Builders’ celebrates Women in Construction Week

Four women from across the construction industry shared their career stories during a podcast hosted by the Kansas City Business Journal. Pictured from left to right: Erica Jenkins, controller for The Builders’ Association and a management trustee on several union fringe fund boards; Aarika Leonard-DeMarc, marketing manager for The Builders’ Association; Jennifer Lyon, superintendent for JE Dunn Construction; and Bethany Riley, SPD, senior project manager for Turner Construction Company. Listen to the podcast here.

March 7-13 marks Women in Construction (WIC) Week 2021, and the Midwest region has a full slate of virtual activities planned to recognize and celebrate the work and achievements of women in the construction industry.

People can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #WICweek2021.

• March 1: Kansas City Business Journal podcast, “Four industry leaders share what it really means to be a woman in construction today,” was released and is available for listening.
• March 2: Builders’ launched a workforce development online resource page with a section dedicated to women in construction.
• March 4: Builders’ kicked off the #WICweek2021 social media campaign and highlighted the connection between Women’s History Month and WIC Week.
• March 7: Builders’ social media campaign daily posts will begin, featuring women from Builders’ membership and highlighting Kansas City National Association of Women in Construction (KCNAWIC) activities.
• March 7: Billboards will go up around Kansas City to raise awareness for WIC Week and celebrate women in construction (KCNAWIC initiative; Builders’ is a sponsor). KCNAWIC’s proceeds from this initiative will go to Care Beyond the Boulevard.
• March 8-12: KCNAWIC will host virtual events throughout the week; see full calendar and register on their website.
• March 24: Women in Construction virtual panel with COMO Magazine, sponsored by The Builders’ Association. More info to come.
• March TBD: Springfield Business Journal “Ask The Experts” featuring Paige Smith, Springfield plan room manager, on the topic of construction careers for women.

About The Builders’ Association

The Builders’ Association is a nonprofit commercial construction trade association serving hundreds of member companies that employ over 25,000 people in mid-America. Since 1887, The Builders’ Association has advanced the construction industry and served as a catalyst for collaboration by connecting passionate people and businesses, with a vision of improving lives through construction.

About the Kansas City Chapter, Associated General Contractors of America

The association’s sister organization, the Kansas City Chapter, Associated General Contractors of America, currently represents more than 100 firms in the heartland region and is part of the AGC of America, the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States.

Visit The Builders’ Association online at www.buildersassociation.com and connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.