News + Ideas

Happy Women in Construction (WIC) Week! Introduced by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in 1998, the goal of this week is to celebrate and promote the role of women in the construction industry. WIC Week has steadily evolved and broadened in scope over the years. Numerous local chapters organize diverse WIC Week activities, ranging from educational presentations in high schools to job site tours, luncheons, and virtual gatherings.

Last WIC Week, we introduced MGAC’s first-ever Employee Resource Group (ERG): the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), which focuses on supporting and advancing the development of women at all levels of the firm. Women continue to be underrepresented in the A/E/C industry. Through regular meetings, social outings, special programming, and mentorship opportunities, WIN builds on MGAC’s commitment to growing a team that exceeds those statistics and reflects the world around us.

To commemorate the week, we sat down with a few of the women at MGAC to discuss their current work, their involvement in the industry, and the success of WIN in its first year.

Sophie Amerena, an Assistant Project Manager in our London Office, joined the team in 2023 and hit the ground running with our work in Montenegro. When asked about the project, she says, “I’m involved in this incredibly exciting project based in Montenegro, which is particularly thrilling for me as an Australian who has relocated to London. It’s quite fascinating in itself to be working on something there. Whenever I share about it with my loved ones back home, they’re always surprised, but let me tell you, it’s a substantial development. We’re talking about multiple buildings, entertainment facilities, and more. It’s all confidential work, but it’s complex, with various components interplaying, almost like a beast of a project, but undeniably cool. Currently, we’re deep into planning across stages two and three, and I feel fortunate to have joined the team at this stage, contributing to the design process and eagerly anticipating its full realization. The MGAC team is comprised of four project managers – one is male, and three are female. I’ve never worked on a project with so many females at the table, and that in itself is exciting!”

Being a part of the WIN network has empowered our staff to become more engaged in the industry. Lexie Mayewski, Project Manager in our Washington, DC office, has joined the Board of Women in Construction, a Washington, DC-based networking group that hosts an annual conference every October. She says about the event, “Just being in a room with 600 women (and a few men, I suppose), who have either walked in your shoes or are following in your footsteps, is incredibly empowering. We share a common bond of working in this industry and exchanging experiences, which I find immensely powerful. Connecting with people at the conference and beyond, grabbing a coffee with someone—it’s a great way to combat the feeling of isolation that can sometimes accompany working in this field. Empowering others and feeling empowered by those who’ve blazed the trail before you—it’s truly exhilarating and fulfilling to be part of.”

Stanislava Dobreva serves as a Project Manager in our Los Angeles office. Her current projects include a notable 38-acre development in Florida and an innovative mixed-use endeavor incorporating hospitality, residential, and medical amenities. In addition to her engagements in luxury living, life sciences, and entertainment ventures, she remains dedicated to attending monthly WIN meetings without fail, exemplifying leadership among the women within our organization.

Reflecting on the group’s achievements in the past year, she says, “The WIN group serves as a cornerstone of encouragement, offering a platform where challenges are normalized, experiences are shared, and connections are forged. This sense of community not only enhances the enjoyment of work, but also fosters a deeper sense of belonging and unity among team members. It’s not just about gender representation; it’s about creating an inclusive space where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to excel.”