By / Jessica Kirby, Editor, Sheet Metal Journal-Western Washington
In researching the Women in Construction Week feature for this issue, I watched Angie Simon’s presentation, held during WIC Week. She recalled her journey through the industry and into her current position, having served as SMACNA National’s first female president and enjoying a fulfilling career as CEO of Western Allied Mechanical. Angie’s story is interesting and her advice is gold, but the most important thing she left me with was a reminder that leadership is servitude. Being a strong, effective leader means being vulnerable, finding out what motivates others and meeting them there, and building teams that can function well without you, should the need arise. This is a leadership style we see more and more of every day—Dr. Bonnie Henry, Jacinda Ardern, Barack Obama, Volodymyr Zelensky—they all lead from a place of connection and acknowledgement that their primary purpose in leading is serving. That doesn’t mean these leaders can’t be or are not decisive, assertive, and poignant decision-makers—it just means that while they are being that way, the best of them will be doing it for the benefit of others and the team. That is an important nugget to take away as we contemplate the next two years and implications of the pandemic, global politics, and whatever other unexpected events may come our way.
Forecasts and predictions are limited in their scope, but useful nonetheless. Suggestions that certain industries will be up or down such-and-such percent are a best guess based on past numbers and forward-looking statements, but they don’t—they can’t—consider upset factors like geopolitical disruption in Eastern Europe or a global pandemic. Beyond percentages, however, they can identify the long-term ramifications of events that have happened already and speculate how these will affect our industry. How does online shopping affect the building market? What do skyrocketing gas prices have to do with labor? Find out more about these and other factors influencing construction this year and next on page 10.
WIC Week is always well celebrated in Western Washington, thanks to the combined efforts of NAWIC and SMACNA-WW. It ran March 6-12 this year and involved a week of speakers and events that commemorated the important contributions women make to the construction industry. Historically, March 8 became the first International Women’s Day (around which WIC Week is timed) because on that day in 1917, a mob of Russian housewives took to the streets to protest inadequate food rations and call for an end to WWI. Their protest instigated events that would later bring down the Czar of Russia. In 1975, the United Nations declared International Women’s Day to recognize that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equity and development of women. Today, women have made great strides, thanks in no small part to trailblazers in construction who have bravely stepped into many rooms (and shops) where no one else looked like them and to those who made those women feel comfortable and safe regardless of the status quo. Read about this year’s celebrations on page 12 and read to the end for spotlights on some of the sheet metal industry’s women in construction.
We all know the importance of building, fostering, and growing strong teams, but do we all know how to make that happen? Leadership expert and speaker John Garfinkle reminds us that building strong teams comes down to a few easy steps that involve engaging others, being collaborative, and remembering that leadership is servitude. See page 16 for more.
We are looking for some great projects to highlight in the next four issues of Sheet Metal Journal – Western Washington. Ready to show off your amazing work? Email me at
jessica.kirby@pointonemedia.com. ▪
