One of the highlights of the evening was the installation ceremony, where the new officers were officially sworn in. The ceremony was a moment of pride and excitement, as the chapter looks forward to another year of growth and success under the leadership of the new board of directors.

As we move into the new year, the NAWIC Vermont Chapter is excited to continue its mission of empowering women in the construction industry and making a positive impact in our community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of this event. Here’s to a bright and prosperous year ahead!

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Board of Directors!

Nicole Benton (ReArch), President
Lindsey Farrar (GoKeyless), Vice President
Anne Minor (PC Construction), Treasurer
Stefanie Eichler (HUB International), Recording Secretary
Stacey Bevins (ReArch), Corresponding Secretary
Lori Aldrich (CSE), Parliamentarian
Karen Deutscher(PC Construction), Director
Emily Devers (Mike’s Electric), Director
Olivia Costin (PC Construction), Director
Emily Balzano (HP Cummings), Director

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We brought the group into the office trailer and conducted a Lean crash course to illustrate how the field team schedules upcoming work, inspections, and subcontractor collaboration using Nialli software and interactive smart boards. This provided a practical, hands-on application illustrating workflow navigation and effective field project management.

The students who attended the tour had great questions and positive feedback from the project visit, highlighting the importance of practical learning outside of the classroom and networking for their future construction career.

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Fueled by innovative discussions and out-of-the-box thinking, this conference was packed with short “Timber Talks”, where we heard a variety of perspectives on the importance of sustainability, climate change action, passive house, and the supply chain of mass timber. The discussions also focused on sparking a mass timber economy here in Maine.

Maine is the most forested state in the U.S. with 89% forested lands. Over time, the pulp and paper industry has declined, leaving a loss of identity and community in many of our rural areas. Utilizing Maine’s natural resources to stimulate the economy and provide a healthier environment while doing so, is a unique opportunity.

It was exceptionally rewarding to attend part of the conference at USM’s McGoldrick Center, a mass timber project completed by PC Construction in 2023. PC strives to promote sustainable building practices on all our projects and are excited to see a future that incorporates more mass timber in building design.

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This event provided opportunities for over 1,000 students to observe and operate equipment, all under the watchful eyes of competent trained individuals with a focus on safety. The goal of this event is to promote excitement in the construction industry as an attractive option for future career paths.

As a new NAWIC member to Maine Chapter 276, it was great to see so many engaged and interested students discussing the future of construction at this signature event. Continued exposure to different trades helps build the next generation of construction workers in Maine and beyond.

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The team’s presence – as the first all-female team in the event’s history – served as a powerful reminder that diversity brings strength, and that the future of construction is bright, inclusive, and full of opportunities for everyone.

The post Breaking Barriers on the Green: PC Construction’s All-Women Team Shines at AGC Vermont Golf Tournament appeared first on PC Construction.

Continued engagement within the construction industry is valuable to the growth of PC and the entire construction community, and this event did not disappoint. Facilitated networking allowed our group to hear different perspectives on topics such as opportunities for continued education, impacts of mentorship and current/upcoming trends in the construction industry.

On the heels of Governor Janet Mills recent executive order regarding Women in Construction, this event promoted stimulating conversation and presentations from engineers, coaching leaders and business owners, all with an overarching theme in mind – to attract and retain women in construction. The State of Maine is experiencing an increased demand for construction work in order to rebuild and expand public and commercial infrastructure and there is no doubt a workforce shortage. This executive order aims to improve access to rewarding careers for historically underrepresented groups, achieve a more robust labor force participation and eliminate the gender wage gap for Maine women working in the construction industry.

It was great to see so many talented women discussing the future of construction. We are already looking forward to the next Bernstein Shur Women in Construction event and everything to come in the year ahead!

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A vast variety of topics were discussed, such as the future of generative AI, male allyship, diversity initiatives, boosting credentials and breaking barriers. In particular, one topic that stood out was a moderated panel discussion on the concept of mentorship versus sponsorship and the ties between male allyship. We are finding that women have mentors but are lacking sponsors. While mentorship provides advice and preparation, sponsorship provides much needed exposure and opportunity for women to advance. Having a male ally step up and sponsor women is crucial to the advancement of women in the construction industry. In a survey of 770 women in the construction industry conducted by Ambition Theory and ECCER, it was found that 88% of women want to be in a leadership role, yet 72% of women had never had a woman supervisor. Seeing women in leadership roles creates a sense of belonging and helps build a confident mindset.

