Reflecting a shared commitment to advocating for women in construction, Schuchart and Lakeside Industries are proud sponsors of the 2019 NAWIC PNW Region Spring Forum. NAWIC is a leading organization dedicated to supporting and empowering women. The three-day Forum event brings together women from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, Northern Nevada and Guam to network, to learn, and to inspire each other to succeed in the construction industry.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey states that in 2016, women comprised 9.1 percent of the construction industry in the United States. Furthermore, of those women more than 75 percent were employed in sales, office and management positions, with less than 25 percent in direct construction roles.
While Schuchart’s female workforce currently numbers 14 percent, well above the national average, it believes that increasing gender equity provides long-lasting benefits for the individual as well as the workplace collective. To focus their efforts, Schuchart has developed an initiative geared toward empowering and mentoring women interested in construction and trades careers, with the goal of a doubling the national average of females in the Schuchart workforce by 2025.
Additionally, Schuchart has pledged to support organizations that advocate for women in construction including NAWIC, Washington Women in Trades, AGC and Women in Construction. Last year we hosted a thank you event for Sawhorse Revolution, a women-led organization focused on youth involvement in construction projects. Other initiatives will include women-focused education and training, outreach programs geared toward middle-school age girls on the construction industry and career opportunities, and increased support for women to create more equitable work environments across Schuchart offices and jobsites.
Lakeside Industries is also addressing gender diversity through several avenues. Lakeside believes that a culture that fosters inclusion is the key to long-term success. Recently, Lakeside created a Diversity and Inclusion Committee with several board members and employees to continue to advance Lakeside’s focus in this area. This newly formed committee has created a multi-year strategic plan focused on building a solid pipeline of diverse talent, developing employees as well as continued focus on creating an environment that fosters engagement and inclusion.
To build a pipeline of diverse talent, Lakeside is engaged with several different organizations including the AGC Education Foundation, Pre-Apprenticeship programs like RPAC, Tulalip TERO, ANEW, Constructing HOPE, as well as several others in the local community. In addition, Lakeside is focused on partnering with various K-12 organizations. Lakeside supports and sponsors after school programs where high school students can explore hands-on work in our business. They also organize and sponsor school field trips for 4th graders in their various communities to learn about the industry.
Lakeside has also been partnering with various organizations that advocate for women in the construction industry such as NAWIC and Women of Asphalt. Through the partnership with Women of Asphalt, Lakeside employees were inspired to create an employee driven group, Lakeside Ladies League (L3). Since forming in 2018, L3 has been focused on supporting and empowering women to build satisfying and rewarding careers at Lakeside. L3 is also committed to addressing and finding solutions to challenges that are unique in the paving industry. All of L3’s hard work is aligned with the overall strategic diversity and inclusion plan and Lakeside’s core value to attract, retain, educate and reward a talented, diverse and dedicated workforce.
Event information:
NAWIC Spring PNW Region Forum, April 11 – 13, 2019
Please join us for the NAWIC PNW Region Forum April 11 -13, 2019 at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Women from throughout the Pacific Northwest will be joining us in Seattle for three fun days of inspiration, education and networking.
Thursday, April 11:
5:00 – 8:00 pm – Registration
2:30 pm – Meet in hotel lobby to board buses for Space Needle
3:00 – 5:30 pm – Space Needle and Happy Hour with Heavy Appetizers
6:00 – 7:00 pm – First timers meeting
6:00 – 7:00 pm – Presidents meeting
6:00 – 7:00 pm – National Chair meeting
8:30 pm – Nightcap Reception in Hotel Bar with Light Appetizers
Friday, April 12:
8:00 am – 5:00 pm – Registration
7:30 am – Hosted Continental Breakfast
8:30 am – General Session Opens
9:00 am – Keynote Opening Speaker: Alisha Valavanis, General Manager/President of the Seattle Storm
10:15 am –Safety on Site: A Global Company Perspective: Amber McAteer, Starbucks
11:00 am – Business Development and Building Relationships: Katie Trimpe, Turner Construction
12:15 pm – Hosted Lunch Featuring Community Service Partner Low Income Housing Institute
1:15 pm – National Candidates, SOA from Mid-Year Board
2:15 pm – Invitation to AM&EC – Atlanta
2:20 pm – Region Fund Update
2:50 pm – Women in the Trades Panel, Moderated by Kabri Lehrman-Schmid, Hensel Phelps
Panelists: Melinda Nichols, 45+year Carpenter, Board Vice-President of the Low Income Housing Institute, Women4Women Tiny Houses, Seattle City College;
Megan Clark, Development Director at ANEW (Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Employment for Women);
Krishna Richardson Daniels, PACT Director at Seattle Vocational Institute; Sam Schultz, Program Manager of Sawhorse Revolution
4:00 pm – Break for Day
6:00 pm – Springtime in Paris (Seattle) Champagne Soiree
Saturday, April 13:
7:30 am – Morning Yoga with Katie Peabody, Lakeside Industries
8:00 – 9:00 am – Hosted Continental Breakfast
9:00 am – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Dr. Mittie Cannon
10:45 am – Topography Captured by Drone: Liz Cowan and Glenn Grovenburg, Goodfellow Bros.
12:00 pm – Hosted Lunch – NEF/NFSF Auction and presentation by the Puget Sound Chapter
1:15 pm – Pull Planning/LEAN: Lindsay York, Southland Industries
2:30 pm – Closing Presentation: University of Washington School of Built Environments Dean, Renee Cheng
3:30 pm – Invitation to FORUM 2020
Uber Transportation to the Museum of History and Industry and FlatStick Pub
Registration and pricing can be found here.
On-site accommodation is available for $189 per night. To reserve your room, please click here.
Thank you to our host sponsors:
