Kitchell, offering design, development, construction, facility planning and maintenance services, leads the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry in welcoming, supporting and promoting women. The company’s commitment is well evidenced with multiple executive-level women, including CEO Wendy Cohen at the top, and with women representing 29% of their entire workforce — nearly three times the industry’s national average. 

In Kitchell’s Northern California region, Operations Manager Jennifer Frahm, Program Director Martha Estrada, Finance Director Maria Davila, and Executive Director of Engineering and Architectural Services Heather Brown are integral to the company’s success. Frahm says, “In my 25 years with Kitchell, I’ve seen a perceptible and exciting increase in the number of women in executive roles, professional services such as architecture, engineering, and in the construction trades.”

“In my 25 years with Kitchell, I’ve seen a perceptible and exciting increase in the number of women in executive roles, professional services such as architecture, engineering, and in the construction trades.” — Jennifer Frahm, Operations Manager

The AEC industry offers excellent salaries, attracting women as well as men. In addition, construction-oriented college programs expose more young women to opportunities in the industry. Kitchell has long recruited from colleges and universities and is now expanding awareness at high schools. “We welcome, hire and promote women the same as we do men, and that applies to these young students, too. We encourage high school girls to get excited about career opportunities as well as boys,” notes Frahm. 

The company supports women internally with Kitchell Women in Construction. This employee resource group was originally a grassroots book club launched by Kitchell women to pursue professional development through leadership-centered reading. Today, KWIC has 30 members company-wide and enables members to discuss challenges, successes, strategies and goals. 

Kitchell women also find external support as members of the National Association of Women in Construction and attend trainings and conferences, including the SRBX/CIEF Women in Construction conference this September.  

Frahm concludes, “I started with Kitchell as an intern in 1999, have worn multiple hats in various departments and have grown to my position of operations manager of the company’s largest region. Other women can achieve just as much and we welcome those seeking sustainable and satisfying careers in the AEC industry.”