WIC Week 2026 | Reeves + Young

We sat down with Reeves Young’s Director of Industrial Business Development, Brenttnie Smith, to talk about her career, what paved her way into construction, and what success looks like to her.

Can you tell me about your path into construction and what ultimately led you into business development?

My path into construction was not traditional at all. I came from a sports broadcasting background, which on the surface had nothing to do with construction. Early in my career, I was focused on storytelling, relationship-building, live production, and communicating clearly under pressure.

When I moved to Atlanta in 2017, I was introduced to the AEC industry and, more specifically, to the role of business development. I quickly realized how transferable my skill set was. Sports broadcasting taught me how to connect with people quickly, ask thoughtful questions, listen actively, and communicate a message in a compelling way. It also required preparation, research, and the ability to think on my feet — all of which are critical in business development.

In construction business development, success is rooted in relationships, strategic communication, and understanding your audience. My background helped me become comfortable in front of clients, navigate high-pressure situations, and represent my company with confidence and clarity. What started as an unexpected career pivot ultimately became a natural fit, allowing me to blend relationship-building and storytelling with strategy and growth in the construction industry.

Business development requires both technical understanding and strong relationships. How have you learned to balance those two skill sets?

That balance has been intentional for me.

Coming into the industry from a non-technical background, I knew early on that if I wanted to be effective in business development, I would have to make a conscious effort to immerse myself in all aspects of construction — spending time with our operations teams, asking a lot of questions in preconstruction meetings, learning how projects are estimated and executed, and really understanding the nuances of industrial work.

At the same time, I’ve leaned into what I naturally bring to the table — building authentic relationships. Strong relationships open doors, but technical understanding builds credibility. I never want to be the person in the room who can connect well but can’t speak intelligently about what our team executes. So, I prepare by leaning in and listening to the expertise of my teammates.

Was there a moment in your career when you realized you had found your stride as a leader?

I would say that moment has really happened over the past two years.

I naturally stepped into mentoring young professionals who were exploring or just starting their careers in business development. At first, it happened informally — answering questions, pulling them into meetings, helping them think through strategy or navigate client conversations. But over time, I realized they weren’t just asking for advice — they were looking to me for guidance.

Being able to serve as a resource, create opportunities for them, and help facilitate their growth has been incredibly meaningful. Watching them connect the dots, build relationships, and step into their own leadership has honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

That’s when I knew I had found my stride — not just in doing the work, but in helping shape the next generation of business development professionals.

As a woman in a highly relationship-driven and often male-dominated industry, have you ever had to approach situations differently to build credibility or trust?

If I’m being honest — yes. And I hate to say that, but it’s true.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to earn a great deal of respect from my counterparts and many clients, and I’m truly grateful for that. But in a highly relationship-driven and often male-dominated industry, there have absolutely been moments where I’ve felt like I had to work twice as hard to prove my worth.

There are times I’ve felt the need to show up twice as much, be twice as prepared, be twice as quick with answers, and sometimes even twice as loud to ensure my voice is heard and my value is recognized. Not in a negative or resentful way — but in a very real, aware way.

What that experience has done, though, is sharpen me. It’s made me more prepared, more technically fluent, more confident in rooms where I may be the only woman at the table. Over time, credibility compounds. Consistency builds trust. And once that trust is established, it becomes less about proving yourself and more about delivering results.

What does strong leadership look like to you today?

To me, strong leadership today is about leaving your ego at the door.

It’s about putting the team above yourself — prioritizing collective success over personal recognition. A strong leader doesn’t need to be the loudest voice in the room or the one getting the credit. They focus on creating clarity, alignment, and opportunity for others to succeed.

It’s also about emotional discipline. Whatever is happening in your personal life — stress, frustration, challenges — you must have the maturity to leave that at the door when you step into the office. Your team deserves consistency. They deserve steadiness. Leadership means managing your emotions, so they don’t manage the room.

Strong leadership, to me, is steady, self-aware, and service-oriented. It’s about creating an environment where people feel supported, focused, and motivated.

What part of your role do you find most energizing or rewarding?

What I find most energizing and rewarding is watching our team win.

There is nothing better than seeing their faces light up when we land a deal that once felt out of reach — the ones we talked about strategically, chased intentionally, and maybe even thought were a long shot. Watching something that started as a vision turn into a signed contract is incredibly fulfilling.

It’s also rewarding to see us win awards or recognition that we weren’t even considered for before. That growth — from being overlooked to being a serious contender — represents the work, the grit, and the belief our team has built together.

For me, the real reward isn’t just the win itself. It’s the confidence that grows in the team because of it. It’s watching people realize what they’re capable of. That momentum, that shared pride — that’s what energizes me the most.

