NEWS.
Latest & Greatest.
Whether it's a new project, construction industry updates, an employee teaming event or an opportunity to celebrate the best in our community - there's always something to talk about at McDonald Building Company.
MBC proudly attends the Allegheny West Foundation for their local Community Resource Fair!
What a day over at the Allegheny West Foundation for their local Community Resource Fair on Friday. It was a great opportunity to connect with the local residents and share more about what it means to build a future in the construction trades. MBC was proud to represent and support the local affordable housing market to educate those interested in pursuing a career in construction. Thank you to Laura Clevenger, Iliana Limon, and Regina Ennis for laying the groundwork and representing MBC with professionalism and heart.
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Big thanks as well to our partners at NewCourtland and the Allegheny West Foundation for organizing the event. It was an overwhelming turnout and we’re grateful to be part of a community that believes in creating pathways to careers and connection. #communitypartners #mbccares #buildingontrust #newcourtland #alleghenywestfoundation
Allegheny West Foundation and NewCourtland
Let’s Flamin-GO! Flamingo Cove at the Philly Zoo is now OPEN!
What better way to celebrate National Pink Flamingo Day (which is today!) than to shake a tail feather and roll out the pink carpet for our beautiful pink feathered friends?!? McDonald Building Company is proud to fan out and reveal a few of our incredible final photos (!) of Flamingo Cove at the Philadelphia Zoo! This fully reimagined habitat was built to support the fabulous flock of flamboyance through conservation, continuing education and truly honor some fabulous feathers with bold and thoughtful design updates. The 17,966 square foot renovation has now opened to the public so Zoo Members and Guests can enjoy the newly expanded footprint from their previous aviary. The flamingos can gladly strut their stuff in style (as always) with the expanded wading and nesting zones – allowing guests to view these long-legged locals up close like never before.
MBC is beyond grateful for our partnership with The Philadelphia Zoo and to make this pink dream come to life. We’re hatching some big ideas with the Zoo and couldn’t thank them enough for their trust in our valued fur-iendship. Thank you to PGAV Architects, and to all our trades and subcontractors onsite who have made the feathered finish just fantastic! Huge shout out to our MBC flock who were instrumental in making things flamin-GO – Ali Moats-Perkey, Jeff Graef, Dylan Robertson, Sam Cellucci, John Weiland, Regina Ennis, and Beth Giorla. MBC may not have wings, but we are proud to help this amazing aviary take flight! #nationalflamingoday #buildingontrust #philadelphiazoo #conservationmatters #welcometothembcfamily #flamin-GO #thepinkcrew #partoftheflock
Philadelphia Zoo, PGAV Architects, Association of Zoos and Aquariums
MBC flock: Jeff Graef, Ali Perkey, CHC, Dylan Robertson, Sam Cellucci, John Weiland, Regina Ennis, Beth Giorla, Jason Evans
Flyby Friday - First Day of Summer at the Christy Rec Center in West Philly!
MBC checked our calendar and checked it twice and there is no denying it’s officially the first day of summer! Batman the Drone and his trusty handler, Andrew, flew down to West Philly to see what was heating up onsite at Christy Recreation Center for one fun Flyby Friday. The 40,000 square-foot renovation is well underway and on track for completion this summer. The crew at Christy Rec Center is keeping things moving with trades onsite for sitework, fencing, rough carpentry, windows, and siding – oh my. Staying cool but making burning hot progress is all part of the plan. Sunscreen...? CHECK! Progress like no other…? DOUBLE CHECK! Summer is here and the future is looking bright! #flybyfriday #christyreccenter #westphilly #firstdayofsummer #buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #progress #gottawearshadesourfutureissobright
Christy Recreation Center, Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, City of Philadelphia, SMP Architects, Brightline Construction (sitework), Robert Ganter Contractors Inc, Graboyes Commercial Window and Glass Solutions, RICHARD R. PUCCI & ASSOCIATES
James Cameron, CHC, Jack Kenney, Justin Lausch, Regina Ennis, Beth Giorla
And our Batman Handler: Andrew Lojewski
MBC attends GBCA Golf Outing!
