Women in Construction Week is an annual event organized by the National Association of Women in Construction, designed to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry. As the construction arm of Berkeley Lab, the Projects & Infrastructure Modernization Division includes a number of women in various roles who chose a career in the industry. Learn more about what attracted these four women to the construction field and the challenges they overcame below.
Gwynne Bankert, Project Manager
BioEPIC
Please describe your career path (How did you get to your current role?)
The first step on my career path was, luckily, finding the Construction Management program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I LOVED my CM courses. I have been in construction since graduating in 1992 but have had different roles. I started with a heavy civil and marine general contractor, worked as a consultant to project owners and contractors, and for almost 18 years have been managing projects.
What attracted you to a career in construction?
I loved the idea of being a part of building something tangible. In high school, my strengths and interests were leaning toward engineering, but I did not feel that design would be for me. When I learned about Construction Management and its mix of design, engineering, and business, I felt I had found my place.
What would you consider your biggest career challenge to date, and how did you overcome it?
I have worked at great companies and with great people but unconscious bias and stereotyping are never-ending challenges. The idea of what a leader should be is heavily weighted toward masculine traits. A presenter at a training I took in 2020 shared that the average height of a CEO in the U.S. was 6’2″. I can’t compete with that. And, my voice is never going to be deeper. I have learned to understand my strengths and be aware of my weaknesses.
What has been your biggest success to date?
I take pride in all the projects I have been a part of, large and small in scale or duration. The best is walking through or driving by one of my projects and showing my daughter. BioEPIC at LBNL is next on the list.
What advice would you give to women and girls considering the construction industry?
First, more women and girls need to know about careers in construction. If you are interested or know someone interested in the field, learn about the opportunities that exist and connect with people in the industry. Every job I have had since college has been because of a connection I had or made through someone I already knew.
Kristina Castleberry, Project Manager
Electrical Infrastructure Projects
Please describe your career path (How did you get to your current role?)
I started with earning a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering. When I graduated, I took a Technical Sales path, working for Schneider Electric and Graybar providing quotes and project management support for Electrical Distribution products. These are 240V, 480V, and 600V switches, breakers, Motor Control Centers, Switchgear, Transformers, etc. Then I moved into the Electric Utilities field, with my first role as a Substation Design Engineer at PPL in Allentown, PA. I worked on design packages to replace and install High Voltage (12kV to 345kV) equipment (Breakers, Switches, Disconnects, etc). I moved to Chicago, IL and took another role in the Utilities industry, as a Program Manager for the Substation Engineering department working for ComEd (Commonwealth Edison). In this role, I lead the development of the initial project scopes so that projects could be initiated in the Project Management groups. I changed roles from there to work in the Work Methods department as a Senior Methods Specialist. In this role, I was the first female and first Engineer that ComEd had performed this job. I would visit construction sites throughout the service territory, meet with crews, review the procedures/work methods, perform safety inspections, review and approve tools for purchase, and write procedures. My husband had been approached with a great opportunity in the Bay Area, and I began my search again. I learned about LBNL through Indeed, did some research to find out what LBNL was about and decided that this would be a great place to work and apply my previous experiences to support the Science mission. I started in June of 2020, working with Mark Scott to start PIMD’s Electrical Projects Department. Our group manages projects with a focus on the Electrical Utilities Infrastructure.
What attracted you to a career in construction?
I graduated with my BSEE in 2006. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I graduated, but thought that the path in Technical Sales with Schneider Electric would offer a lot of opportunities to work with customers in the field and get a broad perspective of how the world works. In 2008, during the Economic Recession, my position was eliminated and I was out looking for work. I learned quickly that Electrical Infrastructure would offer opportunities and would give me the opportunity to be flexible in my location to work anywhere in the country/world. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed seeing my projects built and in use at the end of the project. I also enjoy working through the challenges that this industry offers and the teamwork that it takes to get projects done.
