Mothers In Construction

08/08/2023

26/06/2023

I’m so thankful for the outcome of the Pathways to Success - Construction Careers / Real Estate Discussion in my hometown in East New York, Brooklyn. Two mothers in construction reached back to provide awareness and access to opportunities in the community that raised us. We reminisced on the previous use of the lot the community center sits on. It was not a place you wanted to walk through. Now the lot has a community center and affordable housing. Full circle !


We discussed pathways in management , apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship. We also discussed real estate investment and homeownership. Attendees walked away with a way to attain a promising career path or opportunities in real estate. Lives were impacted, and information was shared. My heart is so full. Special thank you to Wendy Peters with JWP Corp for sharing her story and inspiring the audience.

It was so great to see ENY family and some friends from high school and college. My big sisters showed up and showed out as usual!



Awareness is everything. We have to make sure EVERYONE has access and knowledge. You don’t know , what you don’t know . It’s on us to reach back. this is only the beginning Sis ! Assignment accepted ❤️ 🙏🏾

10/06/2023

I am excited to discuss access and opportunity in the place that raised me along with my fellow Mother In Construction . East New York, Brooklyn definitely gave me the grit and determination needed to thrive in the construction industry. There are so many opportunities and pathways in this field. There’s nothing like hearing it from two of your own. Join us for this invaluable discussion to discover Pathways to Success! Register now on Eventbrite

31/05/2023

I was honored to moderate an amazing panel last week filled with powerhouse women, speaking about a topic that is so important. Mothers In Construction was created because these conversations were not being heard loud enough. As mothers, we do what it takes to succeed. Rarely do we let everyone else know what our needs are so that we can continue to thrive. There is a revolving door of women who enter and leave every area of our industry, feeling they have to choose between career and family. At times, sacrifices will have to be made to support a specific era in our lives, but that doesn’t mean we have to completely separate from what we love. We bring so much to the table. The construction industry can benefit from being more supportive of parents as a whole. We have a long way to go, but progress will be made because we will continue to speak up about it! Thank you NAWIC Triangle and AIA Triangle for organizing this amazing discussion.

14/05/2023

Happy Mother’s Day to all the M.I.C.s out there!! Don’t forget to prioritize YOU ❤️

04/05/2023

Check out the season finale of  Mothers in Construction podcast, Season 4 , Episode 60 – The Master Builder with Ann McNeill.

Ann McNeill is the President of MCO Construction and Services Inc., MCO Consulting, Inc.,  Constructively Speaking, Inc., on the Board of Directors for Better Investing, and Founder of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC). She is also the Founder and President/CEO of the International Mastermind Association, an organization that helps people create work/life balance through goal-setting and financial empowerment. The group has produced several authors, such as Dr. Mia Y. Merritt, and a host of other successful entrepreneurs.

Today, Ann is a dynamic speaker who has been featured in many newspapers and magazines, including Success Magazine and the Miami Herald. She was also the cover story for USA Today, Black Enterprise and ABC World News.

Ann is also mother to two wonderful daughters, Danelle and the Baby Billionaire, Ionnie. She also has two awesome grandchildren, Malachi and Rajah-Nia. Mrs. McNeill is happily married to her husband Daniel McNeill.

In this episode, we speak about Ann’s start in the industry 45 years ago, what it was like being a black woman in construction at that time, and what led her to start the National Association of Black Women In Construction.

We also discuss balancing motherhood and our careers. Ann advises us to expose our children to what we do and highlights the importance of prioritizing family along with scheduling intentional moments with our children.
Ann McNeill, known as The Master Builder, is intentional about building people that build projects and building programs that build communities. Listen to her story!!!

03/05/2023

Season Finale!!!! 60 episodes of content ! I am so proud to end Season 4 with a woman who is a matriarch, a trailblazer, a mother to many, and a mentor. Mrs. Ann McNeill, is the President of MCO Construction and Services, Inc., MCO Consulting, Inc., Constructively Speaking, Inc., and on the Board of Directors for Better Investing. She is also the Founder of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC).

In this episode we discuss her start in the industry and the importance of balancing motherhood and career. Check out her story tomorrow !!!!

28/04/2023

Happy to be moderating a panel with incredible women on such a needed discussion involving Motherhood in the Workplace. Event will be held in Raleigh, NC on May 23 from 5:30 PM -7:30 PM at Office Revolution (Street Level). This event is co-hosted by Women In Architecture and NAWIC Triangle. Many thanks to the sponsor Brasco. Register on Eventbrite or here: (https://lnkd.in/ez6xGY8Z) . See you there !

26/04/2023

Tune in tomorrow to this week’s episode of Mothers In Construction podcast with Barbara G. Werther, Esq. and Jesse Garchik.

