MIDLAND – Associated Builders & Contractors Greater Michigan (ABC-GM), the Greater Michigan Construction Academy (GMCA) and LOGIC (Ladies Operating for Growth in Construction) are bringing Build Like a Girl to the Great Lakes Bay Region 5:30 PM Wednesday, February 19, at the Great Hall, 5121 Bay City Road, Midland.
The purpose of this event is to introduce young women, in grades five through 12 to career opportunities in the construction industry. Participants will hear from local employers and influential women in construction to gauge if a career in construction would be a great fit. This unique workforce development program is aimed to help empower young women to step into unique roles they may not have previously considered. The objective is to educate young girls of lucrative STEM careers in the construction industry. Contractors and suppliers will offer hands-on activities, they will learn about the education needed, how to gain confidence in a male populated industry and will gain insight from women who are in the industry through a panel discussion.
“Build Like a Girl strives to empower and educate young girls by providing opportunities to explore the construction industry through interactive experiences and guidance from successful women in the field. The hands-on activities at the company booths help inspire confidence, showing girls they are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to,” said Cathy Geiger, director of marketing and community affairs at Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Greater Michigan chapter.
Event organizers are seeking companies to host booths at the event. Participation is free, but companies must be contractors or suppliers in the construction industry. Each booth is required to feature a hands-on activity, offering attendees a chance to experience what it’s like to work with their hands in their respected trade.
Attendees will receive a t-shirt, a truck hat (provided by our “Hard Hat” sponsor Three Rivers Corporation), a bag and swag from Build Your Future (BYF) and other companies. To ensure organizers have your preferred size, register by January 19.
This event is made possible through financial and in-kind sponsors including: Alloy Construction Service, Inc.; Bierlein-Trombley Electric; Blasy Electric, Inc.; Conti; Great Lakes Safety Training Center; Moltus Building Group; Niles Plant Services; Jolt Credit Union; Hunter Panels and Hunter Xci; BYF; Lead; Pumford Construction; DowBuilt; Sugar Construction, Inc.; The State Bank; Three Rivers Corporation; Valley Electrical Contractors, Inc.; Windemuller; and Wolgast Corporation. The sponsorship deadline is January 17. The committee is also looking for in-kind sponsors and prizes if organizations are interested in participating in this way.
The committee is also seeking in-kind sponsors and prize donations for organizations interested in contributing to the event.
See ABC’s website (https://www.abcgmc.org/build-like-a-girl/) for details, more information and to register for this exciting event. If you would like to have a booth, a sponsorship or make a prize donation, reach out to Geiger at cgeiger@abcgmc.org for more information.
The Greater Michigan Construction Academy is a 501c3 non-profit organization, a nationally certified training program using the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum making the training portable nationwide for students completing modules. The curriculum is recognized by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Training. GMCA’s mission is to train and develop a highly skilled, safe workforce and promote construction trades as a career choice.
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) is a national trade association with 22,000 members representing more than 19,000 construction and industry-related firms. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 67 chapters help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. You can learn about ABC National at www.abc.org. ABC Greater Michigan Chapter serves a membership spanning 23 counties. ABC-GMC provides craft and professional education, up-to-date industry communication, and legislative representation. For more information contact us at 989.374.4600 or www.abcgmc.org.
LOGIC (Ladies Operating for Growth in Construction) is a peer group for women in construction lead by ABC Greater Michigan. LOGIC represents the interests of women within the construction industry and assists with increasing the quality and availability of resources to women that will promote a positive image to other women within and outside of the industry. Its vision is to assist women who are presently in the industry though education, community, and networking, and to provide a channel for women to enter the industry workforce.