We’re pleased to announce that Emily Bittenbender, Managing Partner of Bittenbender Construction, will receive the 2016 Paradigm Award, the region’s most prestigious award for businesswomen. She is a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and the first Chairwoman of the General Building Contractors Association.
The award is presented annually to a singular woman in business whose outstanding professional and personal achievements serve as a model of excellence. The honoree’s leadership and dedication contribute significantly to the Greater Philadelphia region, and she is respected in her profession and throughout the community for her commitment to excellence and her vision for women and future generations.
“I am so humbled and appreciative to be the 2016 recipient of the Paradigm Award,” said Ms. Bittenbender. “To be recognized and included into a long lineage of significant women leaders, committed to our community, is the greatest honor of my career.”
Ms. Bittenbender’s career focus has been the design, construction and renovations of public buildings and spaces. Early in her career, she was hired by the Rendell Administration to jumpstart the paralyzed system of completing over 300 backlogged capital construction projects within city government. As Philadelphia’s first Capital Program Director for the CPO, Ms. Bittenbender was charged with the responsibility of bringing private sector business practices to the city and completed $454 million of capital projects in 3 ½ years time.
In January 2000, Emily was hired as the Vice President of Design & Construction for the National Constitution Center to lead a team once again in the design and construction of a $137M museum in Independence Mall. After the completion of the National Constitution Center in 2003, Emily started Bittenbender Construction, LP, a commercial general contractor and construction management firm specializing in the new construction and renovations of museums and historic sites, retail, higher education and corporate fit out projects.
In 2009 Ms. Bittenbender launched Philadelphia Carpentry Systems, LP, a woman owned carpentry and exhibit Installation Company, providing quality carpentry services to general contractors and building owners in the Philadelphia region. In 2011, she was awarded The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Excellence Award for Small Business Person of the Year. In 2015, The Philadelphia chapter of the General Building Contractors Association named Emily L. Bittenbender as its new chairwoman — the first female to hold the top post in the organization’s 124-year history.
Ms. Bittenbender currently sits on the following boards: Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, General Building Contractors Association – Chairman of the Board & Executive Committee, Philadelphia Carpenters Company – Board & Executive Committee, American Red Cross, and Community College of Philadelphia Construction Review Board.
“Emily Bittenbender is a leader and a trailblazer. She is incredibly deserving of this honor,” said Rob Wonderling, President and CEO of the Chamber. “Emily rolls her sleeves up and becomes deeply involved with any project she is working on, whether it’s within her own company, part of her duties as Chairwoman of GBCA, with the Chamber or otherwise. She has become a valued leader for the Philadelphia business community, and all of us look forward to her continued success.”
On Thursday, March 31, 2016, the business community will celebrate Ms. Bittenbender’s accomplishments with the presentation of the Paradigm crystal sculpture at a luncheon at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. Ms. Bittenbender will also designate $25,000 in charitable gifts provided with support from EY.
In addition, the program will also include the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women, which awards several women up to $5,000 in merit-based scholarships to help complete their undergraduate degrees while working full-time at Chamber member companies. A special presentation will be made to the Stradley Ronon scholar.
Awarded annually since 1992, Emily Bittenbender is the 24th Paradigm honoree. She is joining a distinguished field of past recipients that includes Sue Schick of UnitedHealthcare; Mary Stengel Austen of Tierney; Renee Amoore of The Amoore Group; and Judith von Seldeneck of Diversified Search Companies.