Barbara is a construction law attorney and Member at Samek | Werther | Mills, LLC. She is also co-founder of the Women In Construction, Inc organization, and have served as President of the annual Women in Construction conference from 2006 to 2021.

Jesse Garchik is the founder and Principal at Garchik Consulting Solutions, LLC. Her firm supports nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses. She is a vital player in the success of The Women in Construction Conference, the East Coast's premiere forum for education, professional development and networking for women in the build industry.

In this episode we discuss the upcoming 17th Annual Women in Construction Conference in Washington , DC and their continuous support of the empowerment , celebration and elevation of women in our industry. Check out their stories tomorrow !!!

20/04/2023

Check out Season 4, Episode 58 - Be Fearless of the Mothers in Construction podcast with Anya James, CMAA, PHAS. 

Anya is an Administrative Housing Superintendent with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). She’s been a facilities manager with over 25 years of proven success in supervising large work entities. Anya is proficient in overseeing multimillion-dollar Class A capital improvement projects as well as monitoring field operations in construction management, heating services, and building maintenance. She has the ability to direct complex projects from concept to fully operational status.

At the age of 17, Anya began her career with NYCHA as a Maintenance Trainee within the Housing Youth Development Internship, a program offered to youth living in one of the housing developments of the New York City Housing Authority.  She is now a leader within the same organization and participates in a coaching/leadership academy where women in leadership reach back to support future leaders within their organization.

On top of this position, Anya is a real estate investor, has practiced funeral directing, and holds an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Human Resource Management, as well as a Masters of Public Administration/Investigations (MPA).

As if her plate is not full enough, Anya is a mom with a nine-year old daughter, Amayah, who is a competitive gymnast, figure skater, and guitarist. Amayah is her "why" and keeps her pushing forward.

In this episode, we speak about the importance of hope and access to opportunity. Anya tells us, "On the other side of fear, is opportunity."  Listen to her story !!! * Link In Bio *

19/04/2023

Tune in tomorrow to this week’s episode of Mothers In Construction podcast with Anya James, CMAA, PHAS.

Anya is an Administrative Housing Superintendent with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). She’s been a facilities manager with nearly over 25 years of proven success in supervising large work entities. Anya is proficient in overseeing multimillion-dollar Class A capital improvement projects.

What’s also special about Anya is we both grew up together in Boulevard Projects in East New York, Brooklyn. Two women from the projects, making an impact in the construction industry. Statistically we’re not supposed to be here but…WE BELONG HERE!

Anya who grew up in NYCHA, is now a leader within the same organization. We speak about the importance of hope and access to opportunity. She tells us “On the other side of fear is opportunity.” Check out her story tomorrow !!! Shoutout to our ENY family ❤️ 💪🏾

13/04/2023

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast, Episode 57 - Space to Build with Kathryn Hart Tinnesz. Kathryn wears many hats, but her favorite is being a woman in construction. She is also in the process of fitting into a new one: motherhood. Kathryn has held traditional titles such as Superintendent, Project Manager, and Business Development Manager, but her passion lies in her non-traditional work. She is the owner and host behind Space to Build, an online platform that equips you with community, digital resources, and guidance to find your voice in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries!

In this episode, we speak about the importance of community in our industry and her viewpoint on navigating her career path as an expectant mother Listen to her story !!! *Link In Bio*

12/04/2023

Tune in tomorrow to this week’s episode of Mothers In Construction podcast with Kathryn Hart Tinnesz. Kathryn is the owner and host behind Space to Build, an online platform that equips you with community, digital resources, and guidance to find your voice in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.
We speak about the importance of community in our industry and her viewpoint of navigating her career path as an expectant mother. Listen to her story !!!

05/04/2023

Tune in tomorrow to Episode 56 of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Nicolle Wilkinson, a licensed architect in the state of Arizona and a certified construction manager through CMAA.

In this episode we discuss menopause and what it’s like to be a mother in construction going thru this life transition while maintaining a career in construction. This is another topic that is not discussed loud enough, but impacts many. Nicolle provides tips to what has helped her advocate for her needs, improve her quality of life and maintain a successful career in a demanding industry.

