How Professional Women in Building Awards Have Enhanced Careers

Each year, the NAHB Professional Women in Building (PWB) awards program recognizes outstanding achievements of women doing great work in the home building industry. Scoring top honors can open doors, including growing professional networks and gaining exposure toward potential business opportunities. In fact, many award winners keep the momentum going for years to come.

NAHB recently caught up with previous winners to see what they've been up to, including:

Nora Spencer (NAHB's 2022 Woman of the Year): Founder and CEO of Hope Renovations, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Charlotte, N.C., that educates women on entering careers in construction - often helping them leave low-wage jobs.

Steph Reed (NAHB's 2020 PWB Member of the Year): Custom home builder, remodeler and licensed realtor based in Ankeny, Iowa. She's also the founding chair of the HBA of Greater Des Moines' PWB Council, which has done extensive work in teaching young girls about the trades and raising money to fund scholarships for women planning to work in the industry.

Allie Jackson (NAHB's 2022 PWB Outstanding Council of the Year): Outside sales representative for Belgard - an Oldcastle company. She was also chair of the California Building Industry Association's (BIA) PWB Council when it was named Outstanding Council of the Year.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

How did you get involved with PWB and what keeps you coming back?

Spencer: I got involved with PWB before I started Hope Renovations. I'd met with our local HBA Executive Officer Holly Fraccaro about my idea for a women's trades training program. She said, "I'm going to introduce you to the people you need to know" and invited me to a PWB Lunch and Learn. I loved meeting so many like-minded women who were all incredibly excited about the idea. So much of what Hope Renovations is today is because of what PWB gave me, so it was only natural that I would want to give back to PWB by getting involved.

Reed: I got started in PWB at my local HBA in Des Moines. I had just finished my first spec home and had amazing support from men, but realized the women were in real estate. Their husbands were the builders, and [the women] were designers - which is great, but why aren't women building houses and doing contract work? The HBA said they wanted to start a local PWB Council, and I became the first chairperson. It was one of the best experiences of my professional career. We now have nearly 100 members and have won many national awards from NAHB PWB.

Jackson: The one and only Terri Everhart recruited me to join California BIA PWB in 2016, and I've been hooked ever since. The amazing partnerships, friendships, mentors and memories that come along with the sisterhood of PWB are irreplaceable. Not only are we part of home building, but are making a difference in the industry.

How has your career changed since winning your award?

Spencer: I've been fortunate to have several great honors and awards in the four years that Hope Renovations has been in existence, but this award is the one that always brings reaction of astonishment and excitement. I think there is something about being recognized in an industry that is traditionally male-dominated that really catches people's attention. As a result, we have expanded our reach this year and are now operating in three locations in our region, tripling the number of people we serve (and tripling the number of future workers we're preparing for our industry).

Reed: I was so honored to receive this award among so many amazing women nationally. I currently serve on my local and state HBA boards, and I have become the NAHB Iowa State Representative and NAHB Iowa Delegate. Also, I was appointed to the NAHB Nominations Committee, the NAHB Membership Committee and recently chosen to be part of the inaugural NAHB Leadership Academy. I've branched out into remodeling on top of my custom building and am really loving that I get to do both now.

Jackson: The amount of exposure for our small council after winning the awards has been so impactful for membership growth. Being a small council, we are always looking to grow and gain new members. Winning the award helped drive members to see what the end goal is of PWB.

What advice would you give to the new generation of women entering the industry?

Spencer: Try it all! If you're in the office and you long to see what it would be like to be in the field, get in the field and vice versa. The key is you have to ask for it. As women, we are notoriously slow to ask for what we want in the working world. But we're fortunate to be working in an industry where asking for what you want is the norm - a perk of it being a male-dominated workforce. I wholeheartedly believe that women can pave any path they want in our industry. We just have to be the ones to go pick up the shovel, because no one is going to do it for us.

Reed: Gender has nothing to do with being a great builder or contractor. Be teachable, open-minded and find yourself a mentor, as well as an HBA and PWB Council to join. Every chance you get, pay it forward to the next person. Get involved with workforce development efforts, serve on councils and talk to young women at schools. Let them see you and let your light shine. If we don't give back to the industry and bring new generations to the table, home building and skilled trades will be a lost profession.

Jackson: Don't ever have your doubts on what you can accomplish as a woman in this industry. Lean on other successful women and follow in their footsteps. The industry is always changing and evolving and being involved is the best way to have continued success and growth both personally and professionally.

Visit the PWB Week toolkit for resources and tips, such as sample social media posts, Shop Talk registration links, marketing materials and more. Subscribe to the NAHBNow blog to stay updated on news content about some of this year's featured women in building. Applications for PWB's Woman of the Year Award are now open.

NAHB's Professional Women in Building Week is sponsored by Andersen Windows & Doors.

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