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Celebrating Women’s History Month and Women in Construction Week
March is Women’s History Month, and the month also features Women in Construction Week. With these designations in mind, ODOT salutes all the women working on the I-205 Abernethy Bridge Project.
March is Women’s History Month, and the month also features Women in Construction Week. With these designations in mind, ODOT salutes all the women working on the I-205 Abernethy Bridge Project, and construction projects everywhere. This monumental undertaking would not be possible without the diverse talents women bring to this project every day. This month, we are introducing readers to Carolyn Heniges, one of the two Resident Construction Engineers working on the I-205 Abernethy Bridge Project.
Carolyn's innate problem-solving aptitude and affinity for numbers paved the way for her exceptional career. After raising her children, she returned to college to pursue civil engineering, largely fueled by her passion for witnessing bridge building. Much of her inspiration came from her uncle, who consistently encouraged her to use her math skills to pursue a career in engineering during childhood. Growing up with a father in the Coast Guard instilled in Carolyn a deep-rooted sense of public service, which has become a defining aspect of her career.
Carolyn's professional journey saw her rise through the ranks, advancing quickly into construction management initially at ODOT to an Assistant Project Manager, then she moved to Clark County Public Works (in Washington) where she held positions as the Construction Section Manager, Transportation Division Manager and as the Operations Division Manager. She then rejoined ODOT as the Construction Resident Engineer on the I-5 Rose Quarter Project. Recently, she moved onto the I-205 Abernethy Bridge Project, where she collaborates with her colleague, Chris Aguon, who is the project’s other Resident Construction Engineer.
Reflecting on the earlier stages of her career, Carolyn acknowledges the transformative shift in the landscape. When she started, she was often the sole woman in the room, and now she regularly sees women's growing presence and contributions in the construction and engineering fields. An avid advocate for the inclusion of women in construction, Carolyn consistently encourages women to pursue careers in the industry, and she actively fosters a positive workplace environment that nurtures personal and professional growth.
Carolyn emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships, maintaining sharp communication skills, and knowing how to be a skilled problem solver for women contemplating entry into the field. She also believes that a genuine passion for public service is integral to success.
ODOT extends its sincere gratitude to Carolyn for her leadership on this crucial project and her work to advance women’s presence in the construction and engineering industries.
Carolyn Heniges demonstrates the sheer scale of the materials needed to build the supporting structures for the Abernethy Bridge Project. For context, Carolyn stands 5’4”.
Carolyn Heniges poses with the rebar cage of a massive new support shaft for the earthquake resilient Abernethy Bridge.
I-205 Abernethy Bridge Project’s Carolyn Heniges way up in the Abernethy Bridge girders.