Back in September, Sain Associates received the Glass Hammer Award from the Alabama Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). This annual honor celebrates companies that go above and beyond to promote women leaders in the transportation industry—and it’s a recognition we’re incredibly proud to receive. This award isn’t just a milestone for our firm, it is a celebration of the incredible women shaping our company and industry.
What Makes the Glass Hammer Award Special?
The Glass Hammer Award recognizes organizations that actively empower women in leadership roles within their company and community. That is a mission we take seriously, and we are passionate about creating opportunities, providing resources, and building an environment where women thrive; not only in their careers but also as leaders in their communities.
How We Empower Women Leaders at Sain
We’ve worked hard to build a culture where everyone, especially women, can succeed. We have made intentional moves to put in place plans where female professionals can succeed in our company. Three of our shareholders are women, and two of our five senior principals are women. That’s not by chance—it’s the result of programs and initiatives designed to help them rise.
Our firm offers in-house leadership development programs that empower staff with powerful frameworks, a growth mindset, and a clear vision for continued leadership impact. Sain’s leadership program provides training on developing strategic thinking, people management, and executive presence. Twenty-one percent of our female staff members actively participate in these initiatives.
We also invest in professional development by sponsoring participation in leadership training like McDonald Graham’s Transforming Success Leadership Class and the ACEC Alabama Leadership Series. In 2021, we created a peer coaching program, where employees can connect with experienced team members to explore new skills and close knowledge gaps.
Supporting Women in the Industry and Community
Empowering women goes beyond our office walls. Sain team members are involved in organizations such as the National Association of Women in Construction and Birmingham CREW, which create opportunities for women in the AEC and Commercial Real Estate industries.
We’re also incredibly proud of our work with Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (Girl Day), an event we’ve hosted since 2015. This year’s event was held at the McWane Science Center and brought together over 200 middle school girls for hands-on STEM activities. Seeing the excitement on the girls’ faces as they connected with engineering professionals was unforgettable.
Our women leaders also hold roles in professional organizations like the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and they participate in leadership programs across the regions and states we serve. These professional roles help elevate their careers and inspire other women to follow in their footsteps.
What This Award Means to Us
Winning the Glass Hammer Award is an incredible honor, but for us, it’s also a reminder of what’s possible. It shows that investing in people can create lasting change not just at Sain, but also in the progression of engineering and the communities we serve. We’re grateful to the Alabama Road and Transportation Builders Association for recognizing our efforts.
We’re excited about what the future holds for women in the engineering field, and we are already planning to expand our initiatives to ensure that Sain continues to be a place where women can grow and thrive in their careers.