“We have achieved more than we ever imagined when beginning WiOPS,” said Holly Cindell, project executive for Lendlease (US) Construction, WiOPS governing board member, and one of the organization's 12 founding board members. “Five years ago, our board planned to have three events a year, and were unsure if anyone would attend. Our sights broadened when more than 150 people joined after our first meeting. Since that time, membership has quadrupled.”

To prepare for the launch of its new chapter, WiOPS began structuring its Northern California Chapter earlier this year and installed a board of directors. Each member will serve three-year terms with officers serving in positions for one year. The board includes president, Ha Le Khac, ISEC; vice president, Kelly Coogan, McCarthy Building Companies; treasurer, LaDrena Dansby, Vanir Construction Management; secretary, Marie Patterson, Murray Company; Melissa Berg, Dome Construction; Lauritzen; Stacie McConnell, ISEC; and Christina Greystone, ISEC.

Berg, Lauritzen and Greystone recently discussed the impetus for the organization in the first of a two-part exclusive.

GlobeSt.com: Why is an organization like WiOPS needed?

Lauritzen: WiOPS provides a community for women in the industry to connect and talk about their career goals and challenges. For women (and men) to be successful in their careers they need mentorship and support. The research has shown that men are often taken under the wing of more senior persons in their organizations and given this support. Women are often left out. WiOPS provides a larger network of women so that these mentor/mentee relationships can be formed and thrive.

Greystone: WiOPS gives women in a construction a forum and an opportunity to mentor or be mentored. It offers learning experiences such as scopes you may not be familiar with and other job duties. Guest speakers come in to discuss their success stories and the path they took. We talk and bounce ideas off each other and so much more.

Berg: An organization like WiOPS is needed to provide a mentoring and support system for women in the construction and engineering industries. As a generalization, women are not wired quite the same as their male counterparts and were not generally raised to think their future would be at the helm of a construction or engineering firm. Organizations like WiOPS help even the playing field.

Greystone: I have benefited in several ways. I have listened to some key speakers and gained knowledge. Talking with mentors I have gained advice. In socializing I have talked about work and gained a few new strategies or different perspectives. I have also learned how to look at the bigger picture. Sometimes your scope is affected, or you will be affected by trades you never thought of.

SAN FRANCISCO—In 2016, women made up only 9.1% (939,000) of the US construction industry workforce, with just 31% (293,000) of that number in professional and managerial positions, according to statistics from the National Association of Women in Construction. While there are various other industry organizations for women in construction, none of them are tailored to women in construction operations.

“Although we have seen some growth in the number of women in the industry, the percentage is still too low when you consider the population in California is 49.8% male and 50.2% female,” said Jennifer Lauritzen, project executive for Swinerton and Women in Construction Operations/WiOPS Northern California board member.

WiOPS is helping to fill that gap. Nearly five years after holding its first meeting in Southern California, WiOPS will launch its Northern California Chapter during a free informational outreach event next month. The event will be open to both women and men who serve in professional occupations within construction, architecture and engineering industries.

The professional organization's mission is aimed at providing a forum to mentor and further the advancement of women in the building industry. It has grown to nearly 600 members in Southern California since its first meeting in 2013. WiOPS Northern California Chapter will hold future evening meetings on the last Wednesday of the month at member offices and various locations throughout the Bay Area. Sponsored by the hosting company, each meeting is free to attendees and will focus on learning, mentoring and networking through educational speakers, technical learning activities and social gatherings.

“We have achieved more than we ever imagined when beginning WiOPS,” said Holly Cindell, project executive for Lendlease (US) Construction, WiOPS governing board member, and one of the organization's 12 founding board members. “Five years ago, our board planned to have three events a year, and were unsure if anyone would attend. Our sights broadened when more than 150 people joined after our first meeting. Since that time, membership has quadrupled.”

To prepare for the launch of its new chapter, WiOPS began structuring its Northern California Chapter earlier this year and installed a board of directors. Each member will serve three-year terms with officers serving in positions for one year. The board includes president, Ha Le Khac, ISEC; vice president, Kelly Coogan, McCarthy Building Companies; treasurer, LaDrena Dansby, Vanir Construction Management; secretary, Marie Patterson, Murray Company; Melissa Berg, Dome Construction; Lauritzen; Stacie McConnell, ISEC; and Christina Greystone, ISEC.

Berg, Lauritzen and Greystone recently discussed the impetus for the organization in the first of a two-part exclusive.

GlobeSt.com: Why is an organization like WiOPS needed?

Lauritzen: WiOPS provides a community for women in the industry to connect and talk about their career goals and challenges. For women (and men) to be successful in their careers they need mentorship and support. The research has shown that men are often taken under the wing of more senior persons in their organizations and given this support. Women are often left out. WiOPS provides a larger network of women so that these mentor/mentee relationships can be formed and thrive.

Greystone: WiOPS gives women in a construction a forum and an opportunity to mentor or be mentored. It offers learning experiences such as scopes you may not be familiar with and other job duties. Guest speakers come in to discuss their success stories and the path they took. We talk and bounce ideas off each other and so much more.

Berg: An organization like WiOPS is needed to provide a mentoring and support system for women in the construction and engineering industries. As a generalization, women are not wired quite the same as their male counterparts and were not generally raised to think their future would be at the helm of a construction or engineering firm. Organizations like WiOPS help even the playing field.

Greystone: I have benefited in several ways. I have listened to some key speakers and gained knowledge. Talking with mentors I have gained advice. In socializing I have talked about work and gained a few new strategies or different perspectives. I have also learned how to look at the bigger picture. Sometimes your scope is affected, or you will be affected by trades you never thought of.