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Built to Last

From Project Mastery to People Skills, Women in Construction Build Up the AOC
By Madeleine Lucchetti | September 20, 2023
        
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    Group of people standing.

Lisa Thompson, an Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Construction Representative working on the Capitol Exterior Preservation — Stone and Metal project, likes to start her tours with a deceivingly simple question. "What color is the Capitol Building?" she asks. The answer seems obvious — white? — but Thompson knows there's more there than what meets the eye. Once guests have donned the proper protective equipment and climbed the stairs built into the scaffolding, Thompson pulls back a thick sheet of vinyl protection to reveal the building's 19th-century façade. The original Aquia Creek sandstone is unveiled: rich in soft browns and grays, with rust-colored mineral deposits running in jagged lines across the blocks. In some areas, reddish deposits make the stone look pink.

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    Portrait of a person standing holding a hardhat.

Lisa Thompson, Construction Representative.Thompson is well acquainted with the U.S. Capitol's West Front stone. She can show you burn marks from the library fire of 1851, a mason's mark discovered on a windowsill and foundry marks stamped into the metal railings, all uncovered through-out the restoration process. She's been working on the Capitol Exterior Preservation — Stone and Metal project with a focus on repairing and preserving the existing stone that encompasses the West Front. Many visitors and even Capitol Hill savants might not guess the meticulous efforts it takes to identify and repair cracks, spalling and disintegration. Once repaired, the stone will be repainted to match the white marble extensions.

The project is a significant undertaking, but the West Front phase will wrap up before the end of this year. Thompson has loved every minute of it. She's been with the AOC for nearly eight years and says that the people around her feel like family.

Though the fields of construction and engineering are often male-dominated, many women across the agency lead or are involved in construction-related projects, each necessitating technical expertise and collaborative experience.

The substantial representation of women in these sectors makes it easier for Bonnie Holod, Assistant Superintendent, to approach progress in the field as a working professional. She comes from a long line of working women — and thanks to the presence of strong female role models, she's confident in her own skin, no matter the environment or challenge.

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    Portrait of a person standing with arms crossed.

Bonnie Holod, Assistant Superintendent."When I approach a construction site at the AOC, I don't alter my behavior because I'm a woman," Holod says. "If we are facing [figurative] barriers on-site, I find that humility breaks them down: trusting our tradespeople and their expertise. The 'gender piece' hasn't come into play — and I think it's because of our culture at the agency."

Holod is pleased to see more women studying architecture, construction and engineering, especially as the work picks up. Inspired from a young age by architecture like Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and Richard Morris Hunt's Biltmore estate, she became a professional architect working on everything from schools to law firms before taking a position at the AOC in 2014. Ever since, she's watched the AOC's work expand into new plans and projects. Each, she says, is a gratifying challenge.

"It's an honor to be a steward of these buildings, to maintain the integrity of these buildings and make sure they're functionally flawless," she says. "These structures will be here longer than all of us!"

So, what's the best way AOC staff can preserve the Capitol campus' timelessness? Deatra Trinidad believes it's by staying current. As a Deputy Facilities Manager, she's involved in several projects at the Supreme Court of the United States and Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building. She makes it her goal to stay abreast of best practices and technologies that can accelerate and innovate the agency's work.

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    Portrait of a person standing.

Deatra Trinidad, Deputy Facilities Manager.As a child, Trinidad dreamed of being a roller coaster designer. Her talents led her to another sort of thrill — working on highly detailed, public-facing projects that involve diverse groups of stakeholders.

Trinidad studied mechanical engineering and came to the AOC in 2007 after several years in the private sector. She was looking for opportunities that would support a healthy work-life balance and offer chances to grow her skill set. Thanks to her hardworking attitude and the guidance of mentors, including other women at the agency, Trinidad quickly became a go-to resource for her colleagues. She hopes to encourage other women to chase similar dreams.

"Find a mentor you trust, someone you can share challenges with," she says. "Don't let the pressures of a predominantly male field get to you — your voice is important! There's always great diversity of thought if different people are brought to the table."

Christine Dillen, an Assistant Superintendent of Tenant Services, agrees heartily with Trinidad. Mentorship is her favorite part of her AOC leadership duties; she aims to empower her team and colleagues, giving them tools they need to be successful at work. As her family has grown, she has learned the value of a sustainable work-life balance and aims to lead by example by balancing her responsibilities.

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    Portrait of a person standing.

Christine Dillen, Assistant Superintendent of Tenant Services.Through the challenges, successes and failures that her day-to-day work presents, Dillen continually finds inspiration and motivation working alongside her team inside the beautiful buildings. Dillen's purview spans multiple renovation and restoration projects across different areas of the Library of Congress and its offices. As an Assistant Superintendent, she's often focused on the rehabilitation of the Thomas Jefferson, James Madison Memorial and John Adams Buildings. There, she spends much time focused on the development of office fit-outs, the restoration of ornate ceiling rosettes, and the challenging rehabilitation of building façades and roofs. She names communication as key to being a successful architect and leader.

"Being able to communicate effectively — whether you're speaking or writing to someone — is critical," Dillen says. "If I were to give future architects a word of advice, it would be to focus on communication skills and to take courses in technical writing. You can spend so much time formulating an idea, but you need to be able to convey it successfully, in order to have it executed."

Jennifer Rheaume, a Senior Project Manager, takes this advice one step further — to her, good communication is also the best way to make connections, which have been instrumental to the success of her career. Even in the most hands-on fields, she says, soft skills are invaluable.

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    Portrait of a person standing.

Jennifer Rheaume, Senior Project Manager.Rheaume has been involved with several restoration projects throughout her six years at the AOC, including recent rehabilitation to the historic Russell Senate Office Building exterior façade stone and windows. Soon, she'll begin work on the Dirksen Senate Office Building egress and accessibility project, bronze restoration and Russell Building interior stairwell upgrades.

Just as Thompson knows what's needed to keep the U.S. Capitol façade in tip-top shape, Rheaume knows how to build collaboration. Unlike other jobs, construction and engineering positions often require teams to come face-to-face on-site, creating prime opportunities to bond, whether over a new project or simply a quick coffee. Connections made in this daily environment are essential, Rheaume says, and she strongly believes that women in the field must support other women.

"Years ago, I realized that one of the hardest parts about being in a male-dominated field was trying to build professional relationships with upper management and be noticed for your work. Take advantage of those social opportunities outside of work to interact and grow your professional connections as those can be invaluable," Rheaume says. "At the AOC, you have so many opportunities to advance your career and taking advantage of those has been instrumental in advancing my work. I think the women at the AOC have so much to say and so much to offer."

Now, she and others are continuing to uphold a legacy of women leaders at the AOC — united by their passion for the historic fabric of their work in fields that they love.
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Michael Lilly (not verified)PermalinkSeptember 21, 2023 - 12:52pmGreat work, do not stop but continue your work.
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