A woman and man accepting a CMAA award — Brenttnie Smith and Chris Smith accepting the 2024 CMAA Project Achievement Award for Industrial New Construction Value More than $50 Million for the Falcon Parkway Industrial Park Campus on behalf of the Industrial team.

How has your perspective on success evolved over time?

Earlier in my career, I probably would have defined success by titles, recognition, or financial milestones. And while those things aren’t unimportant, my perspective has shifted significantly over time.

Today, success isn’t about money or titles anymore. Success is time.

It’s having built something strong enough — relationships, reputation, results — that I’m trusted. That I’m not forgotten or passed over because I choose to manage my time intentionally between work and home. It’s knowing I’ve done such a good job delivering value that I can step away for my family when needed without everything unraveling.

Success, to me, is being present. It’s getting to take time with my family without guilt, because I’ve put in the work and built a foundation that speaks for itself. That balance — and the freedom that comes with it — means far more to me now than any title ever could.

What advice would you give to young women who are interested in entering construction or business development but aren’t sure where they fit?

My biggest advice would be to reach out and find a mentor.

This industry can feel overwhelming from the outside, especially if you’re not sure where you fit. But there is so much opportunity within construction and business development — operations, strategy, marketing, estimating, client relations — that you don’t have to have it all figured out on day one.

Find someone who’s a few steps ahead of you and ask questions. Learn from their experiences — both their wins and their mistakes. Borrow their perspective. Let them help you navigate rooms, conversations, and career decisions with more confidence. A good mentor can shorten your learning curve dramatically and help you see potential in yourself that you might not recognize yet.

Two women taking selfie at networking event — Brenttnie and a colleague taking a photo together at the NAIOP Georgia Night at the Fights event.

Outside of your title and responsibilities, what is something people may not know about you that has shaped who you are professionally?

Two things have shaped me professionally in ways people may not immediately see.

First, I have an amazing family at home and that includes my son, Oliver, who has completely changed my world for the better. Becoming a mother has given me a different lens on leadership, priorities, and perspective. It’s made me more efficient, more present, and more intentional with my time. Motherhood has strengthened me in ways I didn’t anticipate, and that absolutely shows up in how I lead and how I build relationships.

Second, I lost my father in 2016 to brain cancer. That experience will never leave me — and in many ways, I don’t want it to. It reshaped how I view work, pressure, and what truly matters. It gave me a profound sense of empathy and a reminder that we’re all carrying something unseen. It also grounded me in the understanding that we’re not just working for titles or accolades — we’re working for something bigger, for our families, for stability, for impact.

Both motherhood and loss have refined my perspective. They’ve made me more compassionate, more driven, and more aware that success means very little if it isn’t anchored in purpose and people.

What’s a moment in your career that made you think, “I can’t believe I get to do this”?

The moments that stand out most are when I step back and realize where this career has taken me.

I get to travel to some incredible places around the country — cities and facilities I once only imagined visiting. Walking job sites, touring operations, sitting in boardrooms in places I used to just read about… there are moments where I genuinely pause and think, “I can’t believe this is part of my job.”

I also get to meet executives and CEOs of companies I previously only knew from industry articles or press releases. Sitting across the table from leaders of major organizations, having strategic conversations, and representing my team in those rooms is something I don’t take lightly. It’s both humbling and energizing.

What’s one lesson construction has taught you that applies far beyond work?

One lesson construction has taught me that applies far beyond work is that foundations matter — in everything.

In construction, if the foundation isn’t solid, nothing else works. You can have the most beautiful design, the best finishes, the strongest team — but if the groundwork isn’t right, cracks eventually show.

That principle applies to relationships, leadership, and life. The way you build trust, the way you communicate, the way you show up consistently — those are your foundations. You can’t shortcut them. You can’t rush them.

Construction has reinforced for me that what’s below the surface is often more important than what’s visible. Character, integrity, preparation, and resilience — those are the true foundations. And when those are strong, everything else has something solid to stand on.

One woman and two men posing for a photo together. — Brenttnie Smith, Stephen McMillan, and Will Poland at the Reeves Young February 2026 Staff Meeting.

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice at the start of your career, what would it be?

If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: never allow your own light to be dimmed.

You worked hard to get where you are. Don’t let anyone minimize that. Don’t shrink yourself to make others more comfortable. Don’t question whether you belong in certain rooms.

You are in the rooms you’re in because you earned the spot to be there.

There will be moments early in your career where you may feel intimidated, underestimated, or unsure. But confidence doesn’t mean arrogance — it means recognizing your preparation, your work ethic, and your value. Own that.

