TUCKER PAVING, INC., is pleased to help bring additional attention to a fairly new national observance — Women in Construction Week. This year, the observance began Sunday, March 5, and it continues through Saturday, March 11.

As with many industries and professions, construction no longer is just a “guy thing.” Women increasingly are joining America’s construction workforce — as designers, planners, project managers, inspectors, light equipment and heavy equipment operators, drivers and haulers, and even as hard hat-wearing laborers on the job sites.

Women also are being seen more frequently as construction company owners. A good local example of this is Built by Waters, Inc. (builtbywaters.com), a very successful Winter Haven-based company. Known primarily as a high-quality builder of custom luxury homes, Built by Waters is owned by Lori Waters. A second-generation builder, Lori founded her company in 1995.

According to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), “The focus of Women in Construction (WIC) Week is to highlight women as a visible 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 good time for local (NAWIC) chapters to give back to their communities.”

NAWIC has been the lead sponsoring organization for WIC Week since the observance began in 1997. NAWIC’s motto is “NAWIC Builds Leaders. Your Education. Your Career. Your Future.” There are eight NAWIC chapters in Florida, with the two closest to Polk County being located in Tampa and Orlando. Learn more at https://www.nawic.org. The NAWIC also has a site on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nawicnational.