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Alexia MacLeod\u202fwill break\u00a0the glass ceiling this September when she is named chair of the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA), the first female ever to\u00a0assume the role.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Her response to this feat is genuine and\u00a0matter of fact:\u00a0\u201cThis isn\u2019t going to be one and done,\u201d she told the Daily Commercial News.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI love this industry\u00a0and I want other young girls, middle-aged women,\u00a0to come in and say,\u00a0\u2018Yes,\u00a0this is my career path,\u00a0and this is what I\u2019m meant to do for the rest of my life.\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n MacLeod is\u00a0<\/span>a co-owner and president of Somerville <\/span>Construction, Consulting\u00a0and\u00a0Project Management. She began\u00a0<\/span>working at the firm in 2004 as an administrative assistant\u00a0and came to the company with eight years of\u00a0<\/span>management experience which she gained working for The Sports Medicine Specialists and team physicians for the Toronto Maple\u00a0Leafs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At\u00a0Somerville\u00a0her primary role is managing the company\u2019s financial operations and she also co-ordinates business development. After a successful bid and project award, she serves as controller and financial administrator.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n MacLeod\u00a0has been a member of the OGCA board for\u00a0more than\u00a010 years and says\u00a0she has seen the industry evolve, but\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0still work to be done\u00a0to bring more women into the industry, into\u00a0bigger corporate roles and onto\u00a0more\u00a0boards.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am hoping by being in this position and hopefully having more presence and a bigger voice in the organization that we can reach more people, more women in particular,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s not even about bringing\u00a0women to the table.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0here.\u00a0We have been doing this. I think now\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0more about education.\u00a0How\u00a0do we educate men in their position to help grow within their companies?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor\u00a0women,\u00a0in particular,\u00a0we\u00a0need to have different negotiating tools.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0already coming in with a different package.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n OGCA president Giovanni Cautillo says\u00a0MacLeod\u00a0is a natural fit for board chair\u00a0and her impact\u00a0will be felt in many ways.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cShe was very much a pioneer in making sure that women had a place at the table and now women are running the table,\u201d\u00a0he describes.\u00a0\u201cSitting on the board of all men, she stands out.\u00a0When she does speak her mind, the place goes quiet.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0seen as someone who provides\u00a0timely\u00a0input and provides it in a very refreshing way.\u00a0Alexia is\u00a0going to make\u00a0a huge\u00a0difference; she has\u00a0changed the way the board configuration is being looked at.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is just the beginning of a new chapter for the OGCA.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n MacLeod succeeds Greg Brokenshire, president of Alberici Constructors Canadian division.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGreg has been a wonderful chair,\u201d MacLeod adds. \u201cI hold him in such high regard, and I am so happy to be his successor.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before MacLeod officially\u00a0takes the helm as chair\u00a0later this year,\u00a0she will\u00a0take\u00a0part in the OGCA\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>2026 Women in Construction\u00a0Gala<\/span><\/a>\u00a0on May 21\u00a0from 5 to 11 p.m. at\u00a0<\/span>Universal\u00a0EventSpace\u00a0in Vaughan, Ont.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since its\u00a0inception\u00a0in 2023, the event has been\u00a0<\/span>\u201cmore of a crescendo than an evolution,\u201d MacLeod states. \u201cThe industry was just so excited from the get-go.\u00a0It is an environment that both men and women can come to.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This year\u2019s event features speakers Leslie Dibling, director of organizational development at AMC Services, and\u00a0Agnes Watkinson, founder of AMC Services.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n With 19 years of experience in the construction industry, Dibling brings operational insight into leading people and performance in complex, high-stakes environments, the OGCA notes. Her focus includes designing and implementing programs that build workforce capabilities and align with key business objectives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Watkinson brings over a decade\u00a0<\/span>of experience in workforce planning, HR\u00a0transformation\u00a0and\u00a0organizational development\u00a0across industries.\u00a0She helps organizations\u00a0optimize\u00a0structures, processes,\u00a0people\u00a0and culture to achieve strategic goals.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to speakers and networking opportunities, a first is taking place at the gala, in the form of three awards\u00a0that\u00a0recognize\u00a0<\/span>outstanding women who are making a remarkable impact across\u00a0the\u00a0industry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to incorporate a way to give back,\u201d MacLeod says.<\/span><\/p>\n Cautillo echoes her comments,\u00a0stating\u00a0the event\u00a0on the whole\u00a0is meant to change the landscape of construction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe gala is our focal point for women in construction,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0states,\u00a0\u201cbut\u00a0it\u00a0requires all people in construction to understand the necessity to move in that direction.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am putting out an APB, for women in the industry that want to make a difference.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0already making a difference in your own companies, by joining the OGCA you are making a difference for the industry\u00a0on the\u00a0whole.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a seat at every table for them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For more information or to get tickets\u00a0<\/span>click here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nOGCA WIC gala introduces awards<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n