Fun fore all! McDonald Building Company was teed up and grateful to attend GBCA's 2025 Golf Classic last Monday as a Gold Sponsor. Our mighty foursome comprised of Golf's finest - Howard Lebold, Shane McNamara, Tom McDonald and Paul McDonald! Hosted at the Philadelphia Cricket Club Militia Hill - MBC was thrilled to be back on the course and building these meaningful connections. Thank you GBCA for hosting this absolute top-tier event! #gbcagolfclassic2025 #forethewin #buildingontrust #mbccares #gbca #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #funforeall
General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) Pure Project Management, LLC MAI Architects
Howard Lebold Shane M. Paul McDonald Tom McDonald
MBC gets a Sneak Peek at Flamingo Cove Opening Soon at the Philly Zoo!
Feathered friends and family fun for this fine Friday! Our very own Paul McDonald and family (shout out to Allie and Madi!) got an early sneak peek at Flamingo Cove before these flamboyant friends strut their stuff for the public grand opening tomorrow! Thank you to The Philadelphia Zoo for hosting this great event, allowing us the chance to see the winged residents and fla-mingle with fellow partners and zoo members. MBC is tickled pink and honored to be part of this impactful update and help the Zoo's continuous conservation efforts take flight. There's a lot flamin-GOING on behind the scenes...we have a few more exciting updates to come from the Zoo up our sleeve...or er...wing.! #flamingofriday #buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #philadelphiazoo #phillyzoo #flamingos #zoolife #sneakpeek #conservationmatters #mcdonaldbuildingcompany
Philadelphia Zoo 🦩
Paul McDonald ❣️
Allie Doran 💕
MBC goes all GRAY in MAY!
MBC WENT GRAY IN MAY! In honor of Brain Tumor Awareness Month, every Friday in #GrayMay, you can catch the MBC crew showing off their best gray apparel (wigs sold separately) in support of our amazing Superintendent, Matt Coleman! Matt’s journey has been beyond inspirational. He and his family continue to move forward with strength, grace, and one foot in front of the other.
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Here’s just some of our favorite “gray-scapades” this May in support of our guy Matt. Go Gray in May isn’t just about putting on our best gray gear one month a year. It’s a time to recognize strength, raise awareness, and show up for the people we care about. At MBC, we strive to build a culture where support runs deep. This October 11th, we’ll be participating in the Race for Hope Greater Philadelphia (https://lnkd.in/euHfchpw) at Cooper River Park. We’ll be there with bells and hard hats on, walking, running, and cheering for hope. Most importantly, we’ll be there for one SUPER person. We wear gray. We walk forward. And as Matt continues to say “One foot in front of the other.” You got this, Matt! #mbccares #buildingontrust #inhonorofmatt #btam #gograyinmay #grayinmay #raceforhope #teammbc #onefootinfrontoftheother #mbcfamily
Matthew Coleman
Special Edition - Flyby Friday at NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments!
Last Friday marked a significant milestone at the NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments as we placed the final precast plank on this 48-unit affordable senior housing project in Philadelphia’s Allegheny West neighborhood. Congratulations to NewCourtland and their team, all the onsite subs, and our dedicated project team for reaching this incredible mark. From day one, NewCourtland has been a true partner, deeply committed to creating a safe, welcoming community for Philadelphia’s seniors. Their vision and leadership have been essential to every step of this progress, and we’re honored to help bring that vision to life. McDonald Building Company was proud to celebrate the topping-off ceremony with members from the fantastic NewCourtland team. Of course, none of this would be possible without the incredible teams on the ground. It takes a village to raise a roof, especially one built with this much purpose.
