While there are many job prospects for women in construction fields, at Gardiner & Theobald Inc., a leading project and cost management firm, the owner's representative role is one of great opportunity and strength for women in today's market. In the past ten years there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of women seen on construction job sites and within the subcontractor and general contractor's roles, but a position as owner's rep opens up a huge opportunity in management, salary, title advancement and responsibilities for women in the working world. Consulting project and cost managers are more in demand today as projects are becoming increasingly complex in the tightening economy. Gardiner & Theobald Inc. is a leading firm in this field, with offices in New York and Los Angeles.
Women enter project and cost management with a variety of backgrounds that include real estate, architecture, engineering, construction management, estimating and design. Dawn Thompson, associate director of project management, came to G&T Inc. from an architecture firm which she says was fulfilling but notes that women in architecture "have not generally been given the money or the recognition men are given with the same job and performance." With eleven women working at G&T's New York office, all agree that G&T respects women, treats them fairly and provides them with the same opportunities. Says Tamela Johnson, director of project management: "G&T treats everyone equally based on performance. The greatest advantage at G&T is being respected for your work and having the ability to mentor other females to success."
The women at G&T Inc. agree that women have come together within the industry for networking and support, and women working on projects tend to support each other, even from various areas of the project chain. Alexandra McCrow, associate director of cost management remembers working on the Jewish Museum project while based at G&T's London office, which had a complete female design team including project manager. "It was a coincidence but an interesting combination of individuals, we worked well together and felt very proud of our roles and the joint contribution made in moving forward a complex construction project"
Thompson, Johnson and McCrow all credit Gardiner & Theobald's opportunities and work environment to them being an internationally headed company, where Gardiner & Theobald has a global incentive to promote women in the Owner's Representative role. With three strong women in senior positions, Johnson said, "I do think we'll see more women moving into upper management positions within the construction industry and I think that's very exciting." Tags: