MBI BuildHer

Overview

MBI BuildHer is about strengthening and uplifting women connected to the Commercial Construction Industry. Bringing together women with everyday influence, to know and activate their purpose, to gain benefit from the learning and sponsorship of others and to create strong relationships and connections.

Women comprise 8.7 percent of Iowa’s construction workforce and that percentage and puts Iowa 3^rd lowest in the U.S.  In today's workforce, women can be found at all levels within our member companies, from CEO or HR manager, customer service, shop supervisor, field engineer, Superintendent, accounting department or office manager. While they may not always wear a hard hat, they are a critical member of the team and contribute to the success of each and every project built or service delivered.

By focusing on professional learning, sponsorship and service, the MBI BuildHer initiative aims to create a supportive environment where women can thrive personally and professionally. Providing the exposure to unleash the potential of women in our industry is a team effort – meaning men and women must create the environment for this to take place. Resources and support to attract and retain women in the industry will be provided at the individual and company level.

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MBI BuildHer Partnership Opportunities

Program Details

MBI BuildHer is about strengthening and uplifting women connected to the Commercial Construction Industry. Bringing together women with everyday influence, to know and activate their purpose, to gain benefit from the learning and sponsorship of others and to create strong relationships and connections.

Women comprise 8.7 percent of Iowa’s construction workforce and that percentage and puts Iowa 3^rd lowest in the U.S.  In today's workforce, women can be found at all levels within our member companies, from CEO or HR manager, customer service, shop supervisor, field engineer, Superintendent, accounting department or office manager. While they may not always wear a hard hat, they are a critical member of the team and contribute to the success of each and every project built or service delivered.

By focusing on professional learning, sponsorship and service, the MBI BuildHer initiative aims to create a supportive environment where women can thrive personally and professionally. Providing the exposure to unleash the potential of women in our industry is a team effort – meaning men and women must create the environment for this to take place. Resources and support to attract and retain women in the industry will be provided at the individual and company level.

January 29, 2026 | VIRTUAL EVENT

Presenter: Rachel Kennedy, Southern Lighthouse - Dallas, TX

Be Workforce Ready: Become an Employer of Choice, a virtual MBI BuildHer session led by Rachel Kennedy of Southern Lighthouse (Dallas, Texas), will equip participants with the strategies they need to stand out in today’s competitive talent market. This session reveals why top candidates choose competitors, how to strengthen your employer brand, and what signals your organization is sending to potential hires. Participants will audit their own talent touchpoints—including an interactive career page review—identify barriers and quick wins, and learn five proven attraction strategies that help companies draw diverse, high-quality candidates. Attendees will walk away with practical, immediately actionable tactics and real success stories that show how to build a reputation as a true employer of choice. 

April 2, 2026 - Iowa City, IA 

Presenters: Chelsea Husum, American GPR & Coring - Denver, CO | Courtney Misener - Cedar Rapids, IA

The MBI BuildHer event in Iowa City, Iowa, will equip participants with practical tools to communicate with clarity, adapt to diverse work styles, and lead with emotional intelligence. Chelsea Husum’s session focuses on real-world strategies for adjusting communication across roles and identities, giving feedback that builds trust, and fostering inclusive team alignment and performance. Courtney Misener’s session expands on this by demystifying emotional intelligence and helping leaders strengthen self-awareness, manage emotions more effectively, and communicate with empathy. Together, the sessions offer actionable guidance for building stronger, more collaborative teams where people feel heard, valued, and motivated to contribute. 

June 4, 2026 - VIRTUAL EVENT

Presenter: Courtney Misener - Cedar Rapids, IA

Boundaries 101: Healthier Relationships through Self-Awareness, a virtual MBI BuildHer session led by Courtney Misener, will help participants build healthier personal and professional relationships by understanding their own boundary styles and recognizing when those boundaries are being challenged. Through practical guidance and real-world communication strategies, attendees will learn how to set, maintain, and reinforce boundaries with clarity, confidence, and empathy. Whether you’re seeking greater authenticity, improved wellbeing, or more respectful interactions at work and home, this session offers impactful tools to support your growth. 

August 6, 2026 - VIRTUAL EVENT

Presenter: Dr. Sharon Grossman, Turnkey Retention Solutions | Surfside, FL

The Burnout Solution: Rewiring the Thoughts That Keep You Stuck in Exhaustion with Dr. Sharon Grossman empowers professionals to break free from the internal pressures that fuel burnout—like perfectionism, self-criticism, and anxiety-driven overthinking. Drawing from her Exhausted to Extraordinary (E2E) framework, Dr. Grossman offers practical, research-backed tools to disrupt negative thought patterns, shift stress perceptions, and rebuild a healthier sense of self-worth. Participants will learn the powerful 3 Cs Technique to challenge unhelpful thinking, reframe workplace demands as opportunities rather than threats, and begin transforming limiting beliefs through self-compassion and personalized affirmations. This session provides the mindset and skills needed to restore energy, increase resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change—regardless of external pressures. 