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Thank you to our outstanding partners, subs, trades, and everyone who continues to make this project possible - NewCourtland, CBP Architects, Allegheny West Foundation, Unique Metal Concepts, Jemco Erectors, Susquehanna Erectors, Clearwater Concrete, Meco Constructors, Lutter, Inc., Pennoni, Boccella Precast, Cannon Masonry, Joule Electric, Rosario Plumbing, MK Fire, H&W Mechanical, Thackray Crane Rental, and Stone Sherick Consultant Group. MBC is so proud of what we’ve accomplished together and look forward to the next chapter. Take a peek at just a few of today’s great celebration highlights - and our trusty drone, Batman, was out in the skies at full force, capturing it all. #mbcbuilds #toppingoff #newcourtland #affordablehousing #buildingtrust #seniorhousing #alleghenywestfoundation #phillyconstruction #flybyfriday #specialedition #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #jemcoerectors #susquehannaerectors hashtag#clearwaterconcrete #meco #lutterinc #pennoni #bocellaprecast #cannonmasonry #jouleelectric #rosarioplumbing #mkfireprotection #hwmechanical #stonesherick #thackray
Project Team: Iliana Limon, Matthew Kreft, BETH CICHONSKI, Ed Swank, Beth Giorla
Batman Pilot Extraordinaire: Andrew Lojewski
NewCourtland , CBP Architects, Allegheny West Foundation, Unique Metal Concepts, Jemco Erectors, Susquehanna Erectors, Clearwater Concrete Pros, Meco Constructors, Inc., Lutter Inc., Pennoni, Boccella Precast LLC, CANNON MASONRY, Joule Electric, Rosario Plumbing, MK FIRE PROTECTION LTD, H&W Mechanical Services, Stone Sherick Consulting Group, LLC., Thackray Crane Rental, Inc.
Wishing you all a safe Memorial Day 2025
As we head into this Memorial Day weekend, McDonald Building Company honors and remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Wishing you a safe and wonderful holiday weekend from all of us at MBC. ❤️🤍💙 #buildingontrust #mbccares #honorandremember #memorialday2025
VDC in Action - The Hill at Whitemarsh - Hawk Ridge Villa
BIM, bam, boom…it’s VDC in action. Check out this quick walkthrough of The Hill at Whitemarsh - Hawk Ridge Villa, a high-end luxury residential senior living facility featuring 20,000 square feet of new space and next-level amenities. Our MEP Coordinator Blair Biggin skillfully crafted this digital model to provide the MBC team valuable insight to the site, identify potential conflicts and ultimately support trade coordination throughout the project. This visual tool and the construction data behind it has contributed to a smooth build as we near 50% completion. And also! Drum roll....MBC has officially been awarded the opportunity to build the next new construction villa at 5400 Hawk Ridge Circle thanks to the continued trust and collaborative partnership with THAW.We look forward to showing more of the magic behind the scenes from concept to fully constructed. Are you a developer considering using VDC on your next project? Contact us for a complimentary digital 360 model and be sure to follow along for more VDC in action! #buildingontrust #vdcinaction #youdownwithvdc #yeahmbcyouknowme #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #seniorlivingconstruction #newprojectawards #thehillatwhitemarsh
Blair Biggin 🤩🤩🤩
The Hill at Whitemarsh Careers
Project HOME: Kate’s Place Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!
Yesterday, MBC proudly joined the Project HOME team to celebrate a new look at Kate’s Place in Philadelphia after a year of meaningful renovations. The celebration at Kate's Place featured humbling words from resident Morgen Benner, as well as remarks from key partners and supporters including Donna Bullock, President and CEO of Project HOME; Robin Wiessmann, Executive Director and CEO of PHFA; Katherine Christiano, Chair of the Board of Directors at the William Penn Foundation; Kelvin Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA; Dan Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank Mid-Atlantic Region; and representatives from the Mayor’s Office and City Council. Kate’s Place received a total of $22 million in funding to support the renovations, including $12 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and $5 million in federal funding. This critical support helped make this renovation possible.
