Women Leaders in the Industry Share Career-Building Insights
As Careers in Construction Month wraps up, Builders Mutual is excited to share the latest episode of its Building Progress podcast. The episode includes a live recording from the North Carolina HBA’s Women in Construction panel.
“Breaking the Concrete Ceiling” took place on the final day of the HBA’s 21st Century Building Expo and Conference and featured a celebration of women in the industry.
The panel was moderated by Andi Dirkschneider Bliss, president of Brookline Homes, and featured three leading women in building:
- Alicia Huey, NAHB chairman, and a custom home builder and developer from Birmingham, Ala.
- Mollie Elkman, author of The House That She Built
- Nora El-Khouri Spencer, CEO and founder of Hope Renovations, and the 2022 NAHB Woman of the Year
The panelists discussed how they each got started the industry, what needs to happen to get more women involved in building, who inspires them, and much more.
Latest from NAHBNow
Mar 03, 2026
Delaware Home Builders Score Permitting VictoryMembers sustained advocacy efforts helped shape an executive order designed to fast-track development and improve housing affordability in the state.
Mar 02, 2026
Top 10 States for NGBS Green Certification Activity in 2025Texas once again tops multifamily certification, and Florida took the top spot for most single-family certifications for the second consecutive year.
Latest Economic News
Feb 27, 2026
Gains for Student Housing Construction in the Last Quarter of 2025Private fixed investment for student dormitories was up 1.5% in the last quarter of 2025, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.9 billion. This gain followed three consecutive quarterly declines before rebounding in the final two quarters of the year.
Feb 27, 2026
Price Growth for Building Materials Slows to Start the YearResidential building material prices rose at a slower rate in January, according to the latest Producer Price Index release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was the first decline in the rate of price growth since April of last year. Metal products continue to experience price increases, while specific wood products are showing declines in prices.
Feb 26, 2026
Home Improvement Loan Applications Moderate as Borrower Profile Gradually AgesHome improvement activity has remained elevated in the post-pandemic period, but both the volume of loan applications and the age profile of borrowers have shifted in notable ways. Data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), analyzed by NAHB, show that total home improvement loan applications have eased from their recent post-pandemic peak, and the distribution of borrowers across age groups has gradually tilted older.