I would tell my younger self to stand tall, speak up, and trust that she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be — not by accident, but by hard work.

Woman posing for a picture with a peace sign — Brenttnie at the Reeves Young February 2026 Staff Meeting

Do It Scared: Building Confidence in Water Resources Construction with Monica Pineda

Water is something most people never think about, of course, until it stops flowing. Behind every sip, wash, and flush, is a complex system of plants, pipelines, and people working around the clock to keep communities running. For Reeves Young Water Resources Project Manager Monica Pineda, that invisible work is both a responsibility and a calling.

Pineda is working on a critical water infrastructure project in Braselton, Georgia, which impacts residents and business owners alike. “Construction still gets a bad reputation,” she says, “but there’s a tremendous amount of skill and planning behind every project. No one sees the crews working through the night to keep these systems operational, but that’s what keeps everything flowing.” She continues, “We can’t just shut down a plant and start over. We have to build around it while it’s running. Every water plant is different. Every system is unique. There’s nothing simple about it.”

When asked what she wishes people understood about water infrastructure, Pineda explained, “Your water infrastructure affects anything from your mom-and-pop shop down the road to the water in your home. Whether it’s going into a wastewater plant or a water plant, it has to go somewhere, right? It impacts your everyday life, from the moment you get out in the morning until the moment you go to bed. Every single day.”

Aerial Photo of Braselton Wastewater Treatment Facility in Braselton, Georgia — This photo was taken in January 2024 before construction had begun.

Maintaining public health in the U.S. requires a massive logistical effort. The ASCE reports that there are 2.2 million miles of piping buried beneath our feet to provide fresh water. This system is supported by over 16,000 specialized plants responsible for cleaning and recycling wastewater before it returns to the environment. Pineda emphasizes, “These projects are the reason you have clean tap water.” She continues, “Just think about your health, right? It’s preventing waterborne illnesses, ensuring you have safe tap water in your home.”

Pineda grew up farming with her father which led to her love for understanding systems and being outside. The graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken studied Industrial Process Engineering. As a young professional, Pineda did not know what the next steps were for her career. She looked into planning new facilities or building hospitals, but when she realized she could not stand being inside all day, she switched gears. “I just applied,” she said. Pineda describes getting a call from a project lead, and she had no knowledge of the field that would soon become her career path. After seven years working in the water infrastructure sector, Pineda loves mechanical systems, working in a specialized industry, and making an impact in communities. “As challenging as the work is, it is equally as rewarding,” Pineda says. She has loved her role and the work she has achieved since starting with Reeves Young in 2023.

Her parents have a saying that Pineda has carried with her entire life: “¿Si alguien mas pudo hacerlo, yo también puedo?” — If someone else can do it, why not you? It’s a mindset that has shaped her confidence in the construction industry. When the pressure builds or doubt creeps in, she reminds herself of a simple truth: “We’re all people. At the end of the day, we’re just humans, and we are doing a job.”

Although her role has led to a long-term love for project management in water resource systems, Pineda hasn’t always felt this confident being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Her journey is similar to the experiences of many other women in the industry and reflects the broader shift taking place behind the scenes.

As the industry recognizes Women in Construction Week, female participation continues to rise, with women now representing approximately 12.4% of the construction workforce nationwide — a sign of meaningful progress and expanding opportunity. In Georgia, women make up 12.3% of the industry, ranking the state 10th nationally for female representation in construction (Jones, 2026). Some regions have female representation nearing 18% (Schoen, 2026). Meanwhile, states such as Vermont, Iowa, and South Dakota rank among those with the lowest percentages–averaging just below 10%– of women employed in the field (Jones, 2026).

For women considering a career in construction, Pineda offers advice she lives by daily: be comfortable being uncomfortable. “We’re already used to it,” she says. “As women, that’s part of our everyday life. And we are just as tough [as men] to be here.”

She emphasizes that confidence isn’t something you walk in with on day one — it’s something you build. “You’re going to build it over time. You just have to stick with it. It’s not easy. It’s not. But women are tough by nature. When someone says, ‘Oh, I can’t do this,’ I think, ‘No, I can do that and probably better.’”

For Pineda, resilience is already part of who women are. And she’s seen the industry evolve. “Men are starting to realize — ‘Hey, they can do the job just the same as we do.’ The more women we have out here, the more that confidence will grow. It comes with time. You just have to stick it out.”

For young women considering a future in the AEC industry, Pineda’s advice is simple: “Do it scared. More people are willing to open the door for you than to shut it.”

With an industry-wide labor shortage and more than $1 trillion in infrastructure projects underway, there has never been a more opportune time to enter the field. The demand is real, the work is meaningful, and the door is open.