How does NAWIC work to assist women in the construction field?
We work toward the success of women on a national level with certifications through Clemson University. It’s on a big scale with education. Throughout the chapters, it’s getting on the ground working with workforce development and the trades. We do a couple of competitions through the NAWIC Foundation, “block Kids” and CAD competition for high schoolers to build a house or small building. We educate on the industry and help women to grow professionally and personally and perhaps get into a better-fit job.
How many chapters exist?
There are 130 chapters. We’re divided into eight regions. I have 20 chapters in my region, which is the largest number of chapters in any region. It covers Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin – basically from here to Canada. We merged last year. We did have 14 [regions] and due to the economy and other factors, we reduced that.
How many local members are there?
I’m not over the local chapter. The president is April Plank [of Tyco SimplexGrinnell]. We’re in the rebuilding stage here. We currently only have nine members. We consider 15 and under a small chapter. We’ve been as high as 35. That was probably in 2008-09.
What is the membership in your region?
We have 446 members. It’s about average for the past few years. Membership is building. Just like everything else in construction, membership went down in recent years. Overall NAWIC has 3,500 members.
A recent workforce survey reported 51 percent of Springfield-area workers are women. How does that compare to the construction industry?
We average 9 percent [nationally] in the construction industry of women. It’s much different. Basically, that’s education to alert women it’s not just office work. We have carpenters, and concrete workers and roofers in the field. We have project managers, too. A lot of it is education that you can do this job.
Union reps were actually seeking women last year to get enough people to fill the spots they had. The jobsites and the work environment is such that it’s an OK place for a woman to work.
What’s the top trend the group is addressing?
As companies are rebounding from the recession, the pool of workers is so small. That trend is one of the biggest things we’re trying to educate the ladies – hey, there are places to work here. Office staff was one of the hardest areas hit. A lot of those jobs were lost and now they’re coming back.
What are you all doing for Women in Construction week, March 6-12?
Locally, we are taking donations for (Female Leaders in Philanthropy), helping ladies looking for work and taking clothing appropriate for them.
We also are doing a jobsite tour of Primatara, Robert Low’s residence and a mixer after that at Fire & Ice on Friday, March 11. The mixer is open to anybody.
