'Evolved? NAWIC chapter reforms in Springfield

The Springfield chapter of the Nation-al Association of Women in Construction is reforming after a seven-year hiatus, but don't think that the new incarnation will be a copy of the old club, said Elise Crain, concrete promoter at Conco and NAWIC member.

"The makeup of the membership will include both office people and field people," she said. "It will be more dynamic and more sound because everyone will be able to understand the challenges of each person's job."

Crain has only one guess as to why the original local NAWIC organization, chartered in 1967, disbanded in the mid-1990s.

"My assumption is that organizations evolve, they're cyclical, and it just got quiet," she said.

Evolution

The new faces of women in construction in the club reflect how the industry itself has evolved over the years, Crain said.

"The old organization, both on the local and national level, consisted of women who worked in construction of-fices," she said. "Now it's largely women in the field. Also, historically, it was women in middle management; now it's not unusual to see women in upper management, business owners themselves, and tradeswomen. That's how the industry has changed the organization has changed along with the industry."

Laurie Luna, project manager with Flintco, is on the NAWIC Springfield chapter's board of directors. "I've been involved with other professional organizations, and this will be a good network and way to meet people for jobs," she said. "I also hope it will make women in construction more aware of their career options within the industry."

Luna hopes that the organization will enhance mutual gender understanding in the construction industry. "We're a huge support to the guys out there, but we want to be better understood in the roles we play," she said. "The club will hopefully increase awareness of the women who support subcontractors and contractors."

Cindy Rousseau, president of the new chapter of NAWIC and construction co-ordinator for Connections Handyman Services, said the club's goals still are in formation, but members do have their personal and shared wish lists of what they would like to accomplish through NAWIC. "Being a construction student going into a male-dominated field, I was looking for a support system," Rousseau said. "The vision I have is that the club not be just for women already in construction, but those who want to get into the field but don't know how."

Luna agreed that reaching out to wo-men who desire a career in construction should be part of NAWIC's focus. "There's no reason for you not to go for your goal, if this is what interests you," she said.

Educational efforts

Luna said that there are plans to revive a scholarship program for women in construction, offered through the previous local NAWIC club. In addition, Rous-seau, a recent graduate of the construction technology program at Ozarks Technical Community College, hopes that NAWIC will eventually have student chapters at both OTC and Southwest Missouri State University.

"We want them to know how to ad-vance, how to succeed, and also be able to get the encouragement they need," she said.

Mentoring will be another benefit of-fered by the new chapter of NAWIC, al-though it may take place informally, according to Luna, who has 18 years' experience in construction. "I'd be happy to pass on to other members what works and doesn't work for me on the job," she said. "I've got that experience and know-ledge; I might as well pass that on and save someone a few headaches."

Acceptance

Crain, who has spent 35 years in the construction industry, also can pass on her stories of what the industry used to be like for women. Crain recalls spending the first half-hour of meetings with clients establishing her credentials to do the job, and even tolerating dismissive remarks from men in management. But even in decades past, there were men willing to recognize her ability and treat her as an equal, Crain said.

"Experienced businesspeople accepted women in construction without question," she said. "They want their daughters to be well-respected and well-paid in their careers, too."

Crain said there are several good reasons why women in southwest Missouri are attracted to careers in construction. "It offers good pay and good benefits," she said. "And it's always changing; it's a new world every day. One of the things that's exciting is going by a building and saying I built that'."

Luna agreed. "The job is interesting, technical, and you can make a comfortable living," Luna said.

But there are tough days for women in construction, too, according to Crain. "It will always be challenging, but we're much more accepted than in years past. We're still not quite there yet, though."

Crain hopes that women will see what a career in construction has to offer them through NAWIC involvement. "We're constructors of lives and opportunities," she said.