PWC doubleheader hits a home run with Trade Show and Recruitment Fair

The Professional Women in Construction (PWC) National Trade Show and Professional Recruitment Fair - aka The BIG Show - recently held at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, presented a blockbuster doubleheader: plentiful B-to-B industry networking at a trade show showcasing the region's major construction companies and public agencies plus leading small, woman and minority-owned businesses and, in adjacent quarters, numerous recruiters from the public and private sectors offering meaningful opportunities to a diverse selection of highly qualified candidates. "It was a win-win situation for all," said PWC president Lenore Janis. Gwendolyn Colbert Kushner, the event chair, noted, "People understand the need to see and be seen, now more than ever." The event's honored guests offered an upbeat take, despite the challenges of the current market. Richard Anderson, president of the New York Building Congress said, "In fact, 2008 is turning out to be the best year for C & D activity and the outlook is for less of a slowdown in NYC than other areas. We are hopeful we'll see just a moderation of the white hot construction, not a decline. We need to also work with public agencies and stimulate private work." Ruth Hassell-Thompson, NYS Senator, 36th District, thanked PWC for "supporting this industry since the 1980s." Noting that "Lenore [Janis] has made sure issues for WBEs stay on the front burner" she said, "It's a difficult economy - but the state will not relax its commitment to W/MBEs." State Senate Minority Leader, Malcolm Smith, said, "We're on the brink of ushering in a new era in state government. This is [a time] to be creative and develop new paradigms of...business ... to work together and remember that we are all connected." Maureen Henegan, chairman and CEO of Henegan Construction, the largest WBE in the metro area, praised the events saying, "We're experiencing today what PWC does best -finding managerial opportunities for women in construction." Trade Show exhibitors were enthusiastic: Jesus Misas, mechanical engineer, Nova Consulting, pointed out, "Events like this give us the opportunity to meet more companies, to expand our possibilities." Kay Lee, SimplexGrinnell, agreed, "In difficult times, it's more important to be active and promote opportunities. Women need to learn about the procurement process, be on the bidders list. PWC helps women find a niche." Frank Kole, acct. exec., AIA New Dimensions in Marketing, noted, "This is a way to keep your name in front of clients and prospective clients. We never hold back in a soft economy." Jayne Millard Clark, vice president marketing, Turtle & Hughes, was clear, "We're finding minority and women vendors to fold into our supply chain." Judith Juback, president, Keynote Connections, didn't mince words, "This event is always financially successful for us." Johnson Controls, Scott Brady, general mgr, praised the event, saying, "There are so many companies to meet [represented by] interesting people from diverse fields in the construction arena." At the adjacent Recruitment Fair the kudos were constant. Elvira Alexander, HR assistant, DASNY, said, "I'm pleased with the turnout. We're meeting lots of people, including seasoned professionals." Lynnette Walker, NYCDOB, agreed, "This is a good way for us to find people. It's been excellent." Carolyn Mandaro, corporate recruiter, Tishman, said, "We've found quite a few good people, some of whom are employed and looking for a back up plan. It's wise to educate yourself about the marketplace and prepare for what may lie ahead." Tom Ascher, recruiting and EEO Mgr, Hunter Roberts Construction Group, applauded PWC, saying, "The caliber and quality of candidates I've seen today is much higher than what I usually see at a job fair. People are well-directed." One of the sponsors, Frank Pampalone, AIA, director of design, Walmart, summed it up: "It's very refreshing to see that in our C & D industry employers are still looking for quality talent." For more information visit www.pwcusa.org.