03/07/2023
This week is the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) 25th Annual Women in Construction (WIC) week! The 1st full week of March (March is also Women’s History Month) is set aside every year to celebrate the work of women who work in the construction industry across the country. https://www.nawic.org
On the NAWIC website they say that with construction having a long culture of being a male dominate field, that this is a week to help “get the women who have worked past that barrier out of the shadows and in to the spotlight, they can show other women – no matter the age or background – that there are countless opportunities for them in the industry”. And that “WIC week is vital to bringing awareness to the great success women are having in every aspect of the industry”. https://www.nawic.org/article_content.asp?edition=1§ion=1&article=4
To celebrate WIC week this year, owner of Generations Building & Remodeling Co. Stephanie Bowling, wanted to share photos & post about her work in the field of construction.
(Briefly as possible lol it’s a long story but a good one we believe is worth sharing!)
Stephanie is a WV licensed General Building Contractor & recently reached her 10th year anniversary as a general building contractor this past fall of 2022! Wow how time flies!
Stephanie wears many “hats” within the company as the owner, assisting with estimating, contract writing, project manager, & more! She even physically works on jobsites whenever it is needed to get the jobs done!
When Stephanie first started her construction company, to “get out there” in the field of construction & to help raise the money to purchase the books & test for her to become general building contractor, she did smaller jobs as specialty contractor like completing work needing done for houses to pass inspection to be able to be sold & closing happen for the purchase of the homes and similar jobs like decks, flooring, painting, etc.
Then one of the first jobs Stephanie had after that was as the project manager & contractor for the “Rosie the Riveter Park” that was built in a section of Roadside Park in St. Albans, WV with grand opening May 2012. Stephanie saw this as a great honor & opportunity to get the chance to work with the “Rosies” (the women who were one of the firsts in the non-traditional fields of work during WWII https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/rosie-the-riveter ), as well as the opportunity to connect with those in her community & beyond.
Stephanie was also the instructor for West Virginia Women Work Step Up for Women Program in Charleston, WV during Fall 2012- Spring 2013.
(This program teaches women the building & construction trade to help them to better themselves & increase their income earning capability as well as give them resources to achieve in the workplace. https://westvirginiawomenwork.org )
From there, things took off & her company continued to grow.
Having decades of experience in the construction field as well, her husband Joe Bowling, Jr. joined her to help with the operation of the company in the field. Currently, her husband & her youngest son works with her and play vital roles in helping the company to be a success. Her oldest son & her stepdaughter, as well as other family members have also helped from time to time on jobsites over the years. This is one of the reasons for the name of her company, Generations Building & Remodeling Co.
Literally generations of her & her husband’s family have worked with them!
Generations Building & Remodeling Co. has now grown to doing commercial building remodels, restaurant remodels, new residential home construction, & residential remodeling.
When asked why she chose the field of construction, Stephanie said, “There are many reasons why I chose this field of work. I love that you get the opportunity to be in different places & meet different people. Working in construction field is definitely challenging in many areas & on many levels. My company is a valuable source of income, but I also see the value beyond ‘just a paycheck’. We are working in/on people’s homes & places of work/business. The work we do helps others to create, enhance, & maintain these most important places in people’s lives! That means something!
My children are now all grown adults & I now have 4 grand children (yes, four! Phew lol & love it)!
I hope to be a positive example & inspiration for them & all others out there who need it!
I am truly grateful & honor all those women who have gone before me & paved the way so that I may have the opportunities that I have today! I also want to thank EVERYONE out there who have chosen us, Generations Building & Remodeling Co. to help you with your building & remodeling projects!
We appreciate you & the opportunity & look forward to many more!”
