Celebrating Women’s Day + Women in Construction Week

Impactful, inspiring and incredible are just a few words to describe the Women’s Day supported by ASCE L.A. Y.M.F. in our first virtual event honoring women in the construction industry. The event began with an ice breaker to kick-off the zoom meeting and an opening speaker from L.A. Y.M.F. 's board officer Nikki Zuleta, also an Executive Board member for the Metropolitan L.A. Branch and a Civil Engineering Associate in the Construction Management Division for L.A. City’s Bureau of Engineering. Then the focus turned to the insightful conversations from our three guest panelists working in the construction management both public and private sectors. Rossana D’Antonio, a Deputy Director for L.A. County Department of Public Works (L.A.D.P.W.), Katia Angelica Barba, a Senior Project Engineer for Skanska USA Building, and Marina Quiñonez, a Senior Architect for L.A.D.P.W., discussed their experiences as females in the construction industry on the field as well as in the office setting. The panelists elaborated on their responses and means of “#choosingtochallenge” any inequality in the workplace, striving to change work environments in a professional manner and all while proudly shining in their individual personality. The event wrapped with an engaging Elevator Pitch activity for each breakout room group. L.A. Y.M.F. thanks the panelists and guests for joining the meeting and additionally, to the donors to the Downtown L.A. Women’s Center, helping empower women experiencing homelessness.