Erma Bombeck once said, “It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.” Fifty years ago, 16 women working in the construction industry created an Association known as The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
Did they ever imagine, in their wildest dreams, that NAWIC would one day celebrate 50 years of success? The 50th Anniversary Celebration and Convention is officially over. Grapevine, TX, and the Gaylord Texan Resort played host to more than 700 members and guests during the four day event.
Awards
Edith Stanfield, president and CEO of S & J Electric, was presented with the Crystal Achievement Award for her determination and perseverance. Stanfield continues to give back to the construction industry by being a role model, leader and mentor to others in the industry.
Faye Turner, founder of Women Helping Women, was the recipient of the 2005 Crystal Vision Award. Turner received this honor for helping women become self-sufficient through training and job placement in nontraditional trades.
Other awards given during NAWIC’s 50th Annual Convention included Tradeswoman Awards. Karen Long was recognized as Tradeswoman of the Year, and Gloria Shaw Bruce was awarded the Tradeswoman Advocate award.
Forty-nine year members Grace Dockal and Laura Feagin were awarded longevity plaques. Both are still involved with the association’s Houston, TX, Chapter.
Speakers and Workshops
Industry and workshop speakers included Mike Creed, president and founding partner of Jo(e) Unlimited; William C. Weinaug, principal-in-charge of GRG’s Sustainable Design Group; Leslie Shiner, author, speaker and trainer, and Cathy Larsen, president of Larsen Communications.
NAWIC Installs New President
The association installed Carol L. Chapman, CIT, as its 51st national president during the convention. Chapman is owner of Mobile Construction Company in Charlotte, N.C.
Chapman was born in Spartanburg, SC. She attended Durham Tech in Durham, NC, and Mitchell Community College in Statesville, NC. She joined NAWIC in 1991.
Chapman, a team player, aspires to promote NAWIC’s 51 years of enhancing the success of women in the construction industry by “building the future,” and hopes to ensure the association continues to educate the public about the construction industry. Through the association, she also will help women “Build Lives.”
“We want to help women be all they can be and excel in all areas of their lives, both professionally and personally,” Chapman said.
Chapman has served on a local level as chapter president, vice president and corresponding secretary of the Charlotte chapter. She also has served her region as CAD/Drafting chairperson and in other committee chair positions.
Nationally, Chapman chaired the professional education committee. Later, she was Region 11 director, 2001 to 2003, which encompasses North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Other national offices include vice president 2003 to 2004 and president-elect 2004 to 2005.
International Awareness
Representatives from each of the association’s international affiliates were in attendance at the conference, including South African Women in Construction (SAWiC), which had more than 20 attendees, NAWIC-Australia, NAWIC-New Zealand and NAWIC-United Kingdom.
Katrina Relief
NAWIC members pulled together to raise funds to help their fellow NAWIC members affected by Katrina begin to rebuild with $21,000 already donated toward this effort.
Founded in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1955, NAWIC is an international association serving approximately 5,800 members in nearly 200 chapters in the United States. NAWIC’s Core Purpose is “to enhance the success of women in the construction industry.”
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