Barb Lau Christensen

Association of Women Contractors

Association of Women Contractors

The Association of Women Contractors (AWC) provides support to women business owners in the construction industry. AWC was founded in 1995 by a group of pioneering women to assist women succeed in a male-dominated industry. Women Business Owner (WBO) members are General Contractors, Specialty Contractors and Material Suppliers who own, control and manage the day to day operations of their businesses.

Women/Minority Contractors Barriers to Success

o Access to Opportunityo Current Size and Capacity o Education and Trainingo Bonding and Cash Flowo Agency Enforcement

AWC Activities

o Co-Facilitator of the City of St. Paul’s Construction Partnering Program pairing Large Contractors with Small Women and Minority Businesses.

o Represents Women Business Owners with Government Agencies

o Notifies members of Educational and Training opportunities with organization partners and government agencies

Education and Trainingo AWC hosts three full day workshops

annually ~ free to AWC and NAMC Members. These workshop topics have been requested by members or are timely in nature.

o AWC shares partnering organization’s education calendars with members to provide additional opportunities for learning.

Bonding and Cash Flow

o AWC offers education on Insurance and Bonding for its members.

o AWC works with outside organizations to provide bonding training.

o AWC provides its members information about a variety of working capital loans and other financing organizations and options.

Agency Enforcemento AWC represents women and minority

business interests on a number of committees for publicly funded projects where goals are set.

o AWC currently heads a good faith efforts committee for Mn/DOT to work toward increasing participation of DBEs.

o Assists members with certification for a larger pool of certified firms.

Access to Opportunity

o Networking and relationship building assistance through the following:o General Contractor Open Houseso General Contractor Round Tableo Networking Events, including golf, holiday, and summer fun

events.

o Invitations to Bid sent to our membershipo General Contractor Opportunitieso Public Bid Opportunities i.e. City of St. Paul’s DemandStar o Direct Referrals

Access to Opportunity

o Bidding Links on AWC websiteo Developing partnerships with

organizations that can assist our members