Celebrating Women in Construction: Voices that Build the Future

Philadelphia, PA, March 3, 2026 - Liguori Academy

Philadelphia, PA — At Liguori Academy, we know that building a strong community starts with education, preparing the next generation of skilled leaders in construction. This Women in Construction Week, we celebrate the incredible women shaping and supporting our school.

Stephanie Turzanski — Owner, VinVu

Stephanie Turzanski’s journey into construction started through entrepreneurship. “When I owned my own marketing firm, my very first client was a general contractor,” she recalls. “Working closely with that team exposed me to the complexity, strategy, and collaboration behind every project. What started as a client relationship turned into a genuine interest in the industry.”

Stephanie’s career evolved from there as she continued working in real estate construction in different capacities. Today, she leads VinVu with a clear vision: construction isn’t just about building structures, it’s about leadership, problem-solving, finance, development, and creating long-term impact in communities.

She emphasizes the importance of representation in construction. “Women often approach problem-solving, communication, and collaboration differently, and those differences strengthen teams. When women are represented at the table, projects benefit from broader insight, stronger collaboration, and a more inclusive culture that ultimately drives performance.”

Her advice for women considering a career in construction is simple: “Why wouldn’t you? It’s one of the most stable and opportunity-rich industries out there. Beyond a financially rewarding career, there’s something incredibly powerful about driving past a building and saying, ‘I helped build that.’ That tangible impact is hard to replicate in other industries.”

Marianne Scott — Executive Director, Building Industry Association of Philadelphia

Marianne Scott is the Executive Director of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia (BIA), a trade association supporting residential and mixed-use developers, builders, and allied service providers. In her role, she ensures members’ business interests are represented in policy decision while fostering opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Her path to construction began early. “I had an interest in the built environment and always thought I wanted to be an architect,” Marianne shares. Breaking the mold, she was the only girl in her high school to take “Introduction to Shop”, learning metalworking, woodworking, printing, and drafting. In college, she majored in “Design of the Environment”, an undergraduate program for those interested in planning, architecture, and landscape architecture careers. Her first job at a land use planning firm confirmed that her skills were best suited to land use policy and design, but she thrived in the collaborative process that brought projects to life.

With 36 years in the industry, Marianna underscores the value of women’s voices: “Any job or industry benefits by including women and adding new perspectives that strengthen teams. For those interested in trades, there is a shortage of skilled labor overall, and only about 4% of traditional construction jobs are held by women. Women have an opportunity to fill this gap and bring new perspectives and leadership styles to the field.”

Her advice is straightforward and empowering: “Don’t rule yourself out—there is room for women at every level of the building industry.”

At Liguori Academy, our Construction Cohort is proud to learn from industry leaders like Stephanie and Marianne, who demonstrate that construction is more than a career, but a platform to lead, innovate, and leave a lasting mark on communities.

To learn more about the Construction Cohort at Liguori Academy and how to get involved, please reach out to advancement@liguoriacademy.org.