Women in Construction Week 2022 Plan Announced

The Engineering Division, in partnership with the Parks Division, Water Utility and Traffic Engineering Division, is proud to join the nationally-recognized Women in Construction Week, March 6-12, 2022.  

This is the third year City Engineering will highlight the work of women in the construction industry, however, this year, we’re working across agencies at the City of Madison. Construction-related work spans many different types of careers. As a City, we’re proud to highlight the work of women in different agencies doing different work, impacting the same industry.

Starting March 7, 2022, each agency will highlight woman’s work and journey in the construction industry with social media posts, written article and video feature.

By sharing these stories, the City of Madison agencies want to raise awareness of the opportunity and the wide variety of paths and careers in the construction industry.  The following women will be highlighted:

• Janet Schmidt, Engineering Division, Principal Engineer, Stormwater Design Section Manager
• Margaret Kraege, Heavy Equipment Operator, Parks Division
• Rebecca Qureishi, Traffic Engineering Division, Engineering Program Specialist
• Cindy Hemenway, Public Works Administrative Assistant, Engineering Division
• Kara Jafferies, Water Utility, Waterworks Pump Operator

The focus of Women in Construction (WIC) Week  is to highlight women in the construction industry. WIC Week also provides an occasion for National Association of Women in Construction’s (NAWIC’s) thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry.

By the numbers: women in the industry
Women make up 10.9 percent of the U.S. construction workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. About NAWIC   NAWIC was founded in 1953 by 16 women working in the construction industry to create a support network for women working in a male-dominated field. It gained its national charter in 1955 and there are now more than 115 chapters across the U.S.. The organization provides many opportunities to its members, including educational, professional development, scholarships, and mentoring.