WEBINARS FROM WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK
Que Alicea , CEO of Q & A Consulting , LLC , shared that while initially men might not take her as seriously , once they see that she has expertise in her field , then they realize , “ okay , she knows her stuff .”
President & CEO of TriCore Panels , Inc ., Misha Homara , said that knowing what makes you unique and how you can make your clients ’ lives easier are key in standing out from the competition . As an example , she said that her company owns all of its own equipment , which is something that general contractors love to hear .
Asked about specific challenges experienced as women in construction , the panelists shared the need for self-advocacy , mutual support and encouragement , particularly – as Sommer pointed out – for those rare women who are coming up from working in the field to start their own businesses .
Homara said that her company is trying to make space in the field for women by creating internships and educating young women on the opportunities that exist for them , as well as “ training and teaching our own team members . There ’ s an organization called Tools & Tiaras and their slogan is ‘ Be That Guy .’ So if you see women on the field and you don ’ t see a porta-potty [ designated ] for women , speak up […]. If you see interaction in the field that you know is not okay , speak up . We ’ re teaching our people that someone has to be that change .” Using one ’ s awareness to bring women ’ s needs to the forefront helps ensure that women aren ’ t overlooked during job site planning . own experience , including the importance of building relationships with community banks to access financing options and secure lines of credit , learning how to organize your record-keeping and financials to qualify for bonding , and making use of subconsultants and agencies like Norcal Apex Accelerator , the Small Business Association ( SBA ), Women Construction Owners & Executives ( WCOE ), the Contractor Technical Assistance Program and others to assist your business in areas that are not your expertise .
Although women still face challenges in the construction industry , this webinar illustrated how women can be successful by applying their innate abilities , building relationships with peers , collaborating with professionals in other areas ( such as banking , bonding , insurance and law ), and seeking assistance from agencies that exist to support womenowned and other underrepresented small contractors and businesses .
This webinar can be viewed online .
Throughout this educational presentation , each of these successful business owners shared insights and strategies from her
FIRST QUARTER 2024 CTAP CONTRACTOR REPORT - 21