For the past 27 years, one week in March has recognized the accomplishments and promoted the role of women in the construction industry.
The first annual Women in Construction Week, put on by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), was in 1997. This year, it runs from March 2 to 8 and features various events designed to highlight women’s achievements in construction.
The number of women in the industry has grown in recent years, reaching 1.34 million in 2024, up from 929,000 in 2015, according to the United States Bureau of Labor (BOL) Statistics. BOL data shows that 39% of women in construction hold leadership roles, and 68% hold sales and office positions. 
“We saw a massive labor shift in the past few years, with many people resigning or stepping away from traditional roles,” says Whitney Hill, co-founder and CEO of SnapADU. “Now, as many re-enter the workforce, they may be more open to industries they hadn’t previously considered. Construction has remained one of the few fields with a sustained demand for labor.”
To recognize women in the glass and glazing fields, multiple glass-related companies contacted USGlass magazine to highlight their employees’ achievements in their workforce. Their testimonials are below.
Crystal Window & Door Systems
Sabrina Leung, Manager, Architectural Sales and Engineering
Sabrina oversees all new product development and engineering for the national manufacturer and architectural sales and support for commercial projects. She works closely with Crystal’s production and sales teams and vast supplier network to deliver cutting-edge products. She holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in risk management.
Simone Essue, Drafting Engineer
Simone recently joined Crystal’s research and development/engineering staff and is responsible for technical support for commercial projects, including shop drawings, customization details, and installation information. She holds a degree in architectural engineering technology.
Why did you decide to join Crystal and be part of the glass industry?
“I grew up in a family of designers and builders; my two brothers are engineers, and my father is in construction. I was drawn to Crystal for the design and creative aspect of the work. I love the sustainability and energy efficiency of glass, improving our built environment.”
Guardian Glass
Krysta Arnold, Regional Sales Manager
Krysta Arnold is a regional sales manager for the U.S. and Canada at Guardian Glass. She is responsible for developing and leading a clear vision and strategy for her team of territory sales managers through her understanding of market conditions to provide feedback on new areas of innovation. Arnold focuses on the profitable growth of commercial and automotive sales and driving demand while helping the team further develop their knowledge, skills and talents. With 12 years at Guardian Glass, she has advanced from customer account manager to commercial specialist and territory sales manager to her current role. Her expertise in architectural glass solutions and deep industry knowledge continues to shape Guardian’s presence in the commercial building sector. A graduate of St. Ambrose University, Arnold lives in Iowa with her husband and two children.
Claudia Caraballo, Regional Sales Manager
Claudia Caraballo is the residential regional sales manager for the west region at Guardian Glass. In her role, she is responsible for the residential segment growth in her territory by staying up to date with industry trends and market developments to identify new opportunities for growth and innovation, leading and coaching her team to develop their skills and working to drive the ClimaGuard brand to be the preferred residential glass option. She has been with Guardian for 18 years in a variety of roles, including territory sales manager, residential business manager, and, most recently, residential regional sales manager. A graduate of Northwood University, Caraballo lives in California with her husband.
Leah Hemling, Architectural Design Manager
An srchitectural design manager for Guardian Glass, Leah Hemling, is responsible for the New England region. She joined Guardian Glass eight years ago as an architectural design specialist before her promotion two years later. She quickly established herself as an influential advisor for her outstanding relationship skills, establishing her as an essential part of the supply chain who is determined, open and collaborative with Guardian Glass customers and partners. Hemling is creative in her approach to sharing technical knowledge of our portfolio, internally and externally. She takes initiative, leads her peers through dedicated training opportunities and supports key markets to maintain an established brand presence. Career highlights include developing the Guardian Glass Thermal Improvement Guide, a critical resource when the Massachusetts Stretch Code was enacted, and successful contributions during the design and construction phases for several key projects. Hemling resides in Rhode Island with her husband and three children.
Kelly Thavenet, Commercial National Accounts Manager
Kelly Thavenet is the commercial national accounts manager at Guardian Glass. She is responsible for assisting in the development and execution of strategies that position Guardian as a preferred partner and for driving collaboration between Guardian’s North American sales team and its critically important fabricator network. Part of the Guardian team for over 13 years, she has steadily advanced from architectural design manager, territory sales manager and strategic accounts manager to her current position. A Purdue University graduate, she resides in Iowa with her husband and three children.
Heidi Trudell, Technical Advisor
Heidi Trudell is a bird conservation researcher and advocate with an emphasis on bird-window collision prevention for over two decades. Since 2015, she has focused on collaborating with architects and the glass industry, helping them navigate the nuances of designing bird-friendly buildings and collision prevention technologies. In 2024, Trudell accepted a position as a technical advisor within Guardian Glass. Her subject matter expertise and expansive network, partnered with Guardian Glass’ project reach, deliver a unique capability for architects, consultants and owners wading through the new and changing bird-friendly building landscape. With a passion for education, Trudell finds great satisfaction in working directly with clients to review projects, understand the threats posed and provide recommendations based on specific applications focused on delivering real-world efficacy for bird deterrent solutions. Trudell is a Texan living in Michigan with her partner and dozens of houseplants.