31/03/2023

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast's, Episode 55 – Psychosocial Safety with Abby Ferri. Abby is a practical, creative, and influential safety and risk management consultant, podcaster, and author. She leverages social media, her voice, and the latest technology to advocate for worker safety and equity. Abby is the Chief Risk Officer at Insurate, where she's part of a team of innovators reshaping insurance around the people it's supposed to protect.
In this episode, we speak about psychosocial safety factors along with two of the top safety issues facing women in the field: lack of accessibility to adequate bathroom facilities and access to properly fitting PPE. Not having adequate facilities for women has an impact on the health and well-being of workers in the field. Many avoid hydrating and hold urine throughout their shifts as a way to avoid jobsite conditions. This leads to dehydration and painful urinary tract infections. Also, although more products have become available, proper fitting PPE that is based upon female body measurement data is still an issue and has an impact on worker safety.
Abby discusses her advocacy work to support better work environments for women in the field and what we can do to elevate our voices to push for an industry-wide cultural change that goes beyond inclusion weeks and trendy statements. The call to action to the industry is to do the right thing and make necessary accommodations to support women in our industry! Listen to her story!!!

29/03/2023

Tune in tomorrow to Episode 55 of Mothers In Construction Podcast with Abby Ferri, a practical, creative, and influential safety and risk management consultant, podcaster, and author.

We discuss psychosocial safety factors along with two of the top issues facing women in the field: lack of accessibility to adequate bathroom facilities and access to proper fitting PPE. Abby discusses her advocacy work to support better work environments for women in the field and what we can do to elevate our voices to push for an industry-wide cultural change that goes beyond inclusion weeks and trendy statements. Tune in tomorrow !

22/03/2023

This week on the Mothers In Construction Podcast we interview Andrea Janzen, Founder and CEO of Ambition Theory. Andrea, is a Certified Executive Coach with an MBA, the host of the Ambition Theory Podcast, a Forbes contributor, and a top-rated speaker. We discuss the necessity of sponsorship vs mentorship and why this level of support is vital to propelling women in our field. Stay tuned. Episode drops tomorrow ! .theory

09/03/2023

Episode 52 loading !!! Check out our interview with Lark Jackson with Chicago Women In Trades releasing tonight. CWIT has advocated, supported , trained and championed for women in our industry for over 40 years ! Listen to their story !!!!!

08/03/2023

Happy International Women’s Day! Happy Women In Construction Week! M.I.C. is sending lots of love and a👊🏾 to all of the women out there Making it Happen , killing the game and paving the way for others ! Keep going 💕

04/03/2023

The Women In Construction Summit at Fayetteville State University’s Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business HUB was a success! I am so thankful for the opportunity to facilitate the training and contribute to the framework of the program. The applicants sacrificed an entire week and showed up each night energized and engaged. NCDOT , Samet Corp, and Metcon, also participated in the training, sharing knowledge and providing access to contracting opportunities. This gave the women hope to be able to grow and scale their businesses.
Many of the women were also Mothers In Construction. We discussed our experiences and ways to overcome any obstacle. Amazing ladies from NABWIC and NAWIC engaged in an emotional and empowering panel discussion that had everyone jumping off their seats.
Tears flowed, joint ventures were made and now these women are visible to a major government agency and prime contractors. The program even got some shine on WRAL News !

What an entry way into next week’s Women In Construction week ! Huge shoutout to .garrett and for coming through and dropping gems ! Your sisterhood and passion to support bled through each word. I am grateful for you!
Be on the lookout for future summits !

22/02/2023

Meet Atianna J. Cordova, award-winning designer, entrepreneur, and educator from New Orleans, LA who founded WATER BLOCK™, a design and creative studio. Atianna’s experience as a child impacted by Hurricane Katrina inspired her journey to architecture and the release of her first children's book entitled, What is Architecture?
Our M.I.C. readers love this book! Check her out on tomorrow’s episode of the Mothers In Construction Podcast to learn more and hear her story!

09/02/2023

How many of us have had projects stalled or stopped due to firestop or passive fire protection related issues 🙋🏾‍♀️??
Check out Season 4 , Episode 48 with Sharron Halpert, founder and owner of Halpert Life Safety Consulting LLC, a leading provider of firestop-related life safety and passive fire protection solutions. We talk about her start in construction, her passion for her specialty and important communication methods that we all can use to diffuse situations in construction. Episode drops tomorrow!

08/02/2023

This post shows the heart of Coralee Beatty . Giving her flowers today 💐 ❤️. I’m so thankful for Coralee who has been pouring into me over the last few months. Not only is she a great business coach but also a great person and accountability partner . Boyyyy do we have a lot in common lol. It’s been so refreshing to have someone I can relate to who reminds me of remembering “Me”, which often gets lost in the daily grind. I truly appreciate you lady and your willingness to reach back and support women in our industry. Thank you for all that you do.
Everyone be sure to check out Coralee’s IG lives every Wednesday and visit her website at https://www.thrivehq.ca

08/02/2023

Support one of our favorite M.I.Cs, Tessa Hall, owner of No.07 Consultants. If you’re in the DC area check her out at AAREP DC’s Inaugural Black Contractors Summit on 2/13/2023, at the RISE Demonstration Center. .07_consultants