September 24, 2026 - Ames, IA 

Presenters: Coty Fournier, Well Built Construction Consulting - Parkton, MD |  Amy Roosa, The Safety Rack - Ames, IA 

The MBI BuildHer event in Ames, Iowa, will focus on transforming how professionals influence change, lead authentically, and advocate for themselves within the construction industry. Coty Fournier highlights the five essential mind-shifts that top change agents make to elevate their careers, strengthen teams, and drive industry-wide improvement—offering surprising insights, universal applicability, and simple first steps for putting these shifts into action. Building on this theme of personal impact, Amy Roosa emphasizes how small, intentional actions—like clearer communication, confident language choices, and healthy boundaries—can create powerful outcomes without requiring a dramatic personality change. Together, the sessions provide practical, empowering strategies for shaping your career, leading with clarity, and building a more effective and resilient presence in your company and the industry. 

December 3, 2026 - Cedar Rapids, IA 

Presenters: Nicole Christy, N. Christy Consulting, LLC - Kansas City, MO | Jamie O'Brien, J O'Brien Coaching, LLC - Odessa, MO 

The MBI BuildHer event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Build Better Teams: Interrupt Bias and Improve Team Outcomes will empower participants to strengthen team culture, performance, and trust by understanding and addressing unconscious bias. Led by Nicole Christy and Jamie O’Brien, this event explores how bias influences collaboration, productivity, and retention—and the real costs it creates for organizations. Participants will learn practical, evidence-based strategies to interrupt bias in everyday situations, from talent planning and delegation to hiring, meetings, and project assignments. Through real-world examples and actionable tools, attendees will leave equipped to build more inclusive, high-performing teams that drive better business outcomes. 

Overview

Join this committee to further the association’s focus on the inclusion efforts of females within the commercial construction industry. Information and data gathered is to establish and maintain a culture that supports diversity in our industry by encouraging activities that remove barriers in our workforce.

Visit the Committee Page

Overview

MBI Commitment to Advancing Women in the Workforce Pledge

As a member of Master Builders of Iowa (MBI), we pledge to actively promote and support the inclusion and advancement of women in the commercial construction workforce. We recognize that an inclusive workforce strengthens our industry and drives success for all. By signing this pledge, we commit to the following actions:

1. Promote Equal Opportunities
   We will create and maintain an environment where women have equal access to career opportunities at every level, from entry-level positions to leadership roles.
2. Encourage Women in Skilled Trades
   We will actively encourage and support the recruitment of women into skilled trades and field roles, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary training, resources, and mentorship to succeed.
3. Provide Professional Development
   We will offer professional development, sponsorship, and networking opportunities that help women in our workforce grow their skills and advance in their careers, both within our company and the industry at large.
4. Foster a Respectful and Inclusive Culture
   We will foster a workplace culture that is respectful, inclusive, and free of harassment, where all employees, regardless of gender, feel valued and supported.
5. Ensure Pay Equity
   We will commit to pay equity, ensuring that women receive fair and equal compensation for their work, and that compensation is based on skills, experience, and performance.
6. Create Leadership Opportunities
   We will actively work to create leadership opportunities for women, ensuring that they have a seat at the table in decision-making processes at all levels of our organization.
7. Raise Awareness and Advocate for Change
   We will raise awareness of the importance of women in construction and advocate for changes within our industry that will lead to a more inclusive workforce.

By signing this pledge, we commit to not only attracting more women into our workforce but also supporting their growth and success in the construction industry. Together, we will work to create a stronger, more inclusive future for Iowa's commercial construction workforce.

These are the companies that have pledged their commitment to MBI's BuildHer initiative.

A-1 Mobile Storage Service
Acme Electric Company
AGC of the Quad Cities
AT&T
Baker Group
Basepoint Building Automations
Best Portable Toilets
Breiholz Construction
BrownWinick Law Firm
Build the QC
Bush Construction
Cardinal Construction
Carl A. Nelson & Company
Carroll Construction Supply
Carroll Supply
Conlon Construction
Creative Planning
CW Suter
Dakota Red
Dean Snyder Construction
Design Build Structures
Dillon Construction LLC
Elder Corporation
Equitable Advisors
Estes Construction
General Constructors, Inc.
Glosser System Installers
Grubbs
Henkel Construction Company
Hildreth Construction Services
Holmes Murphy
HPC LLC
Hubbell Construction Services
Hy-Vee Construction
IMAG Construction Services, Inc.
JE Dunn Construction
King's Material, Inc.
McClure Engineering
McGough
Modern
Mortenson
Nelson Construction & Development
Nelson Electric Co. LC
Neumann Brothers
PDM
Peters Construction Corporation
Portzen Construction
Quinn Equipment
Rapids Foodservice
Rinderknecht Associates Inc.
River Cities Engineering
Russell
Ryan Companies US Inc.
Schumacher Elevator Company
Seedorff Masonry, Inc.
Star Equipment, Ltd.
Studio192
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
The Rasmussen Group
The Weitz Company
Tri-City Electric Co.
Tri-City Group
Trinity Electric
Turner Construction
United Rentals
W.R. Meadows
WA Klinger
Weitz
Weitz Industrial
Wendler
White Cap
Wolf Construction Services, Inc.