WELCOME
TALLAHASSEE  Chapter #72
National Association of Women In Construction

NAWIC is an international association of women employed in the construction industry which promotes that industry and supports the advancement of women within it.

NAWIC Objectives

  • To unite for the mutual benefit of the women who are actively engaged in the various phases of the construction industry.
  • To promote cooperation, fellowship and a better understanding among members of the Association.
  • To promote education and contribute to the betterment of the construction industry.
  • To encourage women to pursue and establish careers in the construction industry.
  • To provide members an awareness of the legislative process and legislation as it relates to the construction industry.

History of NAWIC
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, founded on September 11, 1953 by Doris Efird and 15 other women who were looking for a support system.

These women were all actively employed in the construction industry and had been doing business with each other for years when they decided to finally meet face to face.  The founding members of Women in Construction of Fort Worth were Alice Ashley, Ida Mae Bagby, Carolyn Balcomb, Sue Bowling, Margaret Bubar, Margaret Cleveland, Era Dunn, Doris Efird, Rhonda Farrell, Hazel Floyd, Jimmie Blazier, Nina Ruth Jenkins, Ethel McKinney, Irene Moates, Mildred Tarter and Edna Mae Tucker.

This progressive group of women had the foresight to create an atmosphere where they could network and support each other professionally as well as personally.  This support system gae them the confidence to reach for and achieve their goals.

When describing this group of women, Alice Ashley said, "we were women with electricity in our veins, cement dust on our shoes, sawdust on our minds ... busy, busy, busy, filthy things."

In the first year of its existence, Women in Construction raised over $2,700 to donate to the Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children.  They wanted to branch out beyond Fort Worth in search of other women to join the organization, but they discovered the charter was not adequate and did not have the powers to organize other chapters.  Women in Construction of Fort Worth amended their charter to incorporate other chapters in Texas and throughout the nation.  In doing so, on May 17, 1955, they became The National Association of Women in Construction.

Advancements were made over the years with the inception of The NAWIC Image in 1969, the official publication detailing Association news.  In honor of the founding members, The NAWIC Founders Scholarship Foundation (NFSF) was created in 1961 to award scholarships to students pursuing construction-related studies.  The NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF), founded in 1972, developed programs to enrich the minds of children as well as adults.

As word of NAWIC spread, several foreign countries become interested in the cause to enhance the success of women in the  construction industry.  In 1996, NAWIC signed an International Affliliation Agreement with NAWIC-Australia.  In 1998, NAWIC signed an International Agreement with New Zealand and another in 1999 with South African Women in Construction (SAWIC).  In September 2003, NAWIC signed an International Affiliation Agreement with the United Kingdon.