03/02/2023

Check out Season 4 Episode 47 of Mothers In Construction Podcast– The Company of Dads with Paul Sullivan. Paul is the founder of The Company of Dads , the first platform dedicated to creating a community for Lead Dads. Its mission is to help Lead Dads feel less isolated and more confident that they have made the correct choice to take on the bulk of the parenting and family duties - or at the very least not embrace stereotypes around who does what at home.
We discuss breaking the cultural norm of moms being the expected managers of their households. Mothers In Construction and others with demanding jobs often find themselves burned out from carrying the weight of their jobs in addition to countless responsibilities caring for their children and maintaining their households. Fathers like Paul and other Lead Dads are changing up the game by making sacrifices to support their families.
Before starting The Company of Dads in 2021, Paul wrote the Wealth Matters column in The New York Times for 13 years. He also created the Money Game column in GOLF Magazine. As a journalist for 25 years, his articles also appeared in Fortune, Money, Conde Nast Portfolio, The International Herald Tribune, Barron’s, The Boston Globe, and Food & Wine. From 2000 to 2006, he was a reporter, editor and columnist at the Financial Times. He got his start as a reporter at Bloomberg and Institutional Investor.
Paul is the author of two books Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t and The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of The Super Wealthy. He has been interviewed on podcasts, radio and television programs across America, including NPR, Marketplace, CNN, and Fox News. He has also given keynote talks to audiences from 50 to 500 people in the United States, Mexico and Chile.
Paul lives in New Canaan, Connecticut, with his wife and their three daughters and three dogs. Listen to his story! *Link In Bio*

01/02/2023

Meet Paul Sullivan, a M.I.C. ally. Paul founded The Company of Dads, a media company and community platform aimed at Lead Dads - those men who are the go-to parents whether they work or devote all their time to their family.

On Season 4 Episode 47 of Mothers In Construction Podcast we discuss breaking the cultural norm of moms being the expected managers of their households. Mothers In Construction and others with demanding jobs often find themselves burned out from carrying the weight of their jobs in addition to countless responsibilities caring for their children and maintaining their households. Fathers like Paul and other Lead Dads are changing up the game by making sacrifices to support their families. Listen to his story ! Episode drops tomorrow!

28/01/2023

Whew this interview took me places... Check it out on https://www.jaylarae.com/podcastfeed/latecareermilspouse/ep-7

I went from being a single mom to a military spouse. I prayed to God for love and companionship and he sent me a dude in the military. I had to laugh about that one. Like really God, you couldn’t make it easy ?😂

I’m what you call a “Late Career Spouse”. I met my husband later in his career. I had a career, goals and aspirations. As a woman in construction, there was no way I was going to accept giving up my career !

I’ve taken all the talents I’ve acquired and pursued opportunities based on my experience. Now, I do what I love and know that wherever this path takes us, I’ll be able to pivot again. This episode is about pivoting and not giving up !

Some spouses suffer through severe depression because they live in the shadow of someone else who’s working on their career and they are in the background losing themselves. This doesn’t have to be the case. Figure out what you love to do and utilize the resources that are now here for us . I am thankful that there are organizations such as , that support spouses and help them achieve educational, career , and entrepreneurial goals.

Thank you Jayla Rae for providing this safe space for us to tell our stories. It’s important. If I had to do it all over again I’d choose this life because it’s been my greatest gift ! ❤️ .spouse

27/01/2023

Check out Mothers In Construction Podcast's Season 4 Episode 46 - Tough Decisions with Katelyn Barrett. Katelyn is a Marine Corps veteran, a marine welder and a Mother In Construction from North Carolina. She's a single mom raising a beautiful six year old boy. In order to pursue her career as a commercial diver and tender, Katelyn made the tough choice to relocate away from her child to work throughout the week return home on the weekends. Katelyn is not alone as many women face these tough decisions while in pursuit of their careers. Katelyn's story will encourage other moms to hold on and keep their eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel. Listen to her story!

23/01/2023

EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED. Don’t miss this great opportunity! Apply today !

18/01/2023

Check out this week’s episode of Mothers In Construction Podcast dropping Thursday . Season 4 Episode 45 - Building Foundations with Christine Merdon!

Christine Merdon is the CEO/President of Merdon Strategies, LLC, a woman owned small business providing management consulting to federal contractors for strategy, growth, organizational leadership and optimization of team performance. In addition, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland.
We have followed the work of Christine for many years and have always admired her leadership style. She is a Mother In Construction who inspires us all to keep building internally and externally for the betterment of ourselves , our families and the industry. Don’t miss her story dropping tomorrow!!!!