"Our speakers today represent industry leaders from the private and public sector, bringing news about capital program budgets reaching well into the billions," said Professional Women in Construction (PWC) president Barbara Armand, president and CEO of Armand Corp., introducing five of the NY metro area's top movers and shakers at PWC's Meet the Construction Chiefs, held February 26th at Club 101. Shari Hyman, president and COO, Battery Park City Authority (BPCA), commended the BPCA's Diversity team, led by Anthony Peterson, for bringing M/WBE contract totals to 29% for 2014, surpassing the state's 20% goal. She noted that this spring, the BPCA expects to exceed the recently raised 2015 M/WBE utilization goal of 30%. Hyman, "MWBEs (need to) share in the continued economic growth of downtown as the neighborhood matures and becomes a destination for all New Yorkers." Richard Kennedy, COO for Skanska USA's building operations in Metro NY, said that in 2014 his sector of the firm put "$1.2 million of construction work in place," and "we see the market continuing to grow and strengthen every day." He spoke of institutional work at the UN; the multi-lab research facility for CUNY; the new headquarters for IBM's Watson computer downtown; and in healthcare and higher ed. Kennedy then noted Skanska USA's newly formed Women's Network and its Building Blocks program in construction management that has graduated 350 companies and just added a "Subcontractor Spotlight" to bring small M/WBE contractors to the decision makers. Sharon Neill, deputy commissioner, NYC Department of Buildings, spoke of the need for more women to enter construction trades and the growth of women entrepreneurs as "women-owned construction firms constitute the fastest growing urban business sector in the U.S." She noted the DOB's commitment to reducing paper work and bureaucracy and work to implement electronic/virtual means in all from applications to processing Certificates of Occupancy to making payments. She spoke also of the Inspection Ready system to streamline scheduling. Said Neill, the DOB realizes that "safety is paramount," and "development is critical to our great city, it's a huge part of our economy." Andy Frankl, president of IBEX Construction, spoke of IBEX's work for the Chapin School whose mission is aligned with PWC's "to prepare and promote a diverse and talented community to thrive and lead in a global society and to become self-directed learners who value the process of learning as much as the end result." Said Frankl, Chapin's goals have "driven us to go beyond the normal expectations and unlock and expand every tool in our toolbox." He concluded by pointing to IBEX's utilization of state-of-the-art technology saying that "We like to think of ourselves as the intelligent construction company." Denise Berger, AIA, asst. chief engineer/operations, engineering dept., the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), spoke of the challenge facing all public agencies of "investing in our infrastructure with limited resources." The PANYNJ's 10 year $27.6 billion Capital Plan for the State of Good Repair Program and upgrades is being conducted through work at area airports; PATH facilities; Port Commerce; Storm Sandy capital recovery; bridges and tunnels including the Goethals Bridge Modernization Program and the Bayonne Bridge's "Raise the Roadway Program" with "a commitment to utilize 44 M/WBE subcontractors at an estimated value of $79.5 million." Presenters at the event included PWC board members Nancy Czesak, RA, first VP, Tishman, an AECOM Co.; Kay Lee, general sales manager, SimplexGrinnell; and Florence Chilton, CEO, Florence Construction. Event sponsors were: AEC Repro; HAKS; Safety Supplies Unlimited; and A. Esteban & Company. The event included a B2B interchange with exhibit tables and a buffet dinner. For information on PWC, contact: 212.486-7745 or [email protected] or www.pwcusa.org/ny. Shown in the front (from left) are the event speakers: Andy Frankl, IBEX; Denise Berger, PANYNJ; Shari Hyman, BPCA; Sharon Neill, DOB; Richard Kennedy, Skanska USA. Shown in the back (from left) are: Presenters and PWC board members Florence Chilton, Florence Construction; PWC VP Nancy Czesak, Tishman, an AECOM Company; PWC president Barbara Armand, Armand Corp.; Kay Lee, SimplexGrinnell. Photo by Jessica Frankl. Photographer: Jessica Frankl