2026 Women in Construction: Laurie Toscano, Weston & Sampson

What women should know about industry opportunities: I wish more women recognized how rewarding it is to play a key role on an implementation team. Every team member brings valuable perspective that contributes to a project’s success. Women in construction should feel confident that their input adds meaningful dimension and helps shape effective solutions. I’ve also found that stakeholders are often receptive to working with women in challenging site or meeting environments, creating strong opportunities for public engagement and project support.

Emerging challenge or opportunity ahead: The construction industry is increasingly challenged by limited funding for public projects. As regulatory requirements grow and demand for environmental protection rises, competition for available resources continues to intensify. In my role as an owner’s project manager, I focus on delivering value and identifying cost-saving opportunities, and I encourage my team to do the same. Helping communities achieve more with their budgets allows me to contribute meaningfully to this evolving challenge.

Share one fun or unexpected detail about yourself that colleagues might not know. I helped restore my daughter’s Jeep and used a sand blasting cabinet to remove rust from old parts & pieces. It was fun making something old look new again!