We are thrilled to introduce RISE (Redefining Industry Standards for Equality) – formerly known as our Women in construction group. RISE aims to support those who consider themselves minorities in the construction industry by offering support, tools, and encouragement as our team members navigate challenges both professionally and personally.
Amber Schnader, co-leader of RISE, shares the story behind RISE and how it promotes equality and support for Warfel team members:
History
Forming an employee resource group for the women at our company was at the back of my mind for a few years. In 2022, we made that a reality. Our women’s group rebranded to RISE in early 2024. RISE stands for Redefining Industry Standards for Equality, a name selected to promote parity between everyone working in the industry. For me personally, the catalyst for developing resources and support for women was the birth of my first child, nine years into my career. The challenging transition to becoming a working parent was unexpected for me. I don’t want other women to struggle with that transition as much as I did. My counterpart, Casi Babinchak, our Facilities Manager, joined me in facilitating our RISE group this year. We are looking forward to a fantastic year of collaboration, skill-building, motivation, and mentoring for the group members.
Purpose & Vision
The purpose of RISE is to provide support to those who consider themselves to be a minority in the construction industry. We want to foster a sense of community for people who may feel singled out in most of their day-to-day interactions. As of the latest industry data, women make up only 11% of the construction industry, despite the female gender making up 47% of the workforce (1). This means women are faced with more obstacles as they climb in their careers than their male counterparts because the situations they encounter due to gender can be different.
The vision for RISE is to:
- Encourage, advocate, educate, and support individuals who consider themselves to be minorities.
- Guide one another as they navigate professional and personal challenges, and pave the way for those who will follow.
- Break barriers to equality in the industry.
What’s To Come
For 2024, Casi and I are very excited about the outlook for RISE. In January, we did a skills workshop on Developing Trust on Teams. In Q2, we have a speaker joining us to discuss resilience and overcoming fears. Later in the year, we are going to have a team building event and a volunteer event. One other opportunity we are pursuing for the year, is scheduling a company event to be sponsored by RISE, that will provide an opportunity for the men in the company to learn about being allies and sponsors for their female coworkers.
Amber Schnader, Senior Cost Manager
Learn more about Warfel: https://www.warfelcc.com/clients-for-life/
Sources: https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm
