Women in Construction Week: Building a Better Future for Puyallup Students

Women in Construction Week is here! This week is not about pink hard hats—it’s about breaking barriers, expanding opportunities, and ensuring that the next generation of women in the industry has the support, resources, and representation they need to succeed.

Every new school, modernized classroom, and improved facility in the Puyallup School District is made possible by a dedicated team of professionals working behind the scenes in Capital Projects. Among them are talented women leading the way in construction project management, planning, mapping, and finance—turning vision into reality for our schools. Their expertise ensures students have safe, innovative learning spaces, but their impact goes far beyond the buildings.

Female students considering careers in construction, engineering, and related fields can look to these women as role models who prove that leadership, innovation, and technical skills transcend gender. Their work today helps pave the way for a future where more women can confidently enter the construction industry, knowing they belong.

Meet just a few of the women shaping the future of Puyallup schools:

• Marlene Anglemyer, Assistant Director of Construction Management, oversees new construction, remodeling, and small capital projects from inception to completion. She manages projects, coordinates with architects and contractors, ensures regulatory compliance, and maintains project budgets and schedules. Her role includes field inspections, problem-solving, and upholding high construction standards. As a facilitator and change agent, she ensures successful facility projects while minimizing disruptions to our students and staff.
   
• Andrea Goetsch, Procurement and Contracts Manager, supports Capital Construction Project Managers by overseeing procurement, compliance, and project accountability. She manages furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) procurement, project moves, surplus inventory, and handling payments for construction-related permits, state funding programs, and bidding processes to ensure smooth project execution and regulatory adherence.
   
• Lisa Wilcox, AutoCAD/GIS Drafter, supports Capital Projects by managing data, documentation, and project tracking through specialized software. She maintains databases, assists with GIS mapping, converts archives to digital formats, and ensures data integrity, and ensures accurate project records while providing technical training to interns.
   
• Katie Dickinson, Capital Project Management Systems Coordinator, supports construction projects, planning, tracking, and reporting by managing cost analysis, scheduling, and systems development.  She ensures efficient project oversight by maintaining the Kahua construction management system, monitoring financial data, customizing workflows, and training staff, consultants, and contractors.
   
• Shelby Phelps and Tricia Nicholas, Capital Projects Analysts in OPS Accounting, ensure compliance and oversight for public works projects, including construction, repairs, and improvements. They manage public works contracts, oversee multi-source funding, conduct financial analysis, and ensure regulatory compliance to maintain accountability and efficiency in capital project execution.
   
• Debbie Haworth, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Operations and School Support, provides confidential administrative support to the Capital Projects team, coordinating budgets, grants, impact fees, procurement, and project documentation. She serves as key liaisons, managing communications, compliance, and logistical support to ensure efficient project execution in a dynamic construction environment.
   
• Kinsey Pitsinger  Capital Projects Office Professional/Secretary provides essential clerical and secretarial support to the Capital Projects Department. In this role, she greets contractors, architects, engineers, employees, and visitors, processes records for accounting and payroll, coordinates office materials requests, and handles various office tasks. This position highlights the valuable contributions of women in the construction industry, supporting smooth operations and effective communication within the department.

This week, we celebrate their contributions and look ahead to a future where even more women will lead in building the spaces where learning happens.  Together, these women are shaping the future of education in Puyallup—one project at a time. Their expertise and dedication ensure students have the necessary facilities to learn, grow, and succeed.

Join us in celebrating their contributions to building a stronger future!