Women in Construction Week: Safety Manager Judy Panbach
Meet Judy Panbach, one of CWC's Occupational Health and Safety Managers. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Health Services Management at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She was pursuing a career in hospital administration when she suddenly realized that "the office" life just wasn't for her. A family friend who knew her strengths suggested she consider construction safety, and when Judy investigated the fast-paced industry, she began her construction career path. She joined CWC in September 2020 at the height of the pandemic and has been a true asset to our safety team.
The CWC Safety team of Judy Panbach, Chris Harris, Rich Grant and Al Seamonson received the 2021 ABC STEP Platinum Safety Award.
Woman in Safety
Judy is the second female on the safety team in the company's history. When asked which part of CWC’s Build Mindset she aligned most with, Judy stated, "Earn trust perpetually. Entering the safety field at a young age and as a woman, I found myself constantly having to prove myself to peers to get them to trust in my abilities. After a lot of effort and calm assertiveness, I found myself being sought out as an asset to the project teams with insightful knowledge to help push production in the safest way possible." With Judy on CWC’s safety team, we’ve proudly achieved STEP platinum past two years. Learn more about our award-winning safety program.
What advice would Judy give to a young woman joining the construction industry? “Don’t be afraid to speak up and be yourself. Trust in your abilities and be ready to open yourself up to growth.”