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Wilson Lumber Company, based in Huntsville, Alabama, is hosting its third annual Women in Construction Week (WIC) luncheon on March 7.
Running from March 3-8, WIC week was established in 1998 by the National Association of Women in Construction. WIC week raises awareness of opportunities in the construction industry, addresses challenges for some women and enacts change in those areas.
“This started as a way to celebrate our female workforce in a male-dominated industry,” says Sallie Keene Denton, business development representative for Wilson Lumber. “We wanted to create an event to celebrate the different ways women contribute in our industry and show the opportunities for women.”
Wilson Lumber’s workforce is made up of 27% women, 16% higher than the 2022 national industry average of around 11%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Females in the construction industry is a growing number, and this event is a way to celebrate that growth,” Denton says.
Denton says the event started with just Wilson Lumber employees and customers and this year, they are bringing in more females outside of their company for the luncheon. This year, Denton expects more than 70 women to attend.
Taking feedback from prior luncheons, Denton added in extra time for networking prior to the keynote speaker. Alicia Huey, president and founder of AGH Homes Inc., is this year’s keynote speaker. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Huey will be speaking about how she found her career in the home building industry later in life.
“We’re trying to grow it every year,” Denton says. “We hope to outgrow our space and keep this going for our employees and keep it at the heart of celebration for our female workforce and women in the construction industry.”
