National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more.
NAWIC helps women take advantage of the opportunities in construction. Whether you want to embark on a new career, establish a networking base, be a mentor or mentee, make a difference in your community, continue your education or invest in great friendships, NAWIC offers a variety of opportunities — large and small.
Each region is made up of several local chapters. Columbus Chapter #86 is part of the North Central Region, formerly known as Region 4.
“Women Can Wear Hard Hats, Too”
The NAWIC Columbus Chapter was chartered in April of 1964. The chapter was established by Dorothy Combs, who discovered NAWIC while she was reading the September 1963 issue of Engineering News Record. There was an article entitled “Women Can Wear Hard Hats, Too”, and Dorothy contacted the national president at the time, Lettie Nixon of Atlanta Georgia. After receiving more information about starting a local chapter, Dorothy met with Millie Bolen to seek her help with chartering the Columbus chapter. The first meeting was held in February of 1964, with 41 women in attendance at the Columbus Athletic Club. A motion to organize was made and carried unanimously.
Today, we are an organization of women employed in many facets of the construction industry. We have participated, attend numerous function and served on roles on national, regional, and local levels. We have sponsored various industry seminars on topics including blueprint reading, prevailing wage requirements, safety, and landscape design. We gather on the third Wednesday of each month and enjoy listening to speakers and participating in programs to improve our careers and our personal lives.
NAWIC helps women take advantage of the opportunities in construction. Whether you want to embark on a new career, establish a networking base, be a mentor or mentee, make a difference in your community, continue your education or invest in great friendships, NAWIC offers a variety of opportunities — large and small.
Over the course of the year, our chapter hosts and participates in several events. The NAWIC calendar begins in October. Each month, we host a general meeting for our members and guests to attend. These meetings provide women the opportunity to increase knowledge of the industry, further their professional development, and network with women in the Columbus area. Beyond our chapter, regional and national host that allow members to meet women from the all over the country.
For more information about the National Association of Women in Construction, please visit their website NAWIC.ORG