and all the outstanding women in construction at EnCon united
At EnCon United, Women in Construction Week is more than just a week in a year, an event to check off on the calendar.
We view it as an opportunity to recognize the women helping lead that transformation from the design table to the jobsite and beyond. From bridge girders and hollow-core slabs to architectural wall panels and double tees, these women are putting their stamp on work that’s visible all the way to the bones of the built environment.
Behind these projects are women like McKenzie Brooks, Shelley Hartnett, and Susan Tanenbaum — leaders whose paths into engineering, construction, and precast concrete are as dynamic as the industry itself.
From Concept to Concrete
For McKenzie Brooks, Project Design Engineer with EnCon Design, the journey to her career began with a love of math — but not the kind that led to accounting.
“My family would say ‘are you going to go into accounting because you’re so good at math?’ but it was a different type of math I was good at,” she recalls.
Originally entering college as an open-option engineering student at Colorado State University, McKenzie found her stride in structural engineering. Today, she works on multiple projects at once — collaborating with architects and engineers of record, guiding younger engineers, fielding calls from jobsites, and seeing projects through from early concept to the final stages. For McKenzie, she’s excited about both the material and the process.
“I specifically enjoy concrete as a material,” she explains. “There’s a framework for what we can do, but no two projects are ever exactly the same, and what actually goes into the concrete can change from project to project. You start with an idea on paper, and then you see that piece come off the casting bed and go up into a building. Watching it become part of something bigger — that’s incredibly fulfilling.”
Mentorship has played a defining role in McKenzie’s career, and now, it’s something she intentionally pays forward. Part of her role at EnCon includes guiding younger engineers, reviewing their designs, and helping them grow confidence. It’s a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly, because she knows firsthand the impact a mentor can have.
“I wouldn’t be where I am in this industry without a former coworker named Roxy,” McKenzie says, referring to a former EnCon engineer who first started working with her during a 2017 internship. “She was one of my main teachers and mentors. She once printed out a letter to the editor about women in the industry having to push a little harder to make their voices heard. It talked about how, in a male-dominated field, you can sometimes feel like you’re the only woman in the room. And that can be intimidating.”
But the message was less about discouragement and more about belonging.
“It’s important to remember that you do belong,” she says. “Yes, it can be challenging at times. But women in this industry contribute just as much. Your voice matters.”
Today, McKenzie strives to be that same steady presence for the next generation — the kind of mentor who not only teaches technical skills, but reinforces confidence.
Building Relationships, Breaking Ceilings
If McKenzie represents the structural backbone of a project, Senior Vice President of Business Development Shelley Hartnett represents its connective tissue.
Shelley knew she wanted to be in the industry as early as sixth grade — sketching dream homes on graph paper and decorating them with cutouts from the Sears catalog. She initially pursued architecture before pivoting into business and marketing, carving out a career that would eventually lead her into senior leadership.
“There wasn’t a clear roadmap,” she says. “Sometimes being a Marketing Director felt like as far as a woman could go in this industry.”
Over the decades, Shelley has worked alongside architects, engineers, contractors, and owners’ reps across the country. Today, she thrives on winning projects, and on educating clients about what precast concrete can do.
“There’s this moment when you’re explaining precast and you see someone’s eyes light up,” she says. “They get it. They understand the efficiency, the quality, the possibilities. For me, that moment never gets old.”
Shelley is also deeply committed to mentorship, serving on the board of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) of Denver and running mentorship programs to help women accelerate their careers.
“We didn’t have networks like SMPS when I was starting out,” she says. “My advice to younger women stepping into the industry is to use those resources, create connections and follow up with them. Stay connected. Take them out for coffee. It’s work, but it’s worth your while.”
And when it comes to advancement? Shelley nods towards her determination to be a mentor, and her involvement with the Kick Ass Women Leadership Group (KAWLG), a Denver-based professional organization focused on empowering women in AEC and related industries. It serves as a network for mentorship, professional development, and community support, often highlighting local female leaders and fostering collaboration.
“I don’t want another generation of women bouncing around,” Shelley says. “It shouldn’t take thirty years to be a Senior VP. That’s part of what we’re working on with this group.”
Leading From the Yard
For Susan Tanenbaum, Vice President & General Manager of Stresscon, construction is about building in every sense of the word. After early interests in law, politics, and real estate, Susan found her way into precast initially through her father’s business – a concrete pipe precast company. Determined not to be seen as “the boss’s daughter,” she started in the shipping department.
“I wanted to learn from the ground up,” she says. “The first week after I moved out of shipping, I went to a jobsite and saw our product being installed. That’s when it all clicked for me.”
That hands-on philosophy still shapes her leadership style. She believes every employee should understand what the company does, how it does it, and why it matters.
“I love walking the yard early in the morning,” she says. “Watching forms being set, concrete being poured, seeing the pride people take in their work. Our teams are artisans in many respects.”
Susan, who has led thousands of employees across North America throughout her career, is energized by strategic growth and team building — but equally by celebrating the people behind the product.
“To build real change, you bring people into the solution,” she says. “You pause, look at a challenge from all angles, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. That’s how strong teams are built.”
Her advice to women considering construction?
“Be curious. Ask questions. Get out of your lane and expand it. There’s room here — and it’s exciting to see more women engineers and leaders stepping into it.”
The Future, Formed
From structural design to business development to executive leadership, women at EnCon United are shaping not just what we do with concrete, but also our culture by mentoring the next generation, strengthening teams, and pushing the industry forward. The construction landscape is evolving. Data centers rise where parking garages once dominated. Infrastructure demands are growing. Innovation in precast design and engineering continues to expand what’s possible.
And at every level, more and more women are helping lead the way. Because the future of construction isn’t just being built. It’s being engineered, negotiated, poured, and led — by women who know they belong.