NEW YORK CITY-The leading ladies in New York’s construction world who were honored at the Professional Women in Construction’s “Salute to Women of Achievement 2011” luncheon at the Yale Club in Midtown on Thursday afternoon are continuing to break ground and achieve new heights in the commercial real estate field. PWC president Lenore Janis said industry professionals must understand how “vital it is” for women to speak out and be applauded for excellence amid a challenging business environment.

“Our honorees are very special and very deserving of industry recognition,” Janis said. “They have done much to crack the proverbial concrete ceiling, and they’ve done it in a relatively short period of time.” PWC issued awards to Lorraine Grillo of the New York City School Construction Authority, Sharon Craddock of S&L Industries, Inc., Christine Donaldson Boccia of Donaldson Traditional Interiors, Vinesha Clark of Clark Construction Services & PWC-DC Chapter, Margie Russell of NYARM, Linda Johnson of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Amy Wincko of Tishman Construction Corp.

Accepting the leadership award, Grillo, a long-time veteran of New York City’s public school system, began her career as a community affairs specialist in Queens, where she rose to become senior director of community and intergovernmental affairs there. In May 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then Chancellor Joel Klein appointed her as acting president and CEO of the New York City School Construction Authority. Under her leadership, the authority opened 26 new school facilities, adding 17,656 new school seats across the five boroughs, its most successful year to date.

“After watching the faces of students and parents who are entering one of our new schools, here I am 17 years later,” she said. “Over the years, I have been given the opportunity to run a business and work with some of our finest teachers,” Grillo said, thanking former SCA president Sharon Greenberger for her support and guidance, who is now COO of the New York City Department of Education.

And as Downtown redevelopment ramps up, the corporate professional achievement award went to Wincko, FVP of construction operations at Tishman. At the company, she plays a critical management role in several projects, including the 1,776-foot-high One World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Transit Hub in a joint venture with Turner Construction for the Port Authority; and Three and Four World Trade Center for Silverstein Properties.

Wincko formally entered the construction industry in 1997, but her interest in the field began at an early age after working with her father at their family-owned electrical contracting business in New Jersey. From there, she studied civil engineering at the University of Virginia and then worked for a construction litigation practice post-graduation before joining Tishman in 2001 as construction analyst.

“When I started at Tishman, I came to this very lunch and I thought to myself ‘I would like to up on that podium one day’,” she said, reflecting on her years of building a team to support Tishman’s headquarters and regional office operations. “I took a chance on Tishman, and they took a chance on me, and here I am 10 years later.”

Another mover-and-shaker in the industry is Clark, one of the pioneers behind PWC’s DC chapter and owner of her own business, Clark Construction Services. But when she first started out, she often felt lost in the networking scene--until she discovered PWC. “I knew there was something out there,” she said, describing her first project, a railway project in Dubai. “It encouraged me, reinforced my passion for construction and the belief I had in myself.”

A second business achievement award was given to Craddock, who leads Brooklyn-based S&L Industries, established in 1994. Specializing in structural and steel fabrication and installation, Craddock said her lifelong dream of “maintaining a successful business and working in the construction industry” has been fully realized. “Thank you to everyone who works tireless hours each and every day to open new doors to opportunity for small businesses and small contractors,” she said.

Johnson, who manages business development programs for the Port Authority’s four airports, received the career achievement award. In her role, she ensures that minority and women-owned businesses are given opportunities to bid on contract work for John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Stewart International and Teterboro airports.

During her tenure, more than $79 million in prime and subcontracting awards were made to minority and women-owned businesses as part of JetBlue’s $1.2-billion terminal project at JFK, American Airline’s $1.3-billion terminal and the $800-million Continental Global Gateway Program. “I believe in creating opportunity for everyone, whether you are a woman or whether you are a minority,” she said.

Others found their inspiration through family. Following the sudden death of Boccia’s father four years ago, she took over the company herself, leading the future of the subcontracting business to attract private projects as well as public work, including the SCA, MTA, Port Authority and the city’s Department of Design & Construction. “I have a passion for wanting to be out there,” she said, accepting the executive management award. “I wanted our business to be known.”

Closing out the ceremony was Russell, executive director of the New York Association of Realty Managers, winner of the executive achievement award. Russell coordinates the NY Accredited Realty Manager Certification Program, plans and conducts educational membership meetings for managing agents, resident managers and superintendents of residential and mixed-use buildings. Her passion, however, is giving back to the community, including charity work. She encouraged all attendees with skills in the real estate and construction industry to volunteer their services.

Instant Insights /

PWC Honors Women Who Have Cracked the Concrete Ceiling

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