Taking a Seat at the Table: Nora Spencer on Making Room for Women in Home Building

When about 20 NAHB members from the North Carolina delegation met with their Senator during the 2026 Spring Leadership Meeting and Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., only five were women.

Nora Spencer, founder and CEO of HOPE Renovations, noticed the empty chair beside the Senator’s seat and felt the urge to sit elsewhere, but took it anyway.

"There aren’t a lot of opportunities for women to be visible in this industry, so I took it," she said. The moment was small, but it reflects how Spencer approaches leadership.

A recipient of this year’s Professional Women in Building (PWB) Leadership Grant, she came to the nation’s capital ready to learn, connect and bring ideas back to her home state to help build up the next generation of women leaders.

For Spencer, making room for others starts with being willing to step into the room yourself.

Building a Career Through PWB

Long before she launched Hope Renovations, a nonprofit dedicated to opening pathways for women into the trades, Spencer found a professional home with the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties. She initially joined for the networking and professional development opportunities before considering herself active in the HBA. She would later go on to serve as chair of her local PWB council and now leads North Carolina’s statewide council.

"PWB has been a huge influence on both Hope Renovations and my own career," Spencer said. "I always tell people that we wouldn’t be where we are today without it."

Fast forward to present day and receiving the PWB Leadership Grant helped change what the Spring Leadership Meeting could be for her. Last year, she could only afford one night in the host hotel — and left before council sessions began. This time, she was able to experience the full five-day event.

"Hearing what other councils are doing and how they approach issues I care about it incredibly valuable. Workforce development, for example, is very important to me, and hearing different perspective helps me bring back ideas to North Carolina," Spencer said.

Showing Up as an Advocate

Spencer told NAHB about how this year’s advocacy programming served as inspiration for helping others back home in North Carolina. After years of advocacy work, she had almost forgotten how intimidating it can seem to newcomers. While at the spring meeting, professional advocates gave Spencer fresh ideas to share with her local council members.

"I think advocacy is one of the most important things we can do as women in this industry if we want to shift the gender dynamic," she said. It can help create visibility and opportunities for those just starting out.

Her message to members who feel uncertain about getting involved is straightforward: Show up. At the local level, a single voice in the room can help move the conversation forward, Spencer said.

Opening the Door ... Much Earlier

Ask Spencer how the industry can recruit its next generation and her recommendation is much earlier than some might expect: By high school, she argues, because many young people have already decided whether they belong in construction.

"If we want to be intentional about bringing future generations, especially girls and women, into this industry ... We need to get tools into kids’ hands at a young age."

Her own two-year-old son already has toy tools, and she said a daughter would have the same.

"We need to expose kids early, bring them to job sites and show them what the industry looks like," Spencer said. "There are so many paths, and we need to communicate that to kids from a young age while also breaking down stereotypes."

Engaging the Next Generation

Despite her leadership roles, Spencer says her favorite days are still spent on job sites — especially on electrical and plumbing projects.

That combination of advocate and tradesperson is what she hopes more young women will see: Leaders who are visible, engaged and confident enough to claim a seat at the table.

The chair beside the senator was one seat in one meeting room. Deciding to sit there reflected a larger commitment to making space for women in home building for Spencer. Every seat she takes makes the next one easier to claim.

Learn more about the positive impact women in home building have made on the industry by going to NAHB’s Professional Women in Building (PWB) Week page (sponsored by Andersen Windows + Doors).