Equity & Inclusion

The Musings of a Fenestration Industry Worker and New Mother: An Update

“Well, I slept in a crib last night,” I responded to the inquiry of how everyone was doing at the start of our meeting. My husband and I have never done the co-sleeping thing with our baby, but there are times when I am just too tired to rock my daughter in the nursery chair, and instead opt to…

Next-Gen Construction

The changing workforce prioritizes career development above nearly all else. Investing in your employees and implementing technology are two notable ways to give your business a competitive edge.

Industry Leaders Discuss the Business of DEIB

Industry experts, hosted by NGA Operations Manager Alicia Hamilton, explored diversity, inclusion and what it means for business, in the keynote panel “Building Better Business through DEIB,” presented on the GlassBuild Main Stage. The conversation looked at what that belonging can look like…

Join the Conversation: Women in Fenestration

The National Glass Association and the National Fenestration Rating Council have combined efforts and formed the Women in Fenestration LinkedIn group to support women in the fenestration industry. This group provides a platform for women to connect and share resources.

NCCER Compiles Paper on Experiences of Women in Industry

The National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) interviewed tradeswomen and analyzed responses to a survey directed to women in the industry for a white paper called "In Her Own Words: Improving Project Outcomes", which will assist employers with recruiting, hiring and…

Women in Glass: In Her Words

Lindsey Rowe Parker is the marketing director at Rowe Renestration and NAWIC's Sacramento Marketing Chair. She's been with Rowe Fenestration for six years, has 15 years' marketing experience and is a self-professed lifetime #glassnerd. Lindsey took some time to share her thoughts about women in…

Childcare, Flexibility and DEI in Manufacturing

Women have tremendous power to close the manufacturing skills gap, but barriers remain, preventing women from entering—and staying—in the industry.

NAHB Urges Congress to Take Steps to Get More Women in the Workforce

To get more women working in the residential construction sector and overall workforce, lawmakers must pursue flexible, targeted and incentive-based strategies to tackle the high cost of childcare and availability of paid leave, the National Association of Home Builders told Congress.

Women In Fenestration: Joining Voices to Benefit the Industry

Meeting in groups offers a place for people to regroup and connect. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and return to some semblance of normalcy, an authentic and supportive connection can go a long way to inspire and empower us for what comes next.

Want Women in Your Workplace? Be Flexible

Labor is a perennial issue in the glass and fenestration industries, further exacerbated recently by supply chain and logistical issues. The need to recruit and retain workers is urgent. One part of the labor pool remains underrepresented: women. No one is perhaps more aware of this than Allison…

Andersen Again Named One of America's Best Employers for Diversity

"We are deeply committed to being an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees feel respected, valued and driven to reach their full potential," says Tracey Gibson, vice president and chief diversity officer at Andersen.

Diversifying the Construction Industry

To increase the number of females in the industry, we must discuss the more ambitious goal of diversifying our workforce by attracting females into the construction industry.

Women in Fenestration: Why it Matters, How to Encourage Growth

The BLS estimates 375,000 more manufacturing jobs will be added in the next 12 months. With reports of employee shortages, it makes sense for women to consider these typically “male” jobs and for employers to determine whether recruitment strategies are reaching all capable, qualified workers.

Renewal by Andersen Wins Twin Cities Business Manufacturing Excellence Award

Specifically, Renewal by Andersen was honored for its investment in creating a program for emerging, diverse leaders.

Andersen Designated as ‘Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality’ from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

This is Andersen’s second year participating in the CEI and the first year the company earned the top score of 100 percent. Andersen joins more than 840 major U.S. businesses with the 2022 designation.

Tracey Gibson, VP and Chief Diversity Officer at Andersen, Honored with Women in Business Award

As vice president and chief diversity officer, Gibson accelerates Andersen's work to foster an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees feel respected, valued and driven to realize their full potential.

Two Simple, but Not Easy, Priorities

There are two closely related leadership priorities that can help companies to recruit and retain employees, improve engagement and profitability, and keep workers safe. One: promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace; two: address racism and discriminatory practices on the job.

The Home Depot Foundation, Home Builders Institute Partner with 100 Black Men of America to Provide Skilled Trades Training

The Home Depot Foundation and its trades training nonprofit partner, Home Builders Institute, are launching a strategic partnership with 100 Black Men of America Inc. intended to increase skilled trades training and career opportunities for Black youth. 

Andersen Joins Human Rights Campaign's Business Coalition for the Equality Act

Andersen joins a growing coalition of companies calling for the urgent passage of the Equality Act — federal legislation that would address the country's civil rights laws by including explicit protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, as well as improve…

Utah Home Highlights Women in All Stages of the Construction Project

The Utah chapter of the National Home Builders Association Professional Women in Building Council is designing and constructing a home led by a female skilled labor team in Saratoga Springs, Utah. The 3,200-square-foot home, "The House That SHE Built," is slated to be unveiled at the 2021 Utah…

Forbes Names Andersen a Best Employer for Diversity 2021

Forbes recognized Andersen Corp. as a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity 2021. The honorees were chosen based on an independent survey by Statista Inc. in which respondents answered questions regarding the topics of age, gender equality, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQA+ and general diversity…

By the Numbers: Women in Manufacturing

Women are underrepresented in the manufacturing industry. Despite accounting for just under half of the overall workforce, women lag in manufacturing. Here is a close-up look at the representation of women in manufacturing, according to a 2020 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a…

By the Numbers: Women in the Pandemic Workforce

The pandemic has hit women in the workforce particularly hard. Participation of women in the workforce is at its lowest rate since 1988 due to a combination of factors, from school closures to women-dominated industries such as hospitality suffering most during COVID.

NAHB Forms Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force

The National Association of Home Builders formed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force to review and establish best practices for developing and sustaining policies designed to enhance a diverse and inclusive membership that is representative and reflective of all communities that seek the…

How to Support Women Working in the Pandemic

Recruiting and retaining a more gender-diverse workforce has been a longtime concern for the construction industry. Now, it is possible the gains that have been made could be threatened by the pandemic; more than a quarter of women are considering leaving the workforce, temporarily or…

By the Numbers: Women in Construction

For this Women in Construction week, check out the latest stats on the state of women in the construction industry.

Diversify Your Workforce

A lot of hiring happens because people know people, which is good in some ways, but it also means people often hire those who think like them.

The Opportunity for Women in Fenestration

This week is the National Association of Women in Construction’s Women in Construction Week, an annual event the first week of March that aims to promote women as a viable component of the industry. Although women comprise about 47 percent of the total U.S. workforce, construction is made up of…

Strategies For Success

Women are vastly underrepresented in construction. Although women comprise 47 percent of the total U.S. workforce, they represent only 9 percent of the construction workforce. With construction experiencing such an intense labor shortage, opportunities for women abound.

The Return of Rosie

The skills gap means that six out of 10 manufacturing positions are currently unfilled, which translates to some two million manufacturing jobs that may go begging over the next decade. One critical element that can aid in closing the gap remains largely untapped: women. The challenge is how.

Creating a Culture of Gender Diversity

A plurality of voices across the manufacturing and construction industries have underlined the need to tap underrepresented labor pools, the largest of which is women. While the number of women in construction and manufacturing has generally been on the rise since the end of the Great…