In another panel, three senior male leaders discussed their experiences acting as catalysts to advance women in construction. This discussion involved pay equity analysis within their companies, general awareness of needs of women on a construction site, and deliberately building policies to attract and retain a diverse workforce. There were certainly some key takeaways on how allyship makes workplaces more satisfying and companies more successful.

Over the next few months, the lessons learned and knowledge gained at this conference will be shared at PC Construction to further our work to strengthen successes for women in construction and continue to build a diverse and authentic workforce.

Source:
Building Better: A Women in Construction Study
Ambition Theory / ECCER 2023

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Safety is the foundation of everything we do at PC and the most important part of our PEOPLE FIRST core value. We are also an employee-owned company, which further empowers every member of our team to be safety ambassadors on our jobsites. This starts with a significant leadership presence in the field, reinforcing safety processes and driving team-based operational safety planning. By utilizing behavioral-based safety practices, we all demonstrate genuine care for every employee owner and trade partner worker and are invested in their safety and well-being. And it requires every employee to be active in his or her role by looking out for each other, speaking up, and voicing ideas and concerns.

Active involvement, proactive safety planning and proper training bring greater individual ownership of daily safety activities and outcomes. At PC, this practice has evolved safety from a mandate to a culture. Being a member of the PC team or working on one of our sites means you accept responsibility for yourself and for everyone working around you. It is a team effort, and a team success. This week is a celebration of the people of our industry and their commitment to each other.

Stay tuned on our LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter channels to learn how we are making the most of this week to educate, share, collaborate and celebrate!

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According to CDC data, the construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates in the United States. As leaders in the industry, it is important that we show our commitment to mental health awareness and support our employees, subcontractors and business partners who may be struggling.

This year’s Hike for Hope brought together over 400 participants and raised over $100,000 to support AFSP’s critical mission. It was truly incredible seeing so many people come together to spread hope and fight the stigma often associated with mental health issues. My family has suffered multiple losses from suicide so while I hiked for our industry and to support our community, I also hiked for my family.

Thank you to my PC teammates for joining in and to PC for sponsoring this important event.

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As a Utica University alum (‘20) and a member of their Construction Management Advisory Committee, it always excites me to get back on campus and give back to a program that gave so much to me. And I know from first-hand experience how incredibly important these real-world learning opportunities are for students who are building their foundation of construction knowledge.

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Since the Vermont Chapter was only recently chartered in December 2023, this is the first forum we’ve attended and I was fortunate to enjoy the event with our chapter president, Nicole Benton.

The welcome from all of the women in attendance was truly remarkable. NAWIC was founded to create a supportive community where women in construction can educate, develop, connect and thrive, and the women in this organization embody that mission to the fullest. Our time together was spent hearing from amazing keynote speakers such as Dr. Linda Singh, retired Major General, and NAWIC’s own Jenn Dewees, President of the Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation. We learned more about the barriers that women face in the construction industry and discussed lessons learned and strategies for supporting and advancing the incredible women with whom we work.

On top of all of that, we were able to spend time connecting with one another, making lasting relationships, and allowing space to discuss how, collectively, we can not only make construction a better place for women, but a better place for all genders.

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PC, along with two other New England CM firms, were assigned multiple student-led teams. They were each issued an RFP for a recently completed real-world project. The teams evaluated the RFP and submitted a formal proposal to PC meeting all requirements, including a cover letter, bid form, resumes, schedule and safety plan. Upon submitting their final proposals and video presentations, the teams then presented a bid pitch, which was ultimately scored and awarded by the PC team.

This competition introduces students to actual construction practices and provides hands-on exposure to the teamwork required to produce and present accurate proposals that meet an owner’s goals. For PC, we love the engagement with up-and-coming industry professionals and the opportunity to educate students on upcoming internship opportunities. The event really provides an all-around great experience for both the students and PC team members.

This year, PC had the honor of awarding ‘Ted Construction’ the winning trophy for their hard work and first place finish. On behalf of PC, congratulations to all students who took part in this year’s Construction Industry Day competition!

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