eight-week Summer Build program.
After speaking with Fortitude’s founder, Nicole Davis, about how Webcor could support, Ted decided to reach out to Larry about possibly leading Fortitude’s safety certification trainings. At the time, Larry and Ted were working together at Bay Meadows Stations 1 & 5 in San Mateo, just a few minutes from the San Mateo Event Center where Fortitude’s classroom sessions were held.
“Not everyone can coach high school football,” Ted says. “Motivating and training young adults require a certain skillset. The same goes for leading trainings as a safety manager—it requires the ability to connect with people and deliver messages that resonate.”
Without hesitation, Larry agreed to step in and support as a mentor and safety trainer. Over the last five years, he’s helped Fortitude students earn certifications in OSHA 10, flagger training, and the operation of essential construction equipment like forklifts, scissor lifts, and boom lifts. At Bay Meadows, he led the safety portion of Fortitude’s ECC workshop, a Fortitude initiative in which students tour an active project site and meet construction team members.
“Just because you have the technical skills doesn’t mean you can teach it, and just because you can teach it doesn’t mean you can inspire people to listen,” Ted says. “Larry’s a naturally inspiring teacher and mentor. The way he approaches the subject matter motivates students to pay attention, learn, and emulate his professionalism and dedication.”
Since Fortitude’s ECC at Bay Meadows, Fortitude has organized 13 ECCs at various active projects, including Isle House and the Biosolids Digester Facilities Project (BDFP). To date, Fortitude’s ECCs have served about 225 students interested in construction careers.
Today, Larry’s commitment to Fortitude’s students remains stronger than ever. Last month, he returned to Fortitude’s Summer Build Program to help their latest cohort get certified in the usual construction equipment essentials.
The severity of our industry’s labor shortage cannot be understated. As more construction professionals retire from the workforce, it’s increasingly vital that we come up with creative, effective strategies to recruit the next generation of builders—strategies like our Fortitude partnership.
“From an inclusion standpoint, we believe that’s important,” Ted says. “Fortitude offers students that crucial access to training and industry education. We need to continue finding and engaging with diverse recruitment avenues like Fortitude to find qualified construction talent.”
Our partnership is mutually beneficial. The more GCs and industry professionals get involved, the more others will be inspired to follow suit and invest their time/resources in workforce development programs like Fortitude—time/resources that are essential to their continued growth.
“Larry’s support directly benefits ‘opportunity youth’ by helping them build long-term careers in construction,” Nicole says. “He’s played a crucial role in sustaining Fortitude’s program and strengthening our partnership with Webcor. Thank you, Larry, for being a cornerstone of our mission, sustaining force in our program, and catalyst for industry partnerships that uplift opportunity youth and strengthen the construction workforce!”
