It’s Women in Construction Week

It’s Women in Construction Week (WIC), and HBW Construction is here to represent! We know exactly what kind of impact women make on the construction industry because we have seen the value they bring to our workplace and our clients. We’re proud to be leading by example, with women at all levels and roles of our business.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) held the first WIC Week in 1998, and the recognition has expanded yearly. So have the opportunities. Nationwide, more than 1.3 million women work in construction. Our region, including Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, now has women making up as much as 16.1 percent of the construction workforce, including record numbers in field roles.

At HBW, women make up 23 percent of our workforce. We hired our first female superintendent in 2019 and our first female vice president in 2023. We asked two HBWers to talk about their work and their outlook on women in construction management roles. 

Meet Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones is an Assistant Vice President of pre-construction for HBW. Kelly has worked at HBW for nearly 12 years, first in marketing roles and now helping to lead the critical planning phase before construction begins. 

Kelly is an active member of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)’s Maryland Suburban and DC Chapters and the President for CREW Maryland Suburban. She is also actively involved in HBW’s Women in Construction group, whose mission is to create a supportive group that promotes positive change for women in our company and industry.

Kelly’s advice to women starting in the industry is to immerse themselves in the full scope of the business and to stay on top of construction industry trends. Learning every aspect of the business and how they are interconnected can be invaluable for career growth. She advocates for women to find mentors and allies at work and to seek out new tasks that push them beyond their comfort zone. Kelly believes women in construction need to view career challenges as opportunities to learn, grow, and prove themselves. 

As a young woman, Kelly wished she had been braver about speaking up in situations when she was the only woman present. She knows that confidence and curiosity go a long way and that the industry needs diverse voices and perspectives. 

Meet Marisol Santos

Marisol Santos is a Property Accountant for HBW. She manages the financial aspects of real estate assets, including tracking income and expenses to ensure a project’s financial health. Despite working in the office, Marisol says women in construction need to understand on-site work, too. She uses construction progress to help anticipate financial needs, project timelines, and cash flow challenges. She also tells other women to get comfortable asking questions, even basic ones, to ensure they have the clarity they need to do their jobs.

Marisol also encourages women to lean into technology. She says learning unique construction software takes time but helps streamline operational processes. 

Finding Success 

To thrive in the construction industry, women, like their male counterparts, need a combination of hard skills, soft skills, and personal attributes, including strong communication, problem-solving, leadership, and a willingness to learn and adapt. At HBW, Marisol identified attention to detail as a top trait. She says managing budgets, contracts, and financial reporting requires precision, particularly when juggling multiple projects simultaneously.

Kelly named resilience a top characteristic, pointing out that construction is fast-paced, complex, and filled with unexpected challenges. Being resilient allows women to navigate obstacles, adapt to changing circumstances, and confidently assert themselves in a traditionally male-dominated field. 

Supporting Each Other

Kelly believes that women supporting other women in construction is essential. Mentoring, advocating for inclusion, and celebrating each other’s successes can make a difference to women individually and attract more women to join the industry.

As someone who has progressed to a leadership role at HBW, Kelly has learned that sitting at the table is important, but using your voice is even more powerful. In a field where women are still underrepresented, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise to conversations can drive meaningful change. She says that credibility is built through knowledge, preparation, and follow-through. When women demonstrate competence and confidence, they earn respect.

Marisol agrees and encourages women in construction to assert themselves. She says expert input is critical to the success of a project, and diversity drives better decision-making and financial strategies. 

The National Association of Women in Construction recognizes WIC Week each March. At HBW, WIC Week is celebrated with a lineup of outreach and support events, reinforcing the role of women in the company’s ranks. To learn more about career opportunities for women at HBW, visit www.hbwconstruction.com/careers.