The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) held their eighth annual conference in Fort Worth , Texas during the week of March 6 to 12, 2005 . This conference is convened each year to increase the awareness of the importance of women in the construction industry. This national group is promoting construction as a career in general and attempting to recruit more women into the construction industry. National President Nancy Eaton states that there will be over 250,000 jobs available in the construction industry over the next four years. With this many jobs, the industry needs to recruit and train new workers, traditional or not.

The history of the National Association of Women in Construction began after WWII in 1953. In a time when skilled jobs were given mostly to men, a group of 15 women from Fort Worth started a membership assembly called "Women in Construction". Doris Efird led the group. As one of these construction-minded members stated, "We were women with electricity in our veins, cement dust on our shoes, [and] sawdust on our minds." Not long after, in 1955, the group expanded nationally and became NAWIC on May 17 of that year.

Today NAWIC has a membership of about 5,500 women spread among 185 chapters throughout the United States and two Canadian provinces. Over the years, NAWIC has signed affiliation agreements with similar organizations in New Zealand , South Africa , and Great Britain .

Several foundations and programs set up by original members of NAWIC are still in full force today. For example, the Founder's Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships to students in the study of construction-related careers. This foundation has awarded over $11 million since its humble beginnings in 1961. Also, some of NAWIC's more recognized initiatives are its national magazine, founded in 1969, and its education foundation for children and students, started in 1972. The education program encourages any student to pursue career opportunities in construction by achieving certification at Clemson University .

NAWIC~s objectives include the following:
- "To unite for the mutual benefit of the women who are
actively engaged in the various phases of the
construction industry."
- "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."

At the annual conference, the NAWIC awards recognize the achievements of both women in construction and those non-members who support the NAWIC objectives. This is the eleventh year for the Crystal Vision and Crystal Achievement awards. NAWIC started out as a support system for a small number of local women and has grown into an national group with international affiliations. Perhaps the group is correct in calling itself "the voice of women in construction."

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