UPSTATE, S. – The Women in Construction Forum (“WCF”), an Upstate, S.C.-based group of female industry professionals in residential, commercial, and industrial construction, recently held a two-part interactive learning session at Anderson Districts I and II’s Career and Technology Center(“ACTC”) to encourage and educate female students coming into the trade industry.
Speaking to a group of approximately twenty female students enrolled in construction, engineering, aerospace and marketing programs at ACTC, each of the Forum’s representatives shared their professional construction career journey, answered questions from the group, and staged an interactive learning session on “How to read a Ruler.”
The Forum’s speakers, as well as the attendees, echoed the significance of the sessions:
“The WCF was one of the most powerful, impactful, and interactive presentations our female students have had the opportunity to be a part of,” commented Kelli Lancaster, who serves as the Work Based Learning Coordinator for ACTC.
WCF member Racquel Collier shared, “I am so honored to have the chance to offer advice that I wish was given to me when I was in their shoes; that's how we ensure our culture moves in the right direction!”
"Planting seeds in a young girl's life is always fruitful,” said Christi Powell, WBE/MBE Market Manager & Commercial Sales, 84 Lumber.
Rachel Veltri, who serves on the Women Construction Forum’s leadership team, and is the Business Development Manager for Morgan-Keefe Builders, added, “If young women see professionals giving their time to encourage and mentor others, then hopefully, many of them will grow up to be leaders who give back to their communities.”
Clemson University’s Tommi Jones, who serves as Senior Project Manager for Capital Projects offered, “Considering that women account for a small percentage of women in construction, it was exciting to meet a group of enthusiastic young women who are exploring the idea of entering the field.”
“I enjoyed speaking with the young ladies at ACTC to help them explore fields in construction. A common problem the industry faces is a lack of knowledge about all the different job opportunities within the field. I hope our outreach helps break this misconception and attract new talent into the industry,” explained Aubrey Davis, Assistant Project Manager, Langston Construction
“We are changing the landscape of our industry. It was exciting to be able to answer their questions about all the possible careers, internships, and how to get started,” said Natasha Sexton, President, Sexton Design and Development
“Being surrounded by the ACTC young women inspires me to work harder to make sure that they have it easier. When these young women come into the workforce, they will not have it easy in male-dominated fields, but with every year that goes by, women continue to prove that we belong in those fields. As much as WCF women are considered anomalies in their organizations, so will these students, but we are all stronger together and the construction industry is better for it,” offered Tori Wallace-Babcock, Project Manager, Mashburn
“Each of our women are sparking change of who you typically see on a construction site, and we want to educate and inspire the younger generation about all the possibilities a career in construction offers,” said Angela Gardner, Director of Business Development and Marketing for Hill Electric who also serves on the Women Construction Forum’s leadership team. “I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to share our stories with the next generation of leaders in construction, and for these young students being able to take advantage of so many insightful educational and career tips.”
The Women Construction Forum is an organization that provides education, experience and personal connection for women in fields surrounding both residential and commercial construction, including contractors, architects, project managers, business owners and many more. Founded in 2019 in Upstate South Carolina, the forum meets monthly, with the vision to “help build up women and their voices in the construction arena by empowering, engaging, and mentoring women entering the industry.” Learn more about the Women Construction Forum by contacting Rachel Veltri or Angela Gardner.
WASHINGTON, DC, April 20, 2021) – The National Institute of Building Sciences has announced the built environment leaders who will serve on the National BIM Program Steering Committee.
The NIBS BIM Council began the launch phase for the U.S. National BIM Program in March, when Salla Eckhardt, Director of Transformation Services with Microsoft, was named chair of the National BIM Program Steering Committee.
Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, President and CEO of NIBS, said it is important to establish a structure that broadly engages diverse stakeholders.
“We need a coordinated program to improve performance, advance collaboration and foster innovation in the building industry,” Woods says. “The first step was to engage our partners. The goal is a solution to enable digital processes that will streamline industry practices and procedures on a national scale.”
The National BIM Program Steering Committee members are:
- Salla Eckhardt (Chair), Director of Transformation Services, Microsoft
- Sandra Benson, Worldwide Head of Engineering, Construction and Real Estate, Amazon Web Services
- Angel A. Dizon, III, Managing Director for Program Development, Coordination and Support, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, U.S. Department of State
- Jason Fairchild, CAD/BIM Community of Practice Leader, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Michael Kennerly, Design Bureau Director, Iowa Department of Transportation
- Hannu Lindberg, Director of Virtual Design and Construction, DPR Construction
- Paul Audsley, Chief Information Officer, NBBJ
- Luciana Burdi, Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts Port Authority
- Will Sharp, PE (NE, IA), PTOE, Senior Vice President, Director of Highways, HDR
- Jagannath Mallela, Ph.D. Senior Vice President, Director, Research & Innovation Solutions, WSP
- Katherine Petros, Team Leader, Infrastructure Analysis and Construction Team, Office of Infrastructure Research and Development, Federal Highway Administration
- Charles G. Hardy, AIA, CCM, Chief Architect (Acting), U.S. General Services Administration, Public Building Service
- Russ Manning, Ph.D., LEED AP, CRL, CEFP, Executive Director, National Facility Operations and Maintenance Center of Excellence, Kaiser Permanente
The U.S. National BIM Program kicked off early February with a BIM Executive Roundtable. Nearly 40 business leaders discussed how a national program would help the industry by accelerating the effectiveness of the supply chain, providing predictable processes, improving project outcomes, driving efficiency, and fostering innovation.
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