March 3, 2026
Women in Construction: Driving Success in the Field
In celebration of Women in Construction Week, we’re proud to highlight some of the strong, women leaders helping drive success on our Cerris Systems projects. From day one, these women have set a high standard for leadership and collaboration — bringing expertise, determination, and a people‑first mindset that shapes our work.
Kayla Bartnicke, Senior Project Manager, provides steady, people‑focused leadership. Humble, hardworking, and emotionally intelligent, she builds trust across all levels — from craft workers to clients — fostering a culture of accountability and teamwork. “Her relational strength is a major reason the project team operates with such unity,” notes Addison Weis, Operations Manager. Kayla’s approach keeps the team aligned, confident, and focused even in the most challenging situations.
Payton Rickel, Project Manager, embodies growth and adaptability. Since starting as an intern in 2019, she has grown into a strong communicator, problem solver, and confident decision‑maker. “No two days ever look the same,” Payton says. “There’s always a new challenge or something different to figure out, and it keeps the work interesting.” Addison adds that Payton’s reliability, steadiness, and leadership presence make her a trusted member of the team.
Working behind the scenes, Jennifer Heckadon, Administrative Assistant, ensures daily operations run smoothly. From onboarding new team members to coordinating logistics, her efforts create an organized, safe, and efficient environment that allows field teams to stay focused on building.
Innovation and technical expertise shine through Morgan Jones, Field Project Engineer. When the team faced installation challenges with a two‑story drop‑in boiler vent riser, she designed a shop‑fabricated rack that saved weeks of labor and kept the project on schedule — a clear example of how creative problem‑solving directly supports project success.
Shila Winder, Project Engineer, also emphasizes the importance of supporting roles, sharing, “I value the moments where my work made someone’s job easier or helped the project move forward without disruption.” Kayla echoes this sentiment, adding, “The biggest impact each day is just showing up, keeping an open mind, and being someone people feel they can come to with work‑related or personal matters.”
Together, these women — and all the women across our organization — reflect the leadership, expertise, and dedication that Women in Construction Week celebrates. Their combined efforts drive exceptional outcomes and strengthen our teams nationwide.
