WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION Donna Moore discovers diverse challenges and excitement as CHBA — Calgary's chief executive officer Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer Donna Moore has been with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) for 30 years. She is currently the Calgary region's chief executive of- ficer. Moore came to CHBA-Calgary with experience in the not-for-profit sector. Within construction, she found both challenges and excitement through the industry's ever-changing de- mands. “Whether the industry is on an upswing or a downturn, there’s always a challenge. And we’ve had both comparing the last year and this year.” Conditions are “so different, so it keeps you fresh and excited to find the answers that will con- tinue to keep your industry vi- brant and successful and to help build a great city and house the many different people who live here or move here to live.” Over the years, she says she has seen an increasing interest in women choosing the homebuild- ing industry as a career; some- thing she says is a wonderful thing. “When you think about it, women are the ones who are most often the decision-makers in the home buying process be- cause traditionally they have been the ones who are the care- takers of the home.” She says women are instru- mental in the design, functional- ity and organization of a home and are often the ones who are directly in- volved in running the household so it makes sense to see women taking part in the construction and design of homes from the ground up. “The industry has traditionally been male-dominated, so we are happy to see the change and encourage every- one to consider this as a career choice.” Moore says there is no other indus- try so diverse, exciting and interesting because of its many facets. From car- 36 – April-May 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report penters, to roofers and painters, to electricians, and from marketing spe- cialists, to designers, and mortgage brokers, to policy advisors, she says, there is something to interest every- one. She says there are many women in the industry who are very successful in their chosen careers, including many in upper management. The Canadian Home Builders’ As- sociation – Calgary Region represents more than 650 companies in all facets of new home construction, from sin- gle and multi-family builders, reno- vators, and residential land developers, to trades, suppliers, and professional companies in- volved in some aspect of home building. As many as 37,000 people work in the city's residential con- struction industry. The association supports ca- reers in the industry through its an- nual Student House Design Competition – now in its 44 th year. “This is at both high school and SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) levels and where we award $8,000 in scholarships. Many of the winners are girls.” Moore says the association also sponsors several SAIT summer camps revolving around the home construction field, such as the Home Builders Design – for Girls in Grades seven to 12. For more information visit www.chbacalgary.com.