WCOE KC Visits with Lawmakers for Women in Construction Week; Approves First Board of Directors

Kansas City, Missouri, March 8, 2019 – Women Construction Owners & Executives Kansas City (WCOE KC) is pleased to announce the newly formed Kansas City chapter and recently approved Board of Directors. In concert with National Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day on March 8th, this all female executive leadership team has already been active in gaining local and national recognition and support from Council, Congressional, Senate, and Agency leadership including the Small Business Association and the General Services Administration.

The purpose of WCOE KC is to promote and endorse leadership, mentorship and opportunities for advancement of women leaders in the construction industry.

During the 2019 Women Build America WCOE National Conference, members of KC Chapter met with Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) who stated, “as the former Chair of the House Small Business Committee and current Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I see firsthand the importance of WCOE KC and its mission to raise the bar of equal opportunity and awareness of women in construction.”

President of WCOE KC Lisa Garney said, “The economic empowerment of women shouldn’t be viewed as a ‘women’s issue’. By investing in women, we are investing in a future that unleashes the full potential of people. We need to empower women as entrepreneurs and executives as well as empower the advancement of construction workforce development.”

Also supporting WCOE KC’s efforts were Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and Missouri Congresswoman Sharice Davids, both having been appointed to the Senate and House Small Business Committees. Senator Hawley, member of the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship met with members from WCOE KC stating “Working on the Senate Small Business Committee and directly with Linda McMahon, SBA Administrator, I know how important it is to develop and support women leaders in construction as we continue the vital mission of developing our country’s workforce.”

Congresswoman Davids echoed that sentiment saying, “Empowered women empower women. We must continue to support and build each other up. WCOE KC has my full support as we all encourage women leaders.”

WCOE, USA is a National Association committed to helping women in the construction industry grow and prosper. Founded over 35 years ago on the purpose of assisting women in executive positions, providing resources to enhance professional development, and creating a legislative network to monitor and pursue legislation advantageous to the industry, WCOE is making strides to level the playing field in a historically male-dominated industry.

The new Board of Directors for the WCOE KC Chapter are:

• President: Lisa Garney, President/Owner of LMG Construction
• Vice President: Elisabeth DeCoursey, President/Co-Owner of KC Testing & Engineering
• Secretary: Ashley Tumberger, President of Premier Mechanical Products LLC
• Treasurer: Julie Farrell, President/Owner of Regents Flooring
• Director At Large: Susan Remington, President/Owner of Pro-Mechanical LLC

In addition to the Board of Directors, WCOE KC has two local members serving on the National Board of WCOE. Sheila Ohrenberg, President of Sorella Group Specialty Contractor was inducted as National President at the 2019 Women Build America Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. Dianna Richardson, President of Richardson Hauling, was inducted as the WCOE Central Region Director.