Five Publications Construction Women Should be Reading

Keeping up with the latest news in their respective industries is something all successful leaders do. And when it comes to the construction industry, there are plenty of great publications to choose from. For construction women, however, there are several of these publications and blogs that pay close attention to topics that resonate specifically with female workers. From candid communities to polished magazines, these are just some of the publications that construction women should keep a pulse on.

MoveOverBob.com

This progressive publication is dedicated to construction women and their unique stories. With a tongue-in-cheek name like “Move Over Bob,” the majority of the content features women within their fields showing the industry that women not only have a place in construction but are moving it towards the future. The site not only features blogs highlighting industry topics, but shared curated content showcasing women who are making a name for themselves, where to get the best gear, as well as guest blogs to inspire a more collaborative environment. Branded as a “space all our own,” the site also offers a newsletter and a community of social media channels for even more content.

Engineering News Record (ENR)
A more traditional approach to covering the industry, Engineering News Record is one of the largest publications related to construction and trade news coverage. Their vast amount of content includes trends, design firm and construction company firms, information to help professionals in their career growth, and much more. ENR also serves to connect readers with other construction thought leaders and professionals. Construction women throughout the industry can find everything they need on this site to stay up to date with current news not only within their respective industries, but within their specific region of work as well. This is a must-read for all industry professionals – male or female.

Construction Dive
Another popular construction publication is Construction Dive. Similar to ENR, Construction Dive covers the industry as a whole while also focusing on niche topics to help inspire construction women and men. An annual occurrence, Construction Dive is currently featuring their 2020 Dive Awards that highlight leaders and events throughout the industry. Some of the honors include Company of the Year, People of the Year – being awarded this year to all of the essential construction workers working through COVID-19 – and Innovator of the Year. This publication not only reports on breaking news and trends but also features an opinion section for thought leaders to share their insights on popular topics as well.

Bonus: NAWIC Newsletter
We may be a little biased, but, one great way to keep up with construction women in the industry and the latest news is to read the NAWIC newsletter! Available to members, our newsletter, which is just one of the publications we offer, features upcoming NAWIC events, industry-related trends to look out for, as well as other important announcements. NAWIC membership is open to all construction women and the content we share reflects a diverse range of fields within the industry. If you aren’t currently signed up for our newsletter, contact your chapter leader or reach out to us today.

Working as a voice for construction women across the industry, The National Association of Women in Construction offers membership to any woman working in a construction related field or trade. NAWIC focuses on equality and inclusiveness in the hopes of inspiring the industry as a whole and supporting construction women. NAWIC members enjoy direct access to industry news, career-building events, and a space to connect with likeminded women. Several membership opportunities are available for interested construction women, as well as a convenient online application or the option to download one to fill out and mail in.

The National Association of Women in Construction now has over 117 local chapters across the United States, which makes it very easy for female builders to connect with our network of professionals. Membership is open to all construction women and NAWIC is able to provide members with amazing resources to help them gain confidence in their abilities and develop more leadership skills. Any female builders interested in becoming a NAWIC member can apply for membership by using either the online form or downloadable application to fill out and mail in – both of which are available on the NAWIC website. There are also several membership options available with flexible pricing and membership terms. To learn more about the female builders and powerful construction women involved in NAWIC or if you have any questions about membership, contact us through our social media pages.

Another common misconception? The construction industry is ruled exclusively by men. While it’s true that men outnumber women in construction, there are ambitious female leaders who have set out to change this. And particularly, there are several leading women in construction who are making a name for themselves in the aforementioned trade categories of bricklaying, asphalt, paving, and more.

Here is how several women in construction are paving the way for the next generation of female leaders.

Beth Duffus – Project Manager, Granite Construction

Many women refer to themselves as a queen, but Beth Duffus has been nicknamed “Paving Queen.” Recently honored as one of the 20 to watch in 2020 by Women of Asphalt, Beth currently serves as a Project Manager for Granite Construction, referred to as America’s Infrastructure Company, and oversees projects involving asphalt concrete fueled from safely mined aggregates. Beth wants to help women in construction find their confidence and prove that there is a place for women in the industry.

Mary Katherine Harbin – Maymead Inc.

Mary quickly fell in love with the empowering feeling of operating a paver after signing up for a shift at Maymead Inc., an asphalt construction services provider, in need of a few night shift operators. Understanding that Maymead was having trouble filling open positions and fully aware that there was a lack of representation for women in construction, Mary Katherine set out to recruit more women to work at the company. She now leads an all-female paving crew, one of the few to exist within the industry. The crew boasts their own Cat® paving equipment, marked with a pink racer stripe to remind the female team of their impact in the industry.

Karen Mitchell – Double M Concrete LLC

Karen Mitchell likes to say that the concrete flatwork profession chose her. When Karen’s husband started their family business in 2001, she was teaching elementary school. As she learned more about what her husband did every day, Karen became much more interested in concrete than teaching and decided to manage the company office. After 20 years building a successful business with her husband, Karen reflects on how NAWIC played a part in her journey. Through various courses, networking and learning from NAWIC meeting speakers, Karen found the learning curve much easier to handle and enjoys finding cutting edge technology to bring into the company. Most recently, Karen helped to spearhead a project in which Double M Concrete LLC used a glow-in-the-dark aggregate mix with manufactured stones that absorb light and glow at night. Along with helping other women in construction build their confidence, Karen is most excited to see how the industry will continue to grow and flourish with new advances.

Barbara Moore – Bricklaying industry veteran

After working in construction for over 40 years, Barbara Moore retired recently knowing she made a name for herself after a successful career – and that she helped make a name for women in construction. Barbara became a bricklayer shortly after high school and though she received a lot of criticism from men she worked with, she continued in her passion. At the time, she was the only woman in Baltimore, Maryland doing this type of work. Now well-known in the area for her contributions in the industry and for women in construction, Barbara looks back proudly at her career having put her stamp on famous projects such as Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium.

Valerie Echter – Social media strategist

Valerie Echter vividly recalls entering an in-person workshop in Nebraska and having the entire room of men turn around to watch her as she joined the class, nearly disrupting the presenter and training session. This was the moment that made her realize that simply showing up on the job wasn’t going to do enough to help other women in construction. For Valerie, working behind the scenes and changing people’s perception of what inclusion within the construction industry looks like was more important. Having studied civil engineering in college, and working for nearly 20 years in the industry, Valerie now works as a business consultant, freelance social media strategist, and content creator with a focus in the asphalt, construction, and engineering sectors. In this role, she’s able to coach businesses on inclusion, give advice to other women in construction, and continue providing opportunities for women to feel more confident in their abilities on-site.

The National Association of Women in Construction now has over 117 local chapters across the United States, which makes it very easy for female builders to connect with our network of professionals. Membership is open to all construction women and NAWIC is able to provide members with amazing resources to help them gain confidence in their abilities and develop more leadership skills. Any female builders interested in becoming a NAWIC member can apply for membership by using either the online form or downloadable application to fill out and mail in – both of which are available on the NAWIC website. There are also several membership options available with flexible pricing and membership terms. To learn more about the female builders and powerful construction women involved in NAWIC or if you have any questions about membership, contact us through our social media pages.