Women In Construction

Construction Firm Celebrates WIC Week

Stephanie Akunvabey and Les Hiscoe at the WIC Week opening ceremony

Boston – Shawmut Design and Construction announced it recently participated in Women in Construction (WIC) Week, celebrated industry-wide. The firm’s WIC Week activities were developed specifically to align with this year’s theme, celebrating the different journeys women have taken to a career in construction and the goal of bringing more women to the industry at all levels.

Throughout WIC Week, Shawmut hosted conversations and events – guest speakers, panel discussions, jobsite tours, and networking events – including:

  • Shawmut CEO Les Hiscoe kicked off the week during the opening ceremony with a fireside chat with Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey, VP for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Roger Williams University, about the importance of self-advocacy, and the effectiveness of allyship, mentorship, and sponsorship to enable an inclusive environment.
  • Team members across the country hosted women-led events and jobsite tours, including at Breadblok in Beverly Hills, UMass Chan Medical School’s new education and research building in Worcester, Mass., and UCLA Nimoy Theater in Los Angeles. In New York, Shawmut board chair, Kimberly Bishop, hosted panel discussions on challenges facing women in the industry and strategies to accelerate advancement.
  • Mary Vogel, director of Building Pathways, hosted a discussion and networking event at Shawmut’s Boston office with union tradeswomen and Building Pathways graduates on creating and sustaining a more equitable workforce.

Building Pathways founder and graduates during a discussion moderated by Shawmut employee-owners about creating and sustaining a more equitable workforce

This year marks Shawmut’s eighth year participating in WIC Week, and the firm’s representatives say it is committed year-round to the advancement and diversity of its workforce. Shawmut has a workforce comprised of over 30% women and 20% in senior roles. Additionally, women comprised 50% of the recent graduates from Shawmut’s Construction Management Skills Training (CMST) program for recent college grads. Shawmut’s board of directors is 40% women, including Kimberly Bishop who was recently appointed board chair.