The New York chapter of Professional Women in Construction, a nonprofit organization that supports career-minded women and works to promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction and related industries, held its annual Salute to Women of Achievement on Sept. 18, recognizing professionals at the highest levels of the AEC industry. The honorees were selected for their impressive career accomplishments and recognized for their commitment to lead and mentor.

The 2024 Women of Achievement are:

• Rachel Birnboim, co-managing principal at Perkins Eastman, where she focuses on health care architecture.
• Deborah Bradley, president and founder of Bradley Construction. She is committed to teaching young women entering the construction industry and helping other MWBE firms to prosper.
• Indhira Figuereo Blaney, senior vice president and national aviation market leader at WSP, an engineering and design firm. Figuereo Blaney serves as a role model, as she leads her team in all aviation new business development.

“Shining the spotlight on the successful careers of the honorees is one of the best ways to show women there is a place in the AEC industry for them,” said Gina Rivera, executive director of Professional Women in Construction New York. “Bringing women together to learn from each other is a main focus of PWC.”

“What’s important to me is digging into every aspect of an architect’s job,” Birnboim said. “My role has varied greatly over the course of my career, and continues to daily, and I see that as the amazing journey of being an architect. It’s about patience, learning, understanding others’ perspectives and embracing the opportunities that come your way.”

According to Bradley, face-to-face time is invaluable. “Go to job sites, events, join industry associations, attend meetings, go out with colleagues,” she said. “People will appreciate the effort it took to get there. Consistency creates familiarity, which breeds trust, which turns into business opportunities.”

“It’s vital to always collaborate with others, as AEC is teamwork,” Figuereo Blaney added. “This industry has an exciting future with a lot of positive changes in the workforce, and I enjoy sharing insights with other up-and-coming professionals, as well as learning from them.”

New York is the founding chapter of PWC, established in 1980 by eight women who banded together to advance their careers and businesses in typically male-dominated fields. That vision is still at the core of PWC’s mission, as it actively engages members through committees and events structured to provide leadership opportunities, networking and professional development.

“The construction industry offers a wide variety of opportunities and advantages for women, including one of the lowest gender pay gaps and a healthy work/life balance,” said Schillivia Baptiste, PE, president and CEO of Laland Baptiste and PWC NY board president. “PWC supports women with mentorship and scholarship programs and informative industry panel discussions throughout the year.”

The event was supported by gold sponsors Deborah Bradley Construction and Thornton Tomasetti; silver sponsors Perkins Eastman, Skanska and WSP; and bronze sponsors Environmental Code Consultants, JFK&M Consulting Group and SLS Controls.

The PWC NY Salute to Women of Achievement committee members are Baptiste; Raquel Diaz, vice president of Gilbane Building Company; Barbara Durante, CPA, of Grassi Advisors and Accountants; and Marilisa Stigliano, VP of corporate operations for STV.