PAGE 4 – February/March 2009 – The Triangle/Triad Construction News
Women
lenburg Schools, sponsors “If I Had
a Hammer,’ a day-long program for
Publisher’s
Continued from page 3 middle school students that includes
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
hands-on building experiences.
More than half of the approximately
viewpoint
can be an electrician, estimator, pro- 600 participating students are girls. By Robert Kruhm
ject manager, engineer or even pres- About 40% of the students involved
ident. The average journeyman in the ACE Mentor Program are
electrician can make from $39,000 - girls. Design teams, alongside their
$66,000. volunteer mentors, are based at a Time We Get to Work
Carol Chapman notes that al- high school and meet as a student
though it’s easier for women to enter club during the school year.
We support the “American Recovery and Right now nothing is more important than
construction today, (“We greased the One of the ACE board members
Reinvestment Act of 2009.” The construction increasing investment in America’s buildings,
skids for younger women so they in Charlotte is Tanqueray Richard-
funding included in this legislation will put transportation system, power grid, water treat-
don’t have to fight the same battles son, a project manager with Tyler 2
construction-related businesses to work quickly ment facilities, and other major construction
we did.”), many are opting out of the Construction, a 25-year-old,
on projects that are “shovel ready.” projects. Construction has always been an en-
trades. “We give scholarships, tell woman-owned general contracting
Economists report that every $1 billion in gine of economic stimulus and can play that
them it is a noble thing and pays company. She joined Tyler 2 in 2007
investment in nonresidential construction cre- role once again. The long-term economic ben-
well, but they are not flocking to the after seven years of engineering and
ates 28,500 or more American jobs. And these efits that will come from these investments are
trades.” She says that one of her residential construction experience.
are not just construction jobs; it includes mate- an extra incentive.
best roofers was a woman, and that Although she has a civil engineering
rials suppliers, services providers, and equip- In addition to the crucial investment in our
she contracts with woman-owned degree from South Carolina State
ment providers. This $1 billion will turn into nation’s infrastructure, we support the tax relief
floor covering and fiber glass repair University, she turned to commer-
$3.4 billion in GDP and $1.1 billion in personal provisions for small businesses and the tax in-
companies. cial construction because “I like the
income as workers participate in our economy. centives it provides for energy efficiency. Most
As majority owner of Mobile, changing atmosphere — it’s differ-
North Carolina contractors and suppliers are of our readers are small businesses who need
Chapman does a little bit of every- ent every day. You face challenges
ready and able to start work as soon as they are relief in order to weather this economic storm,
thing and also goes into the field as in finding solutions and see your
awarded contracts. retain employees and create new jobs. It’s time
a certified lead paint abatement su- goals met.”
we get to work.
pervisor. But being a woman-owned Richardson also tutors teen moth-
firm has not helped her company ers at the Phillip O. Berry Academy
win any contracts. “Bids are of Technology. An important part of
awarded on experience and low her mentoring is making the students
bids.” aware of the careers available in en-
NEWS UPDATES AT
Another popular organization for gineering and construction. “This
www.northcarolinaconstructionnews.blogspot.com
women in construction is Commer- generation is very different – every-
cial Real Estate Women (CREW) thing is possible for them. Being a
Daily News and Insights about the North Carolina Construction Industry from the
Network, which has chapters in woman in construction is not an
Publishers of Charlotte Construction News and Triangle/Triad Construction News.
Charlotte and the Triangle. issue that I have and it should not be
“We can do a deal from A to Z,” for young adults. I am who I am.
says Peggy Hey, immediate past What matters is that you work as
president of the Charlotte chapter, hard as you can to be your best.”
which has 211 members. The na- Virginia Jones, who started Ki-
tional organization has about 8,000 netic last March, has had a different
members in 66 chapters. “We’re not kind of experience. She was the
afraid to network and refer each CFO and CEO of a specialty con-
other business or help each other struction company then went out on
professionally.” She is a former her own with two partners. “My
commercial real state attorney who partners know the technical side,
is now manager for facilities man- and I know the management and
agement at Carolinas HealthCare marketing side.” Because she is lo-
Triangle/Triad Construction News is published by North Carolina Construction News LLC, 127 College Avenue, Durham,
System. cated near Fort Bragg, she has ac- NC 27713-6033. TCN is circulated to a rotated controlled circulation list of qualified readers including members of
CREW Charlotte also organizes a tively gone after military contracts
most major construction associations in the Research Triangle region, including Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.
day-long hands-on educational pro- by “pounding the pavement and
gram called CREW Careers that in- making contacts.”
If your business is interested in promoting itself within the Triangle/Triad region, and in communities across Canada
troduces girls to the many job But, Jones adds, “It’s a challenge
and the U.S., we invite you to arrange a special editorial feature. We’ll post it in PDF format in communities where
you wish to do business, and print extra copies for your own marketing purposes. With supplier-support advertising,
opportunities available in the many to be taken seriously. I’m often
there is no cost to your business. For more information, please phone Bob Kruhm at (800) 578-3216 or send an email
facets of commercial real estate. treated like the red-headed stepchild, to rkruhm@nc.rr.com.
This year’s program, which focused or they think I am the project man-
on uptown Charlotte, had 53 partic
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from The Triangle/Triad Construction News, please access
- agers’ secretary (Jones adds with a
ipants. laugh). So when the Kinetic PMs
www.copyright.com or contact Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
It is just one of many outreach start asking me questions in a meet-
(CCC) 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, ••
978-750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides li-
programs designed to introduce ing, the other contractors in the
TCN
censes and registration for a variety of users.
young people – and sometimes room are typically surprised.”
specifically girls — to the wide In October, Jones was one of 10 Publisher: Bob Kruhm
Mission Statement
array of careers available in con- women business owners in the Car
Interim Editor: Mark Buckshon
- We are the Triangle/Triangle Construction News.
struction. The Charlotte and Raleigh olinas who each received $50,000
Contributing writers: Ellison Clary, Ron Chepesiuk,
We help to secure the ties that bind old
NAWIC chapters, for example, are and technical support through the
Gabriella Jacobs, Bea Quirk
Production/Design: Memo Productions, Raymond Leveille
and new relationships.
involved with programs that expose Make Mine A Million $ Business
Administration: Amada Arthurs
We provide word-of-mouth recommendations
students at the elementary, middle competition. “I’ve used the money Accounts and Finance: Sherri Gill
in print and on-line.
and high school levels to construc- to buy another field truck and pro-
We work as a team to help
tion careers and also award scholar
ISSN: 1940-3674 strengthen your team.
- ject laptops to help manage my
•
•
ships. CREW also awards an annual growth. More importantly, I have
Supporters of:
scholarship made some great relationships with
Other institutions are stepping other women entrepreneurs that
up, too. In Charlotte, Central Pied- have given me advice on everything
mont Community College (CPCC), from personnel issues to financing.”
in conjunction with Charlotte-Meck-
Printed in Canada
ASA Carolinas ABC Carolinas
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