Hartung Glass Industries
Hartung officials nominated several outstanding employees for recognition, including:
- Ali Stewart, Regional Sales Manager (has been in the glass industry for five-plus years)
- Kaitlin Rose, Outside Sales (has been in the glass industry for five-plus years)
- Charissa Buchanan, Outside Sales (has been in the glass industry for five-plus years)
- Jamie Welch, Outside Sales (has been in the glass industry for one year at the company’s Phoenix location)
Pacific Glazing Contractors
Jenna Collison, Vice President of Operations
We celebrate our vice president of operations, Jenna Collison, who began her career as a receptionist and discovered her passion for glazing when a simple piece of glass sparked her curiosity about the craft. Overcoming early challenges of gaining respect, she learned to navigate a male-dominated industry with confidence and resilience. Her message to women in construction: “The sky’s the limit; have passion, and be ready to work hard!” Today, she focuses on improving processes, boosting team morale and ensuring projects are completed successfully.
Catherine Rauser, Chief Operations Officer
We highlight the outstanding leadership of our chief operations officer, Catherine Rauser, whose journey in the glazing industry began as a part-time payroll assistant while she was pursuing a teaching degree. Her passion and dedication have led her through various roles in project management, drafting and engineering, and operations, where she gained invaluable knowledge from experienced mentors. Now overseeing shop and field operations, project management, drafting and engineering, she remains dedicated to continuous improvement in product quality, customer service, and operational efficiency. Her leadership exemplifies the power of teamwork and the ever-growing presence of women shaping the future of construction.
Kathy Greninger, Senior Project Manager
We recognize the remarkable journey of senior project manager Kathy Greninger, who boldly shifted careers in her late 20s to become a union glazier. Initially, not even knowing what the Glazing industry entailed, she quickly embraced the reality of the physically demanding trade. Starting as an apprentice, she faced tough conditions and challenges, including being one of the few women in the field, but she persisted and grew stronger. After three years of fieldwork, fabricating, welding and honing her craft, she moved into project management, achieving her goal of leadership. Today, she is a proud example of the thriving women who are transforming the construction industry.
Merry Goetz, Operations Support Manager
We proudly highlight Merry Goetz, our operations support manager. Goetz’s focus is on empowering and supporting her team, always prioritizing people in her work. She recognizes that gender discrimination exists beyond construction and believes standing up for ourselves is vital. She exemplifies her belief that women can achieve anything. As a deaf individual, she has never allowed challenges to define her, carrying the motto “watch me” throughout her career. Her determination serves as an inspiration, proving that with hard work and persistence, women can overcome any obstacle.
Permasteelisa
Doha Rhessal, Production Planning and Shipping
“Doha Rhessal is one of the key women in our Bleu Tech Montréal organization that epitomizes the ‘Get Stuff Done” moniker,’” says Tim Shea, production planning manager. “Her strong negotiation skills and a vast network of supplier connections have been a key part of the manufacturing evolution that has transformed the Bleu Tech Montréal production team over the last year.”
Maggie Kearns, Project Controller
“Maggie consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, exceptional attention to detail and a deep understanding of financial management in complex projects,” says Josh Voice, Josef Gartner Brand executive. “She is a reliable and diligent professional who approaches each task with great care and dedication and has an impressive ability to manage multiple priorities while ensuring that financial aspects of our projects remain on track and within budget.”
Mileah Mott, Office Manager/Document Control MKU
“With over 20 years of dedicated service, Mileah is the backbone of operations, ensuring every aspect runs smoothly and efficiently,” says Shannon Crawford, Group QA/QC, H&S and Business Improvement. “As an office manager, executive general manager assistant and head of document control, she wears many hats, and she wears them exceptionally well. Mileah is known for her ‘whatever it takes’ attitude, consistently putting in long hours to ensure deadlines are never missed. Mileah doesn’t just keep things running–she drives progress, ensuring that everything is done right, on time and with excellence.”
Taylor Fischer, Designer
“Taylor Fischer is a dedicated and hardworking curtainwall designer who consistently goes above and beyond in everything she does,” says Ryan Raschke, senior sales director. “With an infectious passion for her work, she brings new ideas and relentless determination to her role every day, making her a rising star in the company. In a relatively short time, she has cemented herself as an indispensable member of our team.”
Q-Railing
“I want to recognize and celebrate the outstanding women at Q-railing North America,” says Syndi Sim, director of sales and business development at Q-railing North America. “Each plays a vital role in delivering exceptional customer service, supporting our partners and driving our success in the railing industry. We are grateful for their hard work and commitment to excellence. Thank you to the women of Q-railing for your leadership and impact in glass and glazing.”
Vista Skywall Systems
Michelle Murphy, Senior Project Manager
Michelle is responsible for business development, client and subcontractor relations and all aspects of commercial project management from bid through installation. She has over 30 years of experience in the glass and glazing industry, manufacturing and project management. Before joining Vista, Murphy was the operations manager at Oldcastle Glass Fabrication in New York.
Vanessa Serrano, Project Manager
Vanessa is responsible for estimating, material purchasing, supplier coordination and jobsite inspections and safety protocols for commercial installation projects. Recently, she has added more field responsibilities, advising installation teams and clients. Serrano holds an associate’s degree in technical electronic engineering and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
Katherine Ma, Administrator
Katherine is responsible for project administration, keeping Vista’s back office running smoothly. She maintains all project documents, photography and communications with clients, suppliers and field crews. She has been with Vista for a year and a half and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Why did you decide to join Vista and be part of the glass industry?
“I wanted an environment where I could use my organizational and communications skills. Construction is a great fit for that, and I am really enjoying the fast pace of the work at Vista.”
