The focus of Women in Construction (WIC) Week is to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry. WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities.
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) was founded in 1953 as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, Texas. Seeing that women represented only a fraction of the construction industry workforce, 16 women founded NAWIC to create a support network for others like themselves. Women in Construction of Fort Worth was so successful that it gained its national charter in 1955 and became the National Association of Women in Construction. Today, NAWIC provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more.
Core Purpose: To strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry.
Mission Statement: The association committed to championing women to impact the direction of the construction industry. NAWIC provides education, community and advocacy for women.
Forefront Architecture + Engineering: Celebrating Women In Construction Week 2020
Jodi Woods
What is your current title and how long have you been with Forefront?
Administrative Associate/Lead Quality Control and I have been with the company for 6 years.
What is the most rewarding part of your position at Forefront?
Knowing that our plans are going out nice and neat. I value providing our clients with a product that exceeds their expectations.
What made you decide to enter the construction/professional services industry?
The design process and making homes for families safe has always been a passion for me.
How has Forefront helped you reach long term career goals?
Forefront has helped me learn the understanding of the construction industry on how things work and operate.
Claribel Medina
What is your current title and how long have you been with Forefront?
Project Manager and I’ve been with the company for 1 1/2 years
What is the most rewarding part of your position at Forefront?
Being able to meet new People within the industry.
What made you decide to enter the construction/professional services industry?
I was drawn to Architecture because of the creative aspect (Until codes got in the way)
How has Forefront helped you reach long term career goals?
Definitely (and unexpectedly) getting me out of my comfort zone and the willingness for others to mentor me along the way. Thanks!
Madela Marchena
What is your current title and how long have you been with Forefront?
Production Associate, and I have been with the company for almost 3 years.
What is the most rewarding part of your position at Forefront?
The possibility to learn something from every client. The work we do gives me a whole new perspective about architecture and design.
What made you decide to enter the construction/professional services industry?
Architecture allows me to develop new projects to express my creative capacity to create functional, useful and very well-built spaces.
How has Forefront helped you reach long term career goals?
Training and giving me the tools to reach long term goals, allowing to contribute with my ideas and encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone.
Rachael Lanier
What is your current title and how long have you been with Forefront?
My current position involves Administration, Quality Control, and Accounting. I have been with Forefront just over 2 years.
What is the most rewarding part of your position at Forefront?
The most rewarding part of my position is feeling like a team player, I not only get to see the beginning and end of the process, but most recently have started doing some quality control, so I get to see the middle as well.
What made you decide to enter the construction/professional services industry?
I was looking for a change in my career and Forefront was a new challenge with the opportunity to grow.
How has Forefront helped you reach long term career goals?
Working for Forefront has opened my experience in the accounting world and I would really like to sharpen my skills by furthering my education with professional classes.
Renee Giddings
What is your current title and how long have you been with Forefront?
I am a Project Manager with Meritage Homes as my client. I have been with Forefront since June 2016.
What is the most rewarding part of your position at Forefront?
I love being able to contribute to new home designs as well as trouble shoot design issues they may be having in the field.
What made you decide to enter the construction/professional services industry?
I started by working on finances for the remodel department for national restaurant chain. While working with the remodels I realized that I loved helping with the designs. While teaching drafting to high school students and adults I got my students involved with the CAD competitions that NAWIC sponsored. Seeing other women being successful in the building construction industry made me realize that I wanted to get back into the industry after leaving my teaching position.
How has Forefront helped you reach long term career goals?
ForeFront provides training opportunities provided by local trades and building authorities. I have been able to return from these training opportunities and share my experiences with my colleges. Forefront also provides me the ability to teach new employees the “ropes” when they come in.
Mara Marchena
What is your current title and how long have you been with Forefront?
I am a Production Associate and Project Manager and I have been working as part of the Forefront team for 3 years.
What is the most rewarding part of your position at Forefront?
Every single day I learn something new.
What made you decide to enter the construction/professional services industry?
My passion is to be involved with the design process to make the world a better and more beautiful place. I have had the opportunity to work in this industry for 10 years.
How has Forefront helped you reach long term career goals?
Forefront is continually offering internal training for continued growth. Team members are always willing to teach and help each other be better every day. Forefront has exposed me to more managerial roles as well, like client correspondence and new programs
Patricia Mugnol
What is your current title and how long have you been with Forefront?
Production Associate and Project Manager and have been with Forefront for just over one year.
What is the most rewarding part of your position at Forefront?
Working here I have the opportunity to design and create something new every day.
What made you decide to enter the construction/professional services industry?
Being a curious and creative person, took me to study architecture where art and science can meet.
How has Forefront helped you reach long term career goals?
We learn from the experience of coworkers, training and clients. Personally, Forefront has taught me to have more self-confidence.
Lina Sanchez
Lina has been with the company since October of 2012.
Iraida De Juan
Iraida is currently a Project Manager and has been with Forefront since January of 2014.
Maria Lopez
Maria is currently a Production Associate and has been with the company since December of 2018.