Choate Construction's Quinn Balderson and her company recently hosted its annual Women in Industry Kick-Off event in South Carolina's Lowcountry as they prepare to support women working in the construction industry.
Choate's Women in Construction Employee Resource Group and Balderson joined nearly 100 people for an annual oyster roast at Rivers & Glen Trading Co. near Charleston, South Carolina. Balderson said the event is designed to remind people and raise awareness that women "constitute an impressive resource full of unique perspectives" and various talents in the architecture-engineering and construction, or AEC, industry. Only 27% of professionals in architecture and engineering are women, and in construction, that number is just 10.9%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"This commitment to invest in one another is a responsibility we embrace with tenacity,” Balderson, the director of business development for Choate Construction’s Charleston division, said in a statement.
Choate said the event and several others that will be held this year are part of the Atlanta-based construction firm's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion. The events also recognize the achievements and contributions of women in the AEC industry and encourage them to expand their networks, Choate said.
“The importance of uplifting the women who are changing the face of our industry is paramount,” Choate President and CEO Matt Brewer said in a statement. “Team members like Quinn and our Women in Construction ERG exemplify the spirit of innovation, ingenuity, grit, and community that continue to drive our industry towards a brighter future.”