Professional Women in Construction 'Meets the Construction Chiefs' Feb. 26. (Transactions).

"I want your business cards!" said Andrew Thompson, chief architect with Memorial SloanKettering, as he took the podium at "Meet the Construction Chiefs," a networking event sponsored by Professional Women in Construction (PWC) on Feb. 26 at La Maganette Ristorante in New York City.

"Over the next four years, there will be close to a billion dollars worth of work at the cancer center. Please contact us." His remarks were warmly greeted by the enthusiastic audience that filled the room to capacity with everyone from site safety and environmental consultants to architects and engineers to suppliers, bankers, insurance representatives, accountants, and printers. "One of our slogans is, 'the construction industry buys everything,'" said PWC president Lenore Janis. "We have a lot of people here tonight with something to sell who are eager to meet the people who have the power to buy."

In fact, the construction budgets announced by the public and private leaders in the industry all ended in at least six, if not nine, zeroes and the "chiefs" unanimously pledged their support for women and minority-owned businesses (WBEs and MBEs).

Janis introduced Ronald Gottlieb, the new president of the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), noting that the agency contracted "$120 million to WBEs last year." Gottlieb said, "We want to make work available to everyone in our community. We encourage the participation of PWC members in our extensive mentoring program and actively seek to hire minority and women-owned businesses."

Donald Moore, director of design & construction with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), borrowed a phrase from the popular lexicon to advise all that "this-summer $600 million of work will 'hit the streets' in New Jersey. And we're looking for certified minority, women-owned and small businesses."

Diana Chapin, first deputy commissioner with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), said that the agency is budgeted for "$2 billion worth of construction work;" Paul Manning, chief operating officer with Raimondo Construction announced that his firm is doing "$250 million worth of work in New Jersey and New York;" and

Robert Yauch, dir. of construction with the New York City Housing Authority, said, "We receive $345 million a year from the federal government which is unaffected by city cutbacks. We're hiring P.E.s and civil engineers. Our pipeline is full of projects for the next three years."

Praising the female members of their staffs were Richard Wood, president of Plaza Construction, who said he was "proud of the women that represent Plaza;" and Ark Latt, senior purchasing agent with Turner Construction, who spoke of "the 'Super Seven' women at Turner who are vice presidents and senior vice presidents."

Other guests of honor were Maureen Henegan, president of Henegan Construction; Michele Medaglia, president of ACC Construction; Nancy Czesak, vice president and project director with Tishman Construction; Jim Kilbride, senior vice president with J.A. Jones; Andy Frankl, president of IBEX Construction; Frank Sheridan, director of facilities planning with the New York State Department of Correctional Services; and Steve Cromity, manager of the compliance division in engineering with the Port Authority of NY & NJ.