National WCOE Women Construction Owners and Executives USA

We are extremely excited to add these incredible women to our Women in Construction Unite Leadership Summit in Washington DC! It's going to be amazing! ???? Only a few days left, GRAB Your Seat.. Register Now: https://lnkd.in/eEEwE-vA #womensupportingwomen #Women #Construction #Leadership #Summit #WashingtonDC

Keep making waves, Ines Rivas-Hutchins. We are proud to have you on our team! ?? ?? ?? ???

Meet Karen Barbour Karen Barbour Founder & President The Barbour Group LLC Karen Barbour began her surety career in 1987. In 2002, she founded The Barbour Group, LLC, a nationally licensed brokerage firm focused on construction bonding and advocacy. Barber's advocacy at the federal and state levels was instrumental in passing legislation that reduced obstacles and increased opportunities for small and minority construction firms, including the Subcontractors Equal Access to Bonding Act (2013) and the Change Order Fairness Act (2016). Barbour was recently appointed to the U.S. Small Business Association's National SBDC Advisory Board and the MAA (BWI) Small & Minority Business Advisory Council. In 2016, she co-founded the Alliance for Hispanic Commercial Contractors, a training and educational platform focused on procurement and fostering sustainable growth for Hispanic commercial contractors.

Get Ready to Unite, Build, and Thrive at the 2025 National Leadership Conference! March 23 - 25, 2025?? Willard InterContinental Hotel, Washington, D.C.? Hello WCOE Community,? Are you ready to step into a transformative experience that will elevate your business, expand your network, and amplify your voice in the construction industry? The Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) National Leadership Summit and Conference is just weeks away, and we’re calling on YOU to join us in Washington, D.C. for an unforgettable event! This isn’t just a conference—it’s a movement to unite women in construction, break barriers, and build a stronger future together.? ??♂? Why You Can’t Miss This Summit?? From March 23 to March 25, 2025, the Willard InterContinental Hotel will be the epicenter of inspiration, collaboration, and opportunity. Here’s what’s in store:? - Powerful Speakers: Hear from trailblazing leaders representing top women’s organizations across the country. They’re bringing game-changing insights to help you grow your business and navigate challenges.??? - Valuable Takeaways: Get practical strategies to generate more contracts, keep your business safe, and boost your bottom line. From legislative advocacy to lessons learned, this summit has it all.?? - A Unified Voice: WCOE is the voice for women in construction. Together, we’ll push for a level playing field and shape the future of our industry.? ??? What’s on the Agenda??? - Advocacy in Action: Discover our bold new national legislative agenda designed to open doors for women in construction.?? - Collaboration Central: Share best practices, spark ideas, and forge relationships that last beyond the event.?? - Business Growth Tools: Learn how to secure bigger contracts, protect your company, and thrive in a competitive landscape.? ?? Who’s Joining Us??? Our members—construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, designers, engineers, and suppliers—are the backbone of America’s infrastructure. Whether you’re building for federal agencies or private clients, this summit is your chance to connect with women who are shaping the industry from coast to coast. Plus, our corporate partners like LDE Compliance Consulting, DBC Construction, and Travelers Insurance will be there to support your success every step of the way.? ??? Be Part of the Movement?? Forty years ago, a group of fearless women came together to challenge the status quo and create WCOE. Today, we’re carrying that legacy forward—and we need YOU to help us keep the momentum going. This is your opportunity to:?? - Gain priceless insights from seasoned pros.?? - Build a network that opens doors.?? ? ? Register Now!?? Spots are filling up fast, and you don’t want to miss out. Join us at the Women Unite Summit and let’s build something extraordinary together.? [Click Here to Register at https://lnkd.in/eEEwE-vA]

