Marian University and C.D. Smith Construction Invite Young Women to Dream Big with Women In Construction Event

When Ana Kraft noticed her female colleagues in the construction industry were wearing men’s boots, she had an epiphany. The project engineer to entrepreneur, and founder of Xena Workwear, created a line of fashionable, steel-toed work boots and other gear for women. Kraft will be sharing her story at Women in Construction 2025, an event celebrating opportunities for women in the growing construction industry, at Marian University on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 9:00 am – 12 Noon.

Women in Construction is sponsored by C.D. Smith Construction and hosted by Marian University’s Construction Management Program. The event is aimed at students in high school, technical college, or college, interested in the construction industry. Attendees will have an opportunity to connect with industry peers, gain insights from diverse perspectives, and be part of the conversation shaping construction’s future, while celebrating how far we’ve come.

Women In Construction 2025 will also feature a diverse panel of professionals—women and men—who have made their mark in construction management, engineering, estimating, and design. The panel will provide invaluable insights into the industry, discuss career opportunities, and offer real-world advice for aspiring construction professionals. The event is a chance to dream big, think boldly and see what’s possible.

A catered boxed lunch will be served. The event is free, but you must RSVP by March 6 to Kylene Schwark at: keschwark15@marianuniversity.edu.  For questions, call: 920.923.8773.

Marian University is sponsored by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, a group of pioneering sisters who founded the university in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1936. The university has a rich tradition of dedication to the education of the whole person and offers a variety of undergraduate, master’s, and adult learning degrees at its main campus and online.