The Brick Industry Association salutes Janis of PWC - October 1

On October 1, The Brick Industry Association celebrated Lenore Janis, president of Professional Women in Construction (PWC) National for her leadership and advocacy role in "helping women and minorities find work in construction," and for her ongoing contribution to the A/E/C industries. Janis, accepting a Brick NY award from Richard Jennison, president and CEO of the Brick Industry Association (BIA), at the organization's inaugural event, spoke of PWC's dedicated efforts to "integrate women into the mainstream," and noted that the nonprofit organization "represents a wide spectrum of the industry." Joe Rice, president of Belden Brick Sales and Service and chair of the New York New Jersey Brick Council, heralded Janis. Said Rice, "Lenore, through PWC, brings all the trades together under one roof - glass manufacturers, brick distributors, real estate developers, architects and many, many more. If anyone is in the center of construction in New York it's Lenore - she knows the kings and queens of the city, she's got her finger on construction here." Janis joined White Plains Iron Works, a family-owned company, in 1972. In 1979 she established her own steel erection firm aided by a loan from the Small Business Administration and, in 1980, was one of a dozen founders of PWC. Following her tenure with the city of N.Y. as the first woman director of the Bureau of Building Management for the NYC Dept. of Sanitation (1986), Janis has devoted herself full-time to PWC National since 1995. She has propelled the organization's growth and has been instrumental in laying the groundwork for and fostering the development of PWC's six chapters that now spread from New England to Florida. For more information on PWC National and upcoming programs, visit www.pwcusa.org.