"Tonight Professional Women in Construction is celebrating the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for pouring new life and livelihood into the region," said Lenore Janis, president of PWC - National at the organization's annual Awards Reception, "Rebuilding the Future," held March 25 at The Yale Club in NYC. PWC granted Executive Leadership awards to Christopher Ward, executive director of The Port Authority of N.Y. & N.J. and Susan Bass Levin, deputy executive director; the Business Leadership award to Lash Green, director, Office of Business & Job Opportunity; the Construction Leadership award to Steven Plate, director World Trade Center (WTC) Construction, and Special Recognition awards to ten Port Authority program managers supervising the rebuilding of the WTC site. Janis told the packed crowd of business owners, professionals as well as representatives from major companies and other government agencies, that the Port Authority's $6.7 billion budget for 2009 includes a healthy, record-setting $3.3 billion capital plan, a 28% or $725 million increase over 2008, and a goal of awarding 17% of its contracts to W/MBEs. She noted that rebuilding the 16-acre WTC site is creating much-needed jobs and pumping funds into the economy. "The work will result in tens of thousands of direct jobs, and many more overall with work from industries supplying services, materials and machinery. It all comes to $3.7 billion in direct and indirect wages and total economic activity of $14.5 billion." Ward said, "It is an honor for the Port Authority to be recognized by Professional Women in Construction for the opportunities our agency offers to the many businesses owned and operated by women that drive our economy. Our agency takes seriously its role as one of the region's economic engines and our responsibility to ensure our contracts are available to all." Levin noted, upon accepting the award, "The Port Authority is committed to ensuring that women- and minority-owned businesses are able to gain a significant portion of the agency's construction contracts. These businesses are vital players in helping to rebuild the region's infrastructure and we are proud of a joint relationship that provides lasting benefits for area travelers." Presenting the award to Green, Janis said, "Last year the Port Authority awarded a total of $337 million worth of contracts to W/MBEs, with 56% of that number going to women-owned businesses." Awards chair William Quinn, Phoenix Constructors JV, presented the Special Recognition awards, saying, "Look at the talent we have here supporting the W/MBEs in their job." The program managers are: Vincent Stellato; Alan Reiss; Lucy Foster; Lynda Tollner; Carla Bonacci, AIA, PP; Quentin Brathwaite, AIA, AICP; William Foley, P.E.; Mark Pagliettini; Thomas O'Connor; and Robin Murray. The awards committee included Gregory Murphy, Skanska USA Building; Christine Flaherty, STV; Connie DeLaigle and Rob Foreman, PANYNJ.