Professional Women in Building celebrates Women in Construction Week

VANCOUVER, Wash. March 11, 2024 – Professional Women in Building Clark County (PWB)
honored 10 women in the construction industry at its inaugural Pink Hard Hat Awards (PHHA)
dinner. Pink Hard Hat Awards were presented for design, innovation, leadership, and advocacy.

Pink Hard Hat Awards winners included Alexa Lee of GRO as Industry Champion, Erin Wriston,
Owner of Kingston Homes as Industry Trailblazer, and Elizabeth Gomez, Owner of Bridge City
Contracting won the Community Leadership award.

“I do this work because I truly love it and this industry,” stated Erin Wriston, 2023 Builder of the
Year and PHHA Industry Trailblazer. “It is an honor to be named as Industry Trailblazer by my
peers. This inaugural class of Pink Hard Hat Award winners highlights that women are taking
new ground in the construction industry.”

Women in Construction Week focused on the achievements of women in the industry. Currently,
women hold 10 percent of construction jobs in the U.S. and own 13 percent of construction
companies worldwide. Even as the involvement of women grows, there continues to be a
shortage of 500,000 construction workers nationwide. Professional Women in Building is shining
a light on the workforce gap while offering support and opportunities for women working in or
pursuing careers in construction.

“When you consider our housing challenges including stock shortages and affordability, it is an
all hands on deck issue,” said Elizabeth Gomez, Owner of Bridge City Contracting and 2024
Community Leadership award recipient. “As more and more women realize the opportunity in
this industry, we will see new perspectives, strategies, and technologies emerge as solutions for
our community.”

More than 20 women from approximately 15 businesses in the construction space throughout
Clark County were nominated to receive a 2024 Pink Hard Hat Award. Two powerful duos took
joint awards. Emily Powers and Allyson Strowbridge of A&E Design Lab were recognized as
Women of Design and Deanna Haake and Jaima Johnson of Chicago Fidelity Title won Women
of Development. Jerai Laird of New Tradition Homes took home Woman of Innovation and
Hayden Calton of Blaze Restoration was recognized as the Up and Comer. The event
committee honored Noelle Lovern of the Building Industry Association as The Facilitator for her
work with PWB and in the industry.

“It is an honor to work with each of the women in our PWB council,” said Candace Hanks,
Administrative Director of Pacific Crest Building Supply and Chair of PWB Clark County. “A big
congratulations to all our Pink Hard Hat winners. I invite everyone to come checkout PWB and
learn more about our programs and initiatives.”

For information about Professional Women of Clark County, contact Noelle Lovern at
noelle@biaofclarkcounty.org.

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The Building Industry Association (BIA) of Clark County is a nonprofit trade association
representing the interests of all businesses involved with real estate, land development,
homebuilding, and construction.