RNGD Director Named a 2026 Construction Champion

Awards/Honors RNGD Director Named a 2026 Construction Champion March 5, 2026   |By Site Staff Zakeia Payne - RNGD Director Named a 2026 Construction Champion METAIRIE, La. – Zakeia Payne, business development director at RNGD, has been honored as a 2026 Construction Champion by Construction Dive, a national publication that highlights news and trends shaping the construction and building industry. The annual recognition program coincides with Women in Construction Week, March 1-7.  Chosen from more than 250 nominees nationally, Payne is one of six women recognized as a “Mentor” and the program’s only Louisiana-based honoree. In total, Construction Dive selected 30 women across five categories: Rising Stars, Up-and-Coming Leaders, Mentors, Tradeswoman Leaders, and Industry Veterans. As Director of Business Development for RNGD in Louisiana, Payne leads growth strategy and client relationships across multiple sectors. Outside her formal role, she has spent nearly 10 years building pathways into construction, reaching more than 100 students and young professionals each year through mentorship programs, speaking engagements, career days, and one-on-one guidance. - Sponsors - “I wanted to help create something bigger than myself, something that leaves a lasting, visible impact on the community,” she says. “What has kept me in construction is the opportunity to be a representation for young people and show them pathways they may never have seen, in some cases helping change the ...