Summer 2026 - Flipbook - Page 12
ENGAGEMENT
ALEXIA MACLEOD TO BREAK
GROUND AS OGCA’S FIRST
FEMALE CHAIR
This article first appeared on the Daily Commercial News website and was written by editor LINDSEY COLE.
LEXIA MACLEOD will break the glass
A
ceiling this September when she is
named chair of the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA),
the first female ever to assume
the role.
Her response to this feat is genuine and
matter of fact: “This isn’t going to be one
and done,” she told the Daily Commercial
News.
“I love this industry and I want other
young girls, middle-aged women, to come
in and say, ‘Yes, this is my career path, and
this is what I’m meant to do for the rest of
my life.’”
MacLeod is a co-owner and president of
Somerville Construction, Consulting and
Project Management. She began working
at the 昀椀rm in 2004 as an administrative assistant and came to the company with eight
years of management experience which
she gained working for The Sports Medicine Specialists and team physicians for the
Toronto Maple Leafs.
At Somerville her primary role is managing the company’s 昀椀nancial operations and
she also co-ordinates business development.
After a successful bid and project award, she
serves as controller and 昀椀nancial administrator.
MacLeod has been a member of the OGCA
board for more than 10 years and says she
has seen the industry evolve, but there’s still
work to be done to bring more women into
the industry, into bigger corporate roles and
onto more boards.
“I am hoping by being in this position
and hopefully having more presence and a
bigger voice in the organization that we can
reach more people, more women in particular,” she says.
“For me, it’s not even about bringing
women to the table. We’re here. We have
12 the generals • SUMMER 2026
been doing this. I think now it’s more
about education. How do we educate men
in their position to help grow within their
companies?
“For women, in particular, we need to
have different negotiating tools. We’re already coming in with a different package.”
OGCA president Giovanni Cautillo says
MacLeod is a natural 昀椀t for board chair and
her impact will be felt in many ways.
“She was very much a pioneer in making sure that women had a place at the table and now women are running the table,”
he describes. “Sitting on the board of all
men, she stands out. When she does speak
her mind, the place goes quiet. She’s seen
as someone who provides timely input and
provides it in a very refreshing way. Alexia
is going to make a huge difference; she has
changed the way the board con昀椀guration
is being looked at.
“This is just the beginning of a new
chapter for the OGCA.”
MacLeod succeeds Greg Brokenshire,
president of Alberici Constructors Canadian division.
SOMERVILLE CONSTRUCTION, CONSULTING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT – This September, Alexia MacLeod will be named chair of the Ontario General Contractors Association,
the first female ever to assume the role. MacLeod is president and co-owner of Somerville Construction, Consulting and Project Management.
OGCA.CA