The 12-story building included renovations to 144 units of permanent supportive housing focused on increasing accessibility, updating/modernizing systems, and revitalizing shared community spaces like the chapel, library, and lounge, preserving the historical building. The renovations further provide a home that continually supports stability and well-being while fostering a deep-sense of community. McDonald Building Company was honored to serve as the construction partner for Kate’s Place, continuing our long-standing collaboration with Project HOME. We’re deeply grateful for their trust and to work alongside their dedicated construction team - Janet Stearns, Matt McCarter, Larry Arney and our design partners at Cicada Architecture. We, of course, have to give special hard hats off and thanks to our MBC project team - James Cameron (Project Manager), Ali Perkey (Assistant Project Manager), Ed Swank (Superintendent), Beth Cichonski (Project Coordinator), and our talented carpentry crew - Jared Applegate, Frank Cardone, Noah Fisher, Ryan Hannigan, Brad Horrocks, and Justin Lausch.
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MBC is proud to be part of the next chapter for Kate’s Place and watching how it will continue to serve and uplift the community it was built for, with tons of heart.#buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #projecthome #affordablehousing #historicalpreservation #cicadaarchitects #welcometothembcfamily
Project HOME, CICADA Architecture/Planning, Inc., Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Philadelphia Housing Authority(PHA), William Penn Foundation, Citizens Bank Mid-Atlantic Region
Donna Johnson Bullock, Daniel Fitzpatrick, CFA, Dr. Kelvin A. Jeremiah (Please, NO Sales Solicitations), Robin Wiessmann, Katherine Christiano, Janet Stearns, Matt McCarter, Larry Arney
MBC Project Team: James Cameron, CHC, Ed Swank, Ali Perkey, CHC, BETH CICHONSKI, Jared Applegate, Frank Cardone, Noah Fisher, Ryan Hannigan, Brad Horrocks, Justin Lausch, Paul McDonald, Tom McDonald, Brad Springer, Laura Clevenger
Built for Healing - Brain Tumor Awareness Month in honor of Matt Coleman
May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and we proudly support Matthew Coleman, our General Superintendent, teammate, and friend. Matt and his family have faced unimaginable challenges over the past few months, and we encourage you to hear his story. MBC also recognizes the impactful work of the National Brain Tumor Society, whose Go Gray in May campaign brings vital attention to those affected by brain tumors and helps fund critical research and support. You’ll be able to spot MBC throughout May wearing gray to support the Coleman Family. #GrayMay #GoGrayinMay #BTAM #onefootinfrontoftheother
Watch Matt’s Story: https://lnkd.in/evrGnpTf
MBC goes WILD for Philly Zoo’s Run Wild 5K!
This past Sunday, we ran. We walked. We climbed. We went wild. Team MBC showed up in full fur-ce for the Philadelphia Zoo’s Run Wild 5K! Rocking our matching tees, we brought our best team spirit and fully tapped into beast mode to take on the course…ANNNDDDDDD a big round of appaws to Blair Biggin, our MEP Coordinator, who crossed the finish line 2nd overall with a hare-raising time at 17:48.88. He outpaced his fellow race-mates that we think the cheetahs were taking notes on his strategy!🐆
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The MBC crew on the track manned the MBC refreshment table, keeping the paw-ticipants strong by hydrating the herd. ❣️ Huge thanks to The Philadelphia Zoo for hosting such a beary fun event in support of wildlife conservation, we were proud to be part of the pack. 👟🥰🙌 #mbccares #buildingontrust #blairthebear #wildspeed #bearyexciting #phillyzoo #conservationmatters #hydrationstation #mcdonaldbuildingcompany
Thank you, Philadelphia Zoo!
MBC's Beary Great Crew: Blair Biggin, Iliana Limon, Michelle Tyler, Beth Armbruster, MBA, Beth Giorla, Ali Perkey, CHC, Justin Lausch, Allison Dern, Frank Cardone
Sofia is our new Assistant PM after Take your Child to Work Day!
