The number of women in construction is growing and so is the impact they’re making across the industry. From project management and estimating to design, procurement, logistics, and leadership, women in construction jobs cover far more ground than many people realize.
That said, there’s still plenty of room for growth. In 2025, women made up just 11.3% of the construction workforce, which means the industry has a big opportunity to welcome more female construction workers and leaders into the field.
At Avanti, construction is part of what we do every day. We collaborate with contractors, developers, architects, and operators across the country to bring projects to life. During Women in Construction Week and throughout the month of March, we take time to celebrate the talented women in construction who help make those projects possible and who continue to shape the future of the industry.
Women in Construction Week
Women in Construction Week is an initiative founded by National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) aimed at uplifting and supporting the many women who work in the construction industry. Each March, the NAWIC encourages construction companies, organizations, and industry leaders to recognize women in construction across the nation.
The goal of Women in Construction Week is to highlight the achievements of female construction workers, increase awareness about career opportunities, and inspire the next generation of women exploring women in construction jobs.
How Avanti is involved in construction
Our work at Avanti is deeply connected to the construction industry. We collaborate closely with general contractors, architects, franchisees, facilities teams, and operators nationwide. Within these partnerships, women play an essential role in communication, organization, and project coordination.
The Avanti team is involved throughout the construction lifecycle—from budgeting and design collaboration to procurement, logistics, and installation coordination. Our work supports restaurant construction projects across the country, requiring close collaboration with contractors, operators, and project managers.
Many roles at Avanti involve coordinating complex project timelines and ensuring equipment solutions align with both operational needs and construction schedules. These responsibilities require precision, leadership, and strong communication—skills that many female construction workers bring to the industry every day.
Restaurant construction is also highly schedule-driven, meaning our teams remain in constant communication with contractors and field operators. The work of women in construction at Avanti helps ensure projects move forward efficiently while maintaining quality and accountability.
Career Paths for Women in Construction
For those wondering how to get into construction as a woman, understanding the diverse career opportunities is the best place to start. There is a wide range of women in construction jobs available across the industry. While many people picture a female construction worker on a jobsite, construction careers extend far beyond field roles.
At Avanti, women in construction contribute across multiple disciplines that support restaurant construction projects nationwide. Career paths include project management, estimating, design, procurement, logistics coordination, and account management.
For example, project managers help guide construction timelines and coordinate with contractors and operators to keep projects on schedule. Estimating professionals analyze equipment specifications and project budgets to support accurate planning. Design collaboration roles work closely with architects and kitchen designers to ensure layouts support both operational efficiency and construction feasibility.
There are also opportunities in supply chain management and installation, all of which play a critical role in successful restaurant construction projects.
The Avanti Industry Leadership Award
This year, the Avanti executive team decided to formally recognize leadership excellence shown by women in the industry. The “Avanti Industry Leadership Award” was created to recognize long-term contributions to company growth and/or industry advancement.
Our first recipient is Avanti’s very own Mariah McManaman, Director of Contract Sales. Mariah has spent two decades helping guide Avanti through growth and change. She’s adapted through evolution, strengthened our systems, supported cross-functional collaboration, and represented our company with professionalism. Her leadership is marked by integrity, humility, and steady influence.
A Q&A with this year’s Avanti Industry Leadership Award winner
We asked Mariah to reflect on what it means to be a woman in the construction industry. Here’s what she had to say:
Why is Women in Construction Week meaningful for a company like Avanti?
Having diverse project and sales teams keeps the perspectives and communication quality high and effective. It brings lots of good collaboration.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in this industry, and how did you navigate them?
Over the years, I have been put in positions at jobsites that no female should ever have to deal with. I navigated through them with Avanti’s Core values and strong support from leadership. Jobsites automatically put a woman in a box and lead to quick assumptions. You must know your subject matter, don’t take disrespect, and have confidence and conviction.
How has the industry changed for women since you first started?
It’s now more common to see women in the industry but we are still outnumbered. There’s more awareness now and I feel that we are treated more as equals.
Where do you still see opportunities for growth?
We still have to break through the barriers and assumptions that a woman doesn’t know enough or if they can do the same job just as good or if not better than a man. Females and males have completely different thought processes. If we could all learn from each other, we would all be much stronger.
What skills do you think are especially important for women entering construction today?
Staying up to date on the latest technology and software used for project management as well as tools for measuring and assessing.
What advice would you give to women who want to move into leadership roles in this field?
I would say to them, “It’s never boring, I learn something new almost every day and its extremely empowering”.
What makes Avanti’s culture supportive for women in construction roles?
We have such strong leadership and respect that allows us to have a voice here. Lisa Rossi, (Avanti’s Chief of Staff) is a pilar and shining example of a strong, intelligent and confident woman with extreme perseverance. She will stop at nothing to get something done.
