Professional Women in Construction

PWC is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1980 to support, advance, and connect women and promote diversity in the architecture, engineering, construction, and related fields. Fourteen industry leaders in Chicago came together in 2021 to extend that mission to the first midwestern chapter. Our vision is implemented by actively engaging our members in career development, hosting events that facilitate connection and foster open conversation, and providing leadership opportunities on member-driven committees. We welcome all genders in our membership - together we can do more to support women in our industry!

Member Benefits

Informative Industry Programming

Member Leadership & Networking Opportunities

Mentorship Program

Become a Member

We support, advance, and connect women and promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction and related industries.

Member Spotlight

Mariella Ochoa

Senior Project Engineer / Gilbane Building Company

Mariella Ochoa is a Senior Project Engineer with Gilbane Building Company providing support to project teams across multiple sectors with past experience at The Orchard, Northwestern Medicine’s Ronald McDonald House, and 100 Mill in Tempe, Arizona. She is currently part of the team for the redevelopment project at 10/120 South Riverside Plaza, a two-building, 1.4M square foot office complex situated adjacent to the Chicago River where a multi-phased renovation will add all-season amenities and enhance the tenant experience.

Mariella has a Master’s Degree in Project Management and Real Estate Development from Northwestern University. She is originally from Venezuela and moved to Chicago in 2017. Mariella is an active leader of Hol@, Gilbane’s employee resource group, and enjoys playing tennis in her spare time when the weather permits!