What would you consider your biggest career challenge to date, and how did you overcome it?
In every role, there’s the question of “Where do you want to be in 5 years, 10 years, etc”. I have always found it difficult to actively choose where I want my career path to lead to. I have learned that every new role / interaction / project comes with new experiences and perspectives. With that new knowledge, my perspective of what I imagine the “next step” to be changes. I have learned to accept that, and to look at each new opportunity as a chance to learn a bit more about myself and see new doors open around me to explore. With that, I have also learned that I shouldn’t let not knowing exactly where I want to go slow me down from growing my current role and selecting a goal to aim for anyway.
What has been your biggest success to date?
In each of my roles throughout my career, I have participated in Continuous Improvement, Process Building type activities. I am proud of the Substation Design Process that I wrote at PPL, which is still being used today. At ComEd, I participated in a team that developed a process and training program on how to address electromagnetic induction hazards in Substation yards. Our team also delivered this training to all of the Exelon Utility Substation crews. I had an opportunity to present on the topic at an IUSTA (Inter Utility Substation Training Association) conference as well. I am proud of this initiative and in my part of it. I was pregnant during the initiative, but I didn’t step back – I leaned into it and took the lead. It was a great opportunity to meet others from all of the utilities, and to strengthen network connections at the conference. It gave me a chance to work on leadership, training development, process development, and presentation skills.
What advice would you give to women and girls considering the construction industry?
Job shadow someone for a day to see what it’s all about. Build your network of support. This is especially helpful if you’re the only female in your team. It will be common to be the only female in a group, in a team, at a conference, etc. Don’t let that intimidate you, and speak up. Ask questions to learn. Try joining an Industry group, like Society of Women Engineers or the National Association of Women in Construction. I have made some great female friends in organizations like this and it’s been great to share stories and experiences with them.
Doris Wang, Project Manager
ALSU Storage Ring Sesimic Retrofit
ALS LN2 Tank Replacement
Please describe your career path (How did you get to your current role?)
I started as a structural engineer after graduation, then transitioned into construction management and project management.
What attracted you to a career in construction?
After I graduated high school, I went to Yushu, China, as a volunteer teacher after a major earthquake. While in Yushu, I was shocked by the devastating scene of destroyed buildings with no usable utilities. The sharp contrasts between where I grew up, Shanghai (the city was the biggest construction site in the world in the 1990s), and the poor countryside like Yushu convinced me that there was an urgent need for improving building and infrastructure construction. This motivated me to select civil engineering as my college major, and I’ve been interested in construction since then.
What would you consider your biggest career challenge to date, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge for me was to figure out my career path. I always knew that I wanted to work in construction, but I couldn’t figure out which career path I would enjoy the most. So I tried all paths I was interested in – structural engineering, construction management, project management, and program management. I narrowed down my options and chose project management as my career.
What advice would you give to women and girls considering the construction industry?
It can be intimidating working in a male dominated industry, but it should not affect or discourage your career choice. It’s not easy to find your passion, so if you feel a real connection to construction, you should go for it! Try not to get discouraged and remember that doing something you’re passionate about will be one of the most important factors to your success.
Connie Lin, Deputy Project Manager
BioEPIC
Please describe your career path (How did you get to your current role?)
What attracted you to a career in construction?
I always felt fascinated to see a construction project go from 0 to 100% completed. I’ve always felt like I have completed something major when I am done with a project. In addition, no one construction project is the same, they are all unique.
What would you consider your biggest career challenge to date, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was when my career changed from commercial projects to government projects. To actually be involved with the work is the best way to learn new things and fit into the new work environment.
What has been your biggest success to date?
I’m most proud of the working relationships I’ve built with contractors, coworkers, designers, consultants,… etc., throughout my career.
What advice would you give to women and girls considering the construction industry?
Don’t feel intimidated by the working environment. If you don’t know something, raise your hand and ask questions. Most people are happy to help.