Women in Timber Founder and Marketing Director Whitney Geier, right, joins Chandra Robinson at a Women in Timber event.
Each spring, the International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC) draws thousands of architects, contractors, developers, and forestry leaders to Portland, Oregon. This year’s 10th anniversary event, now under way, is expected to be its most influential yet, spotlighting not just the rapid evolution of mass timber technology, but also the individuals shaping its future. Among these leaders is Skanska’s Whitney Geier, whose work is redefining how the industry supports community, inclusion, and innovation.
For Whitney, IMTC has been a yearly industry touchpoint and a catalyst. While attending past conferences, she recognized an opportunity to amplify the voices of women working across mass timber, forestry, and the broader AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) world. That spark ultimately led to the creation of Women in Timber, a grassroots movement that has since become one of the conference’s most anticipated events, drawing more than 500 attendees in its “Power Hour” program.
Today, as mass timber continues its rapid ascent into industries like education, healthcare, and aviation, Whitney’s leadership at Skanska is helping deepen industry collaboration. Her efforts support community-building, aligning seamlessly with the themes driving IMTC 2026 and its focus on shaping the next decade of the built environment.
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 previous roles 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 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 just in the USA, 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, we are 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, teams across Skanska 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.
Vision born from 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.
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
Women in Timber has grown from a small networking event to an impressive gathering.
Thanks to an incredible planning committee and generous sponsors, the event, free to everyone attending, 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.”
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 touchpoints, 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 Dean Lewis, Skanska Director of Mass Timber and Prefabrication.
Skanska’s Lakeridge Middle School replacement project in Lake Oswego, Oregon, used 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.”
Sustainable material makes its mark on industry
The timing for Women in Timber couldn’t be better. Women are entering construction in record numbers.
Recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the number of women in the construction industry has been increasing for the past 10 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 percent.
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 under way across the USA. Additionally, looking by area of built buildings, around 10 million square feet (900,000 square meters) of structures have been built each year 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.
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