The National Association of Women in Construction’s Coastal Georgia chapter hosted its 2nd Annual Gala at The Drayton Hotel on September 27 to bestow awards for excellent service to select members and induct new board members for 2022-2023.

Featuring guest speaker, Victoria Baylor, founder of Clarity for High-Performance, LLC, the event offered chapter members an inspiring message about the importance of self-empowerment, personal growth, and work-life balance. NAWIC, an organization that strives to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry, has more than 115 chapters across the United States with nearly 60 members in the Coastal Georgia chapter.

“As the new NAWIC Coastal Georgia President, my vision and goals for the upcoming year focus on mentorship,” said Erin Clay, Board Member for NAWIC Coastal Georgia. “We want to leverage the knowledge and experience of our veteran members and industry ‘sisters’ who can help women in construction enhance or advance their careers.”

At the conclusion of the event, NAWIC announced their annual award winners who were nominated and voted on by their fellow chapter members for their outstanding achievements over the past year. The organization also celebrated the induction of its new board members for 2022-2023, who were also presented to and voted on by the membership prior to the event.

“Stepping into the role of Immediate Past President is a challenge for me personally,” said Laura Skellie, Board Member for NAWIC Coastal Georgia. “However, seeing the goals and plans that the new Board of Directors has put together for the coming year, gives me peace. The chapter is in very good hands with Erin Clay at the helm, and I’ll be there to help in any way I can. I love seeing what we have accomplished as a chapter during my 2-year term, and I cannot wait to see what amazing things our chapter does in the years to come!”

The award winners included:

Past President’s Gavel Award to Laura Skellie of Balfour Beatty
President’s Award to Jessica Leavitt of Alair Homes Savannah
Business of the Year to Tonya Reed of Henry Plumbing
Recruiter of the Year to Jessica Leavitt of Alair Homes Savannah
New Member of the Year to Sherry Reed-Schaff of Comfort Systems USA
Woman in Construction of the Year to Mae Bowley of RePurpose Savannah
Innovator of the Year to Laura Skellie of Balfour Beatty

The 2022-2023 board is comprised of the following local women in construction:

President: Erin Clay of W Projects
Immediate Past President: Laura Skellie of Balfour Beatty
President-Elect: Jessica Leavitt of Alair Homes Savannah
Vice President: Robin Grenchik of Custom Cabinets
Treasurer: Ashley S. Field of Steven Bodek Inc
Secretary: Sherry Reed-Schaff of Comfort Systems USA
Director: Kelsey Elam of Choate Construction
Director: Dee Froehlich of The Greenery, Inc.
Director: Jenna Watkins of Red House Management LLC