Take Your Child to Work Day also means future employment possibilities! Project Manager Iliana Limon, brought the best helper to the NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments site yesterday…her daughter, Sofia! Equipped with a hard hat, highlighters, and her trusty sidekick Hello Kitty (assistant PM in training, obviously), Sofia was ready to rock and roll on-site. She made sure everything was running according to plan, that we’re thinking big, and that the snacks meet the highest quality standards. We see a promising future PM in the making. Happy Take Your Child to Work Day! #takeyourchildtoworkday #futurepm #womeninconstruction #minipmmoves #buildingontrust #mbccares @newcourtland1
Batman the Drone is back at it again - NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments
Batman dusted off his drone wings to come back to the skies to give us one great progress shot for Flyby Friday at the NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments in the Allegheny West neighborhood in Philadelphia! The team onsite wrapped up 2nd floor precast plank install in March with the 3rd floor plank finishing up as we speak (or write, you know what we mean…). The 48-unit affordable senior housing community is quickly rising in the Philly skies and on track for completion this Fall. We can’t wait to share even more progress to come in the next few months – and even more excited for Batman to be back in action grabbing epic shots of these fantastic sites! #buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #flybyfriday #newcourtland #alleghenywestfoundation #batmanthedrone #batmanisbackbaby #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #senioraffordablehousing #eyesintheskies
NewCourtland , CBP Architects, Allegheny West Foundation, Unique Metal Concepts, Jemco, Stone Sherick Consulting Group, LLC.
MBC Project Team: Iliana Limon, Matthew Kreft, BETH CICHONSKI, Ed Swank, Beth Giorla
Batman Pilot Extraordinaire: Andrew Lojewski
A tradition unlike any other - MBC celebrates our 15th annual Opening Day of the Masters!
Fore-teen was fun, but FIFTEEN was a hole-in-one! MBC’s 15th Annual Opening Day at the Masters Party was tee-rific! We celebrated in full swing with our incredible colleagues, loyal clients, fantastic friends, and beloved family…because everything’s better when you’re under par and overjoyed.
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Special appearances were made by the one and only Eldrick Tont (aka Tiger Woods… kind of), and our crew brought the energy to match! From our Putterup Buttercup trick shot, chipping game, and Putterball, delicious food from Sunnybrook, to the 19th hole bar, and of course, signature sips sprinkled throughout, it was truly a party to tee-member.
The whole office was on par, the memories were un-fore-gettable, and the fun? Off the charts. Thank you to everyone who helped make this another Masters to remember! We can’t wait to say "Hello Friends" to another year of celebrating. Here’s to fifteen years of fairways, friendships, and a tradition unlike any other! #mbcmastersopeningday #masterspartee2025 #forethewin #golfpunswelcome #puttyeah #eldricktontapproved #tigerandme #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #mbccares
Groundbreaking work over at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr Health and Wellness Center!
McDonald Building Company proudly attended the official (!) groundbreaking of the Beaumont at Bryn Mawr Health and Wellness Center! This 29,000-square-foot renovation will offer essential and meaningful enhancements to the Wellness Center and Health Center. Renovations will include refreshed finishes, modernized bathrooms, integrated technology, and upgraded HVAC systems that align with the latest DOH standards – all while ensuring daily operations continue to run smoothly for the residents and staff.
MBC was honored to be on site for this exciting milestone! A thundering round of applause and congrats to Joseph J Peduzzi, President & CEO and Adam Day, COO of Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, and the entire project team that was able to attend. The groundbreaking ceremony was also an excellent chance for the whole team to thank the board, residents, Owner’s Representative - Becker & Frondorf, and amazing architect - Core States for their dedication to the project and to see the possibility of what lies ahead. Even Batman the Drone made an appearance from the sky to grab a quick picture of the excitement below!
With the site now mobilized and construction beginning shortly, MBC looks forward to enhancing the everyday experience for residents through thoughtful and quality-driven spaces. Cheers to this exciting step ahead – it’s truly, well…groundbreaking! #buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #groundbreaking #seniorliving #newproject
Beaumont At Bryn Mawr Retirement Community, Becker & Frondorf, Core States Group
MBC Project Team: Andrew McDonald, Michael Mohr, Angelica Kreider, Renee Ellick, BETH GIORLA, Paul McDonald, Tom McDonald, Brad Springer, Danielle Terpoilli, Laura Clevenger, Andrew Lojewski
Cheers to 15 Wonderful Years!
