Celebrating Our Hard Hat Moms in May!
During the month of May, we took Mother's Day one step further, and dedicated time to find some "Hard Hat Moms" in our industry! These amazing women are shaping the construction industry every day while also having the most challenging, yet rewarding, job of being a mom!
Megan Corrie - Turner Construction Company
Highlight Quote: “Be where your feet are.”
For Megan Corrie, being in the construction industry means having boots on the ground each day—leading projects, solving problems, and building successful teams.
While a student at Penn State, she did an internship in construction, and fell in love with engineering and the “everyday craziness and challenges of being on a jobsite.”
“Construction is an industry where some still believe women may not know enough to successfully manage a project,” she explains, “so I work hard to build rapport on my team and earn their trust. Over the years her projects —including the MBA Building Excellence Award-winning Assembly for Wexford Science & Technology - are proof of her skill and leadership. She is currently managing the pharmaceutical fitout at Pitt BioForge Biomanufacturing Center in Hazelwood Green.
According to Megan, managing different perspectives is one of the biggest challenges of her job. “A project manager must understand where everyone is coming from but establish common ground, and keep the team focused on creating an outstanding project.”
To balance her professional and family life, Megan sets firm boundaries - going the extra mile at work and being fully present when at home. She calls it, “being where your feet are.” In her “spare” time, she coaches her children’s softball and soccer teams.
On tough days, Megan leans on the advice and support of other Moms in the field because they understand exactly what she’s going through and what it takes to keep showing up. “Sometimes getting together for lunch, a phone call, or even a text provides just the guidance and support I need.”
But her biggest cheerleader and supporter is her husband, Phil. “Because he’s in construction, he understands the challenges of the industry, which is so helpful, and he is my full partner in parenting our children, Mason, 10, Sienna, 7 and Colton, 3. I couldn’t do it all without him.”
Megan holds a BA in Architectural Engineering from Penn State
Abby Krehl - Gilbane Building Company
Highlight Quote: “At work I give my all, and at home I also try to be 100 percent present.”
During a PennDOT internship during college, Abby showed up at the assigned job site surprised to find her Dad, a surveyor and inspector for a contractor, hard at work. “We joked at home about having a work Dad and a home Dad,” Abby recalled, “and I met work Dad that day.”
Now as a Mom in construction, it’s Abby’s turn to become work Mom and home Mom. “Women often feel guilty that we’re not doing enough at either home or work. Embracing advice from friend and mentor, Megan Corrie, Abby strives daily “to be where my feet are planted in that moment so I can give my best to my projects and my family.”
When she started in construction, Abby felt that she had to work harder than others to build respect and trust, being one of a few women on the team. “But times are beginning to change,” she added. “There is much more visible representation in leadership positions than ever before, and you continue to see clients and construction management companies grow their emphasis on the importance of this culture shift.”
The support and advice she’s received from other women in the industry, inside and outside Gilbane, helped her grow professionally. Her most recent local project, and one of the most logistically challenging of her career, is Allegheny Health Network’s plan for a new multi-phase tower on the city’s North Shore, attaching to its flagship Allegheny General Hospital. She believes the preconstruction manager can set the tone for the whole project and has enjoyed the challenge the role brings daily.
Her husband, Noah, with whom she shares two energetic little boys, Kit, four-and one-half years old and Baker, two-years-old, has always been her greatest supporter. “Every Sunday, Noah and I have a conversation to ensure our calendar is fully aligned heading into the week, giving us both equal opportunities to prioritize work, our children, and maybe even ourselves if there is a second or two leftover.”
Abby is the rising Chair of the Western PA March of Dimes Young Professionals Board. Her strong commitment to workforce development includes a position on the American Subcontractors Association Scholarship Committee Board, focusing on attracting high school students to a career in the trades. She has been named to Pittsburgh Business Times 2025 list of “20 People to Know in Construction and Development. Abby earned her Bachelor of Architectural Engineering with a focus in Construction Management from Penn State University.
Audrey Szalkuski - Mosites Construction Company
Highlight Quote: "The Construction Industry has some big personalities, but you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be a great leader."
Audrey’s internship while pursuing her BA in Architectural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh set her on a career path she loves. “When I visited my first job site, I knew I wanted to jump in, learn more and acquire hands-on experience in construction. I love that my job is to get every one of my projects to the point where it can be built.”
When starting her career, Audrey noted that she was often the only woman in the room. While she’s noticed that there are more women now, she has learned to find the right time to share a point or idea when some of the louder voices are more receptive to hearing her thoughts and opinions. “Construction is a different language, and I’ve learned to speak that language after carefully listening to other’s points of view and expertise.”
As a preconstruction project manager at Mosites for six years, she loves the day-to-day and constantly evolving industry. The Washington City Mission Women’s Center was a project especially close to her heart. “As part of an all-woman preconstruction team, we all felt that we were really helping the organization fulfill its mission to provide shelter and services to women in need.”
Together with her husband, Tim, Audrey is raising two beautiful girls --one-year-old Sadie and three-year-old Mabel. She believes challenges balancing family and work make her a better preconstruction project manager. “Being a Mom means I’ve got to handle a time crunch by being even more organized, focused, and disciplined to get everything done right and on time” But Audrey adds that she couldn’t do it all without the support of her husband, Tim.
Colleagues at Mosites encouraged Audrey to join NAWIC, a nonprofit association that promotes and supports the advancement and employment of women in the construction industry. “Early on in my career, networking with other women via NAWIC helped grow my self-confidence and understanding of the industry. In many ways, NAWIC membership helps make up for the shortage of women leaders in construction.”
Audrey also volunteers with MBA at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and enjoys attending MBA events, such as the Construction Industry Evening of Excellence.
For more information about NAWIC visit: nawicpittsburgh.com.
Susie Slater, PE, SE - PJ Dick Incorporated
Highlight Quote: “Trust me- and I’ll get it done.”
A Pittsburgh “boomerang,” Susie grew up in Ligonier, Pa. Due to her expertise, particularly in steel, she was lured home from San Diego , Calif., to manage PJ Dick’s role in the new Pittsburgh Airport.
Susie acknowledges there is still some gender bias in the construction industry, but believes it’s getting better. “I still must prove myself at times, but once the team realizes that I can get the job done, I rarely have any problems.”
At PJ Dick she leads a team of four on projects she loves, such as the new airport terminal and Duolingo’s new headquarters in East Liberty, which she describes as “complicated because the structural modifications involved are not typical of a fit-out project.”
She credits her success in project management with adapting her communications to many different personalities--from CEO’s to the trades-- involved in a project. “I don’t like when someone says it can’t be done. Almost anything is possible if you keep an open mind about solving the problem and find a way to innovate.” Her experience as a design consultant and structural engineer also enables her to find unique solutions.
Her husband, Jake, a civil engineer, is her biggest supporter, challenging her to fight for what she cares about, and helping her achieve balance between work and family life while raising their son, Slater, age two.
As Director of Membership for CREW Pittsburgh, Susie advises women to find ways to connect with other women in construction. “Build a great network both inside and outside of your company. Ask for help, and encourage different perspectives for ways to innovate and solve problems.” CREW will be partnering with MBA’s Green Builders Committee for a Pickle Ball event in 2026.
Susie was named one of the 2020 Outstanding Women in Construction and Design by San Diego Business Journal and a 2019 40 Under 40 by SD Metro. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University and an MS in Structural Engineering from UC San Diego. A former competitive alpine ski racer, Susie coaches Seven Springs Mountain Resort’s Ski Racing Team.
For more information about CREW, visit https://pittsburgh.crewnetwork.org/.