PWC Board of Directors 2005-2008

Lenore Janis, president, was one of the organization's 12 original founders in 1980. The former owner of a WBE steel erection company, she was the first woman director of the Bureau of Building Management of the NYC Department of Sanitation in the mid 1980s. She has been honored by numerous organizations including CSI (NY), American ORT and NOW, and recently wrote a chapter on "Women and Construction" for Construction in Cities (CRC Press). An alumna of Bennington College, she received a B.A. degree from Univ. of Connecticut (Storrs) and is a member of the General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen. She was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of White Plains High School.

Watch a television interview with Lenore Janis.
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Lina Gottesman vice president of PWC, is the President and Owner of Altus Metal & Marble Services, Inc., the only certified WBE in the tri-state area specializing in supplying & restoration of ornamental metal, glass and stone. Altus participated in the AOL Time Warner project, supplying ornamental metal and glass. The restoration of Cartier's on 5th, The World Financial Center and the New York City Public Library entrances are among some exciting and challenging projects recently completed. Gottesman represents PWC on the NYWA Board and received the Business Owner Achievement award from PWC in 1995.

Gwendolyn Colbert Kushner vice president of corporate development is principal of GCK Consulting of NY, LLC, a contract compliance and business development firm. A pioneer member, she is Event Chairman of PWC’s annual Trade Show & Recruitment Fair and chairs the Membership and Scholarship Committee. She is former director of contract compliance for the MTA and was corporate director of EEO for NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation. She has received numerous awards in recognition of her achievements.

Theresa Vigilante, vice president, and a pioneer member of PWC, was formerly the first woman corporate officer at a major architectural woodworking firm. Vigilante initiated PWC's Golf Outings ten years ago. She has been honored by the Consul General of Italy and The Boy Scouts of America and is a recipient of PWC's Career Achievement Award. She serves as President of the Women's Golf Association of the Bella Vista Country Club and participates in the annual Susan B. Coleman Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament.

Priscilla J. Triolo, Esq., secretary of PWC and special advisory counsel, maintains her practice at the Law Offices of Richard Malagiere, PC, in Paramus, New Jersey and New York, New York. Triolo’s practice includes construction dispute resolution and litigation in addition to handling land use matters where she represents contractors, developers and owners regarding the use and development of commercial and industrial land. Formerly Triolo was a partner with Peckar & Abramson in River Edge, New Jersey. She received PWC’s Special Recognition Award in 1992, is Chairperson of PWC's Legislative Committee and is also active in the PWC-NJ Chapter.

Linda Christensen, Esq., is vice president and general counsel of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc. and senior vice president and general counsel of Tishman Hotel Corporation. A presenter at 2001 Salute To Women Of Achievement, she was recently awarded the highest rating for legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell. She is the recipient of PWC's Salute to Women of Achievement Award 2004.

William Fife, PE, corporate vice president of DMJM + HARRIS, is responsible for the firm's aviation consulting practice. Formerly the general manager of aviation, planning and technical services for The Port Authority of NY & NJ, he has moderated PWC's series of breakfast seminars on the transportation industry for the past four years. Fife received a Special Recognition Award from PWC in 2000.

Andy Frankl, the President, CEO and founder of Ibex Construction, has more than 30 years of experience in General Contracting, Construction Management and Design-Build projects. He is the driving force behind one of “New York’s fastest growing construction companies” as noted in a recent Crain’s article. Ibex has completed many construction projects in the Corporate, Retail, Residential, and Institutional markets. He attended the Cooper Union School of Architecture and is a graduate of Brooklyn Tech High School. He confidently takes responsibility for all aspects of Ibex’s day to day operations, from business development, value engineering, estimating and bidding, through project completion.

Christine Flaherty, CCM is the Business Development Manager for STV Construction, Inc.. A certified construction manager, Ms. Flaherty is responsible for the strategic growth and training of STV's construction management group. Ms. Flaherty's experience includes project management and estimating experience in both risk and agency construction management contract delivery, and she has served clients in the non-profit, private, and public sectors with project values ranging from $1 million to $150 million. Ms. Flaherty earned her MBA from New York University and is a Civil Engineer with a B.S. degree from Bucknell University. She is EIT certified, a member of Chi Epsilon and a member of CMAA. Ms. Flaherty is actively involved in STV's annual March of Dimes fundraising event, is a volunteer at NYU's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, FACES, and is the co-captain of STV's ACE Mentoring Team.

Jackie Horowitz.
Jackie Horowitz, project manager, has been with Turner Construction Company since 1994. Notable amongst her many construction projects are: Continental Airlines Terminal C, 124 Hudson Street Condominiums and the MoMA Museum. Recently she completed the CCNY Student Dormitory at 401 West 130th Street. Currently she is working on the renovation of 229 West 43rd Street, the former New York Times Headquarters. She started her construction career 23 years ago in Puerto Rico with Fluor Daniel working on pharmaceutical projects. She later worked with Kumagai Gumi on the El Conquistador Casino and Golf Resort. Jackie is an Adjunct Professor at New York University in the Master’s in Construction Management. She holds a BS in Business Administration from California Coast University and a Diploma in Construction Management from NYU. She is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Staff:

Evelyn Mertens, PWC's director of public relations and a principal of QED Associates LLC, creates and implements public relations campaigns and provides writing services for a variety of private and nonprofit clients in such industries as construction, architecture, and real estate development. The recipient of a Gold and a Silver Clarion Award from the Association for Women In Communications and a Silver Big “W” Award from the Advertising Club of Westchester, she has over 20 years of experience as a writer, editor and PR specialist. Mertens holds an M.A. from Brown University and a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College.