ALANA JOHNSON

Senior Project Manager / Redmond Construction

With over a decade of experience in the industry, Alana brings deep experience in corporate interiors and amenity buildouts. Throughout her career, she has successfully partnered with respected clients including Northern Trust, RSM, and Wintrust, delivering high-quality spaces safely and efficiently.

Ethically-driven and a team player at heart, Alana is known for her ability to align teams, clients, and partners toward a shared vision.

Tell us why you choose to be a member of PWC Chicago. I love supporting and encouraging other women in the industry - in my 14 years, I have seen a shift where people are recognizing the benefits of having women on project teams, and I want to keep that momentum going.

What PWC Events do you enjoy attending? I love the Socials because I get to see all of my favorite people and see how much PWC is growing and expanding. I have also enjoyed several panels, and some of the continued education courses offered. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate that these are available to us. 

What other ways are you involved in PWC Chicago? I am on the Mentorship & Education Committee, the Formal Education Subcommittee, where I serve as an ambassador for the Professional Development Courses. 

Share a story about your experience as a woman in the industry, or in your career. I became interested in the trades due to my family’s business (steel fabrication) and recognized early on that women were not well represented. I enjoyed being one of the few girls in my trades classes throughout middle/high school, especially as I tended to outperform my male classmates (best welder, most unique furniture pieces in woodworking class). As I continued in the trades, woodworking class turned into “building trades” and I got a new teacher who was surprised when my mom told him I intended to go into Construction / Project Management - so surprised that he told her I would “never make it”. Looking back, I can confidently say, he had no clue what he was talking about. 

What advice do you have for other women in the industry? Stick with it. If you come across someone who doubts you, lean on other women in the industry - You will find that most are very helpful and encouraging and almost all of us have a story of someone doubting our choice to be here.