Fellow Women Building America, ? 2025 has become a year of unprecedented change to the way we run our businesses and care for our families.?#WCOE has been committed for 40 years to continuing our outreach to elected officials so that the concerns and contributions of the more than 150,000 woman owned businesses in the construction industry are not forgotten or overlooked.?In January, the WCOE Board of Directors adopted policy positions that drive our efforts.? ? Core Objective:?Making a positive difference for women in the construction industry so there will come a time when gender ceases to be a business issue. ? Address Challenges to Women-Owned Small Businesses ?????????????- Women-owned Small Business (WOSB) Goals ?????????????- Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DOT DBE) Programs ?????????????- Access to Capital ? Support General Contracting Policies to Support Women-owned Construction Companies ?????????????- Compliance with Prompt Pay Act ?????????????- Reform Change Order Payments on Federal Contracts ?????????????- Maintain Bonding Requirements for Federal and Federally Assisted Infrastructure Projects ? WCOE invites you to join in making our voices heard by becoming a member and registering for our Summit in Washington, DC held March 23-25, 2025.?You can find us at www.womenbuildamerica.com. I look forward to seeing you there!

We are so proud of the great work being done by WCOE California ! Do you want to be a part of something bigger? Community, Connections, and Commitment. #wicweek

Because "Women in Construction" isn't just one week a year. Meet: Ida Brooker President and Owner Construction Consulting NorthWest Ida Brooker is the owner and president of Construction Consulting NorthWest, a mentoring firm for S/WBE firms in the construction industry. Previously, she served as the construction contract expert for The Boeing Company and collaborated with that firm for over 30 years. Her earlier positions included Chief Financial Officer at Hovick Construction Company. Brooker is serving as board president of the WCOE Resource Center and was a national past president and is a WCOE, USA charter member.

Happy " Women in Construction Week" Today's highlight is: Dana S. Thompson (Sr. Legislative Advisor) Women Construction Owners and Executives Dana Thompson serves as the Federal Government Relations Representative for Women Construction Owners and Executives. Thompson represented the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) on Capitol Hill and in a variety of construction industry coalitions for over 30 years, winning an award for her work on multiemployer pension policy from the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans. She was inducted into SMACNA's College of Fellows in recognition of service to the industry. Her background includes working for moderate Republican Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania and in the Governmental Affairs Department for the American Institute of Architects. Thompson is a native of the Great State of Texas but talks pretty fast for a Texan. She and her husband of 47 years reside in Maryland, are active in local community activities and have two adult daughters. We couldn't make changes for women without her!! Celebrate Dana today!! ??

Happy "Women in Construction Week" Today's highlight is: Lorraine D'Angelo (Past President, WCOE) President LDA Compliance Consulting, Inc. Lorraine D'Angelo is the President of LDA Compliance Consulting (LDACC) Inc., which promotes principled contracting in the construction industry and provides consulting services on all aspects of contractor compliance, monitoring, and reporting. D'Angelo is a leading expert on issues, programs, and policy implementation related to SBE, M/WBE, and DBE and frequently lectures and conducts training on regulatory and ethics compliance best practices. D'Angelo is an accredited ethics and compliance professional with over 30 years of experience in commercial and construction law litigation. In 2022, she was elected national president of WCOE and is widely recognized as a dynamic, forwardlooking executive and thought leader on ethics and compliance issues facing the construction industry. She serves as the Senior Policy Advisor for Women Builders Council, a New York-based trade association. We celebrate you today, Lorraine!!

Happy "Women in Construction Week" Lee Cunningham President BT Metal Sales Lee Cunningham is chair of the WCOE Legislative Committee and the CEO of BT Metal Sales, a 68-year-old family business founded by her father. Following her father's footsteps, Cunningham has expanded the company, supplying high-quality metal to the military, construction, and transportation industries. BT Metals is one of the country's few HUBZone-certified metals distributors. Cunningham's commitment to family and community and her staunch support for small businesses have made her a nationally recognized advocate for women in the construction industry. She is the chair of the General Services Small Business Council. She serves on the California High-Speed Rail Business Advisory Council, the Caltrans Small Business Council, and the Small Business Opportunities Advisory Panel for the Air Quality Board.