Women in Timber: How a Skanska leader is transforming the industry
Working in the heart of Portland’s thriving architecture and construction scene, Whitney Geier, marketing director at Skanska, saw firsthand how women were shaping the industry. Throughout her career, Whitney has spent over a decade immersed in the world of mass timber, a sustainable building material that is rapidly reshaping the construction landscape.
A recent endeavor? Launching Women in Timber, a grassroots initiative for women working at the intersection of mass timber, forestry and Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), to connect and find community.
Whitney’s journey into architecture and construction wasn’t linear. With a background in art, graphic design and photography, she found herself drawn to the creative energy of architecture and the strategic challenges of marketing.
Her time at LEVER, a firm renowned for its pioneering work in mass timber, deepened her appreciation for the material and the collaborative spirit of the industry, and opened her eyes to the breadth of individuals accelerating the use of mass timber.
Drawing on her experience at LEVER and her appreciation for mass timber’s collaborative potential, Whitney now contributes to Skanska’s expanding mass timber program. To date, more than 25 mass timber projects have been completed across eight market sectors, and the more project teams build with the material, the more its benefits are discovered.
By delivering mass timber projects across healthcare, aviation, education and more, Skanska is leading the industry forward by showing what's possible for the material in the built environment.
With deep technical knowledge and proven experience in design integration, procurement and installation, Skanska’s teams are adept at navigating the unique considerations of mass timber construction, from optimizing structural performance to meeting sustainability goals.
Along the way, a collaborative approach with architects, engineers and suppliers ensures that each project maximizes the aesthetic warmth, carbon reduction potential and speed of construction that mass timber offers.
Realizing a vision out of a personal experience
In recent years, while attending the International Mass Timber Conference, the world’s largest mass timber event, Whitney realized there was an opportunity to highlight the contributions of women across the industry while strengthening their connections within the broader community. “I knew there were lots of women attending the conference,” she recalls, “but they were scattered, which made it challenging to connect.”
That realization sparked the idea for Women in Timber: an inclusive space where women and allies could come together, share stories, build networks and celebrate their contributions to the timber industry.
“Women in Timber offers an informal networking space for everyone, in a formal conference setting,” says Whitney. “It’s not a panel or a presentation, but a space where women can talk to one another, feel comfortable, and make long-lasting connections.”
A movement takes root
Since its inception, Women in Timber has grown from a small networking event to an impressive gathering. The Women in Timber ‘Power Hour’ at the International Mass Timber Conference has drawn a record attendance of over 500 attendees.
Thanks to an incredible planning committee and generous sponsors, the event, free to all conference attendees, has become a cornerstone of the conference, offering a welcoming, informal space for connection and collaboration.
Whitney’s vision for the initiative extends beyond Portland. “Women in Timber isn’t owned by any company or organization,” she emphasizes. “It’s owned by the people. Start your own group in Australia, Tennessee, wherever you live. That’s what we want.”
The group has already inspired similar initiatives around the world, with industry professionals in the UK and South America launching their own chapters.
“Someone in Brazil sent us a photo of their family wearing their Women in Timber shirts, and that just made my day, because that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.”
“We’re trying to make it about women, not just in construction, but in all these different sectors that touch mass timber – design, building, construction, forestry, all of it,” she continues.
Remembering the origin of each mass timber project is key too, for Whitney, as she works with others to articulate Women in Timber’s vision and purpose. “It’s a good thing to continue bringing it back to, reinvigorating that message of, ‘it starts at the forest,’ and we end up making buildings with it. It’s powerful.”
Women in Timber Founder and Marketing Director Whitney Geier, right, joins LEVER Principal Chandra Robinson at a Women in Timber event.
Planting the seeds for women in construction
Women in Timber isn’t just connecting those already in the industry, it’s opening doors for future builders.
In 2025, the group donated $3,500 to Girls Build, a Portland-based nonprofit that introduces girls ages 8-15 to the trades through hands-on camps and workshops. Girls Build teaches carpentry, electrical work, plumbing and more, with a focus on accessibility. Most Girls Build participants attend on scholarships, and all foster youth participate for free.
“Starting young is key,” Whitney says. “If we can get girls interested in the trades early, we’ll see more women in construction down the line.”
Collaborating across the timber system
Whitney is committed to working with others across the industry to continue growing Women in Timber.
“There are so many different touch points, so, finding ways to collaborate is what I’m really interested in. That’s how we grow,” she says.
And finding those interested in shaping the mass timber movement isn’t hard to do, given the material’s attractive qualities.
“Mass timber brings strong sustainability benefits, and is modernizing the construction industry through prefabrication and digital technology. That progress is changing how our workforce grows and adapts,” says Director of Mass Timber & Prefabrication Dean Lewis.
To date, Skanska has completed more than 25 mass timber projects across eight market sectors, including the Lakeridge Middle School replacement project in Lake Oswego, Oregon, which utilized seven specialty timber products.
“I continue to be encouraged by the diversity of talent entering the workforce and showing a sincere interest in mass timber. People are interested in where the wood comes from and how it’s being incorporated into a building. You don’t often hear that about other materials or products on a project,” he continues.
A sustainable building material makes its mark on the industry
The timing for Women in Timber couldn’t be better. Women are entering construction in record numbers.
Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the number of women in the construction industry has been increasing for the past 10 consecutive years. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of women in construction rose from 929,000 to 1,343,000, resulting in an overall percentage increase of 44.56%.
Simultaneously, mass timber is showing up across the globe.
According to WoodWorks, as of 2025, 2,598 multi-family, commercial or institutional mass timber projects were in progress or being built across the U.S. Additionally, looking by area of built buildings, around 10 million square feet of structures have been built each year over the last four years, from 2022 to 2025. For a real time look at mass timber’s growth, explore WoodWorks’ live project map.
Shaping the future of mass timber construction
As mass timber marks architecture, engineering and construction, women are a big part of this revolution.
Start a meetup in your city. Mentor a young woman entering the trades. Share your story. Every connection matters and every voice strengthens the movement.
Women in Timber is a call to action, and the future of the industry is being built now.
To learn more about Women in Timber, click here.
To learn more about Skanska’s mass timber work, click here.