12-14-2012 - PWC honors PANYNJ's Dawson and Columbia University's Gong at holiday dinner dance gala

On Friday, Dec. 14, Professional Women in Construction (PWC) will honor Stephanie Dawson, acting COO of the Port Authority of N.Y. & N.J. and Fanny Gong, AIA, LEED AP, AVP of Design Management, Manhattanville Development, Columbia University, at its annual holiday black tie dinner dance gala. The event features "the crown prince of swing," Stan Rubin and his orchestra in the Grand Ballroom of the Yale Club. Cocktails start the evening at 7 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing until midnight. Appointed acting COO in April, Dawson is responsible for aviation, tunnels, bridges, and terminals, Port Commerce, PATH Rail, as well as all operations, services and public safety departments. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she has served as president and board member of the N.Y.C. chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMINYC); founding member of the Transportation Diversity Council, VP and board member of the Council of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO-NYC); and as a member of the security advisory committee of ASIS. She is also a retired military ordinance and logistics officer, brigade commander, and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gong is managing the design team for the $6.9 billion, 17-acre campus expansion in the old Manhattanville section of West Harlem. An alumnae of the Columbia Business School (MBA) and City College's School of Architecture, she is overseeing the design of five new buildings, including the Jerome L. Green Science Center, the Lenfest Center for the Arts, the Academic Conference Center and the two buildings comprising the Columbia Business School. PWC president Lenore Janis said, "We are thrilled to honor a pair of truly outstanding women who exemplify the sort of professionalism that makes true leadership possible." She notes too that this is one of PWC's most popular events, "a rare opportunity to network in a festive atmosphere with industry leaders and decision makers. It's a time to see and be seen." Co-chairs of PWC's 2012 Dinner Dance are Maria Wilpon, AIA Assoc., Director of Education, AECOM; and Nancy Czesak, RA, first vice president, Tishman Construction Corporation, an AECOM company. Tickets are $385. For reservations, call 212.486.7745 or email [email protected]. Visit www.pwcusa.org. # # #