Pictured from left to right: Isaias Gamboa, Ve’Aaju Smith, Alexis Martin, and Cincinnati Works Next Generation Program Manager Talor Hall.
Women represented just 11.3% of the U.S. construction workforce in 2025. Together, the Spirit of Construction Foundation, Cincinnati Works, and our industry partners are working to change that.
This year, the Spirit of Construction Foundation launched its new Women in Construction Scholarship program with support from the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund through Fifth Third Bank. The scholarship provides funding to help women pursuing careers in construction advance their education, training, and workforce development.
We are proud to share that two Cincinnati Works Members, Alexis Martin and Ve’Aaju Smith, were selected as recipients.
Isaias Gamboa, founder and instructor at Cincinnati Construction Academy, referred Alexis and Ve’Aaju to Cincinnati Works after they graduated. Mr. Gamboa recognized that career coaching and ongoing support could help them maximize future opportunities. After becoming Members, they worked closely with their coaches to complete the scholarship application and position themselves for success.
Their hard work paid off.
As a result, both Alexis and Ve’Aaju received $2,000 Women in Construction Scholarships, providing valuable financial support as they continue building careers in the industry. The scholarship helps recipients invest in the tools, training, and resources needed to advance their professional goals.
Their success highlights the power of partnership and persistence. By staying connected, seeking support, and pursuing new opportunities, Alexis and Ve’Aaju turned their Construction Academy experience into another important step toward long-term career success.
Congratulations to Alexis Martin and Ve’Aaju Smith on this well-deserved achievement. We look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they continue building not only their own futures, but the future of our region’s construction industry.