San Antonio AGC is celebrating its centennial year, and the chapter is excited to introduce its all- woman team: President Lauren Mandel, Education and Membership Manager Jennifer Munoz and Events and Marketing Communications Coordinator Alexandria Ballew. According to AGC of America, women make up only 11% of the overall construction workforce, with only 4% in professional craft positions, so the chapter is incredibly proud to be boosting those numbers! As an all-female staff, San Antonio AGC hopes to offer a platform for women in construction and honor their contributions, additionally, with an incoming chair.
Despite Lauren and Alexandria both joining San Antonio AGC recently and being new to the construction industry, the chapter has had a remarkable year so far. By the end of 2023, all three team members will have also participated in AGC professional development courses, including New Staff Orientation and the
Executive Leadership Conference. Its recent strategic planning session created a plan that is currently focused on enhancing engagement and advocacy. Furthermore, it has dedicated time to modernizing processes, events and educational offerings to make the San Antonio AGC member experience as optimized as possible. With its Centennial Gala coming up in November, the team has spent the majority of 2023 looking toward the future while honoring the past 100 years.
Since January, San Antonio AGC has established new partnerships with members as well as city and state representatives, institutions and advocates. It has revitalized past relationships interrupted by the pandemic. Additionally, it has sold out events, created and implemented new educational courses, hosted special guests to assist its committees, strengthened recognition for women in the local industry, streamlined the membership process and packets, directed a rebrand for its centennial year and built connections with local organizations such as the American Heart Association’s Hard Hat with Hearts, Brighton Center and San Antonio Food Bank.
President Lauren Mandel was also a local leader against Prop A in San Antonio to secure protection for the local construction industry. She has also been diligent in leading efforts for the heat illness ordinance group, representing member companies and the impeccable work they have done in taking care of their employees under the strain of the unrelenting Texas heat.
Although the chapter has faced many challenges just as all chapters do, San Antonio AGC has met them head on and is thrilled for the future of the association. It is steadily advancing the commercial construction industry by empowering its members through education, networking and advocacy to meet – and hopefully – exceed their needs and expectations.
And it doesn’t hurt that there is a ton of girl power.