As the construction industry prepares to celebrate Women in Construction Week (March 3-7), a remarkable story has unfolded that serves as a powerful example of women's growing influence in the construction industry.
What began as a standard construction project at Yavapai College's Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale has evolved into a showcase of women's leadership in action. The $10 million renovation of Building 19 on the Prescott Campus, currently underway, brings together collaboration of women-led construction companies, design firms, and client leadership.
"When we completed the Clarkdale Campus Center for Learning and Innovation last year, my COO, Jeff Falls, started noticing something unique about our team," said Gillian Haley, Owner of Haley Construction. "As we moved to the Prescott Campus project and expanded our partnerships, it became even more apparent – we had assembled a team where women were leading at virtually every level, and it happened organically."
The two projects for Yavapai College mirror one another, with both transforming buildings into the two Centers for Learning and Innovation. The project team features female leadership across multiple disciplines. Haley Construction, a woman-owned general contractor led by Gillian Haley, heads the project. The team includes Canyon State Electric (CSE), led by CEO Stephanie Maderazzo-Hughes; Summa Mechanical, a woman-owned HVAC contractor led by Samantha Kitchens; and Ducts Inc., a woman-owned mechanical contractor led by Sharon Yates.
The design team from SmithGroup included a trio of women, Senior Principal and Higher Education Studio Leader Carrie Perrone, Senior Principal Mecayla Cobb, and Architectural Designer Yan Wang.
On the client side, Yavapai College President Dr. Lisa Rhine leads the institution overseeing these transformative projects.
“It’s going to provide students with the opportunity to learn and use the latest media and technology within adaptive learning spaces, while still offering the resources of a traditional library.”
In the field, Tracy Garrison and Kathy Wright from Haley Construction serve in key project roles, working alongside Candace Arroyo and Hikmat Lawal from Canyon State Electric and other women professionals across the construction and design disciplines.
"These women are here because they're exceptional at what they do," emphasized Gillian Haley. "This team wasn't assembled to make a statement – each company earned their place through proven performance. The fact that we're women-led is secondary to our qualifications, but it's certainly worth celebrating, especially during Women in Construction Week."
The Verde Valley Campus Center for Learning and Innovation, completed in August 2024, has already transformed learning for those Yavapai College students it serves with its 11,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility featuring AI-assisted tutoring platforms, media production rooms, and immersive learning labs.
The Prescott Campus project follows a similar philosophy but on a larger scale. When complete, by the start of the spring semester in 2026, it will feature a one-button media studio, makerspace, study rooms, open computer laboratory, and collaboration areas with tutoring and academic support.
"These women are leading in their roles because of the passion, experience, and hard work they demonstrate,” said Canyon State Electric CEO, Stephanie Maderazzo-Hughes. “Anybody can be in any role - it’s not about who you are, but what you can do.”
According to industry statistics, women make up only 11% of the construction workforce nationally. Projects like these at Yavapai College demonstrate that women are not only participating in construction but excelling in leadership roles throughout the industry.
"The success of the Verde Valley project led directly to our team being selected for the Prescott Campus work," added Haley. "That's how business should work – teams being chosen based on performance and results, not demographics. Yet it's worth noting that as women continue to excel in construction, we'll naturally see more projects like this where women lead at multiple levels."
For more information about Women in Construction Week or to schedule interviews with the women leaders of this project, please contact Gillian Haley at (928) 445-1281 or (928) 710-1889. gillian@haleyconstructionaz.com
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