The Lasting Impact of NAHB's Professional Women in Building

NAHB is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month and the hard work of its Professional Women in Building Council (PWB). PWB serves as the voice of nearly 4,000 women in the building industry, supporting NAHB members at the local, state, and national levels.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2025, PWB is one of NAHB’s fastest-growing councils, helping women around the Federation gain access to resources, develop professionally, network with like-minded industry colleagues, earn awards and recognition, and attend conferences.

At the 2025 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, dozens of the brightest women in construction gathered for the "Empowering Women in Construction: PWB’s Impact on Personal & Professional Growth" panel that featured several industry leaders, including:

• Luellen Smith, owner of Rhino Wine Cellars and Cooling Systems
• Cindy Cepko, partner at Granite Homes, Inc.
• Andi Dirkschneider Bliss, 2025 PWB second vice chair and president of Brookline Homes
• Linda Hebert, PWB immediate past chair and president of Diversified Marketing and Communications

"PWB lifts you up," said Cepko. "You might walk into a room and think you don’t have any confidence, but you’ll walk out feeling like the president."

The panelists discussed how PWB has shaped their views about the industry, built up their resumes, and provided a pipeline for more women to work in home building. 

"I used our PWB directory on the NAHB website to research everyone," said Dirkschneider Bliss. "I was having a problem in land acquisition, so I was like ’Who in PWB does land acquisition?’ I found this woman out in California and another in Alabama who I could call. That helped me make connections."

At the event, each of the panelists emphasized the importance of inclusion and a warm welcoming to all new members who are just getting their footing in the council. They also asked for all newer members to be ambitious in their goals.

"I tell my PWB friends that we all come into this work at different levels," said Hebert. "Make sure that your intentions are known to people who have come before you."

NAHB thanks BuilderTrend for its insightful session at the 2025 IBS PWB Lounge, and for its efforts promoting pathways for women in construction.

Learn more about how to start a PWB Council at your local Home Builders Association here. Additional information on the importance of joining your local PWB can be found here.