Keys to Empowering the Industry’s Future Leaders growing group of women leaders are challenging the status quo and making A their mark in residential construction. NAHB’s Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council and Students Chapters program are supporting a new generation of women in the building and construction trades. Through mentoring and scholarship programs, along with the opportunity to gain real-world experience in the field, emerging leaders are receiving the tools they need to build a solid career in the industry. Case in point: the prestigious NAHB Student Competition held annually at the International Builders’ Show. The shifting demographics of the competitors could be one indicator of the industry’s future. Celebrating its 28th anniversary at this year’s IBS, the competition’s award winners for the first time included teams with predominantly female competitors and team leaders. The team from Shadow Ridge High School in Surprise, Ariz., placed first in the secondary program competition. Two of the team’s competitors returned this year after being part of the first all-female team in the 2017 competition. The predominantly all-female third place team from Rockville High School in Vernon, Conn., was featured in their local news station’s Stories of Hope series. The impact of competing at IBS gave many of these aspiring builders the confidence they need to continue in the field. Read More Who are NAHB’s Builder Members? E very year the National Association of Home Builders conducts a member census in order to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization. In 2017, 32 percent of NAHB’s members were builders— those directly involved in home building. The remaining 68 percent were associate members—those involved in supportive industries and professions, such as trade contractors, manufacturers, retailers/distributors, designers, and architects. Read More APRIL 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 23
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