Cheers to 15 incredible years! To kickoff the celebratory year ahead, the MBC team gathered last week for a quick toast to celebrate 15 years since we opened our doors. We raise a glass for the last 15 years and to each of you who made it possible – from our entire staff, project teams, clients, architects, partners, industry leaders, family, and friends we are proud to share this milestone with all of you. Here’s to 15 years and many MANY more to come! Cheers! #fifteenyears #mbccares #mbcproud #mbccelebrates #happyanniversary #wegetourlearnerspermit
MBC takes Flamingo Fridays to a new level!
TGIFF - Thank Goodness it’s Flamingo Friday! MBC’s Carpenter Apprentice, Noah Fisher is dressed to impress as our resident “flock star” on this fine Friday...always a great start to a flamazing weekend ahead. #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #mbccares #buildingontrust #tpz #beonewiththeflamingo #letsflaminGO #phillyzoo #zoolife
Philadelphia Zoo
Photo Credit 📸 Sam Cellucci
MBC has Beary Exciting News at The Philadelphia Zoo!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG…AND WE’RE COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION!
As the seasons change and the world wakes up, McDonald Building Company is stretching out and shaking off the winter snooze with an exciting new project at the Philadelphia Zoo (drumroll please) the complete transformation of Bear Country! This $20M renovation is no small feat! MBC is ready to roll but this project will take time, patience, and careful planning to create a state-of-the-art habitat designed to help the Philly Zoo’s Andean bears and sloth bears feel truly at home. More space means more room to roam, climb, and explore.
The upgrades include an enrichment-focused design, foraging & hunting zones, seasonal adaptability, and interactive guest experiences. Bear Country incorporates custom climbing structures, rockwork, and water features to encourage the bears’ natural behaviors, as well as elements that will simulate hunting and scavenging experiences, keeping the bears mentally and physically active. Visitors will get up-close insights into these incredible species with new educational features highlighting conservation efforts and wildlife preservation.
But Acclimating Takes Time… just like bears easing out of hibernation, settling into a new home doesn’t happen overnight. Andean and sloth bears are naturally cautious explorers, and we’re giving them the space and time they need to feel comfortable, safe, and at home in their brand-new habitat. That’s why our gradual acclimation process ensures their environment feels natural and familiar from the start. Every tree, rock, and pathway is designed to make the transition smooth and stress-free because even the coziest dens take time to feel like home! This transformation isn’t just about upgrading a habitat but ensuring the highest standards of animal care, conservation, and education as set by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Giving all Philly Zoo guests a deeper understanding of these amazing species and how we can help them in the wild, while MBC will wrap up work in late 2025, our koal-ity residents will need some extra time to get used to their just-right habitat.
Bear With Us…big changes are coming! We couldn’t do this without the incredible partnership with Philadelphia Zoo – their support for our team is un-bear-lievable! We also want to thank PGAV Architects for their design: they handled designing the "bear" necessities and beyond to make Bear Country all that it is. With completion set for December 2025, we can’t wait to share more beary exciting updates as we continue to build on trust and bring Bear Country to life! #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #buildingontrust #phillyzoo #bearcountry #springhassprung #comingoutofhibernation #bearyexciting #aza #conservationmatters #bearwithus #denreno #bearbnb
Philadelphia Zoo PGAV Architects Dan Bosin Associates Association of Zoos and Aquariums
MBC Honors all of our amazing ladies during WIC Week 2025
The women of McDonald Building Company celebrated all throughout last week honoring the strong ladies who contribute each and every day to the world of construction. Philly NAWIC chapter hosted a kickoff lunch on Monday celebrating the history and efforts of Susan B. Anthony’s suffrage movement, thanks to The Baldwin Group of KOP for hosting. We also celebrated later in the week with brunch and a site tour at The Philadelphia Zoo hosted by our very own Ali Perkey, CHC, Shea Tomlinson, and Sam Cellucci to describe the intricate and complex builds we are doing there all across the zoo grounds. As WIC Week 2025 officially comes to a close, MBC is honored to recognize and say THANK YOU to all women working in the variety of roles of the construction industry. Together We Rise. #mbccares #buildingontrust #wicweek #togetherwerise #womeninconstruction
