WiNC was started by a group of women who would constantly interact on construction job sites. They teamed up to share information about the current construction jobs and bids. They recognized the strength in numbers and developed a way to educate the industry, who was desperate to find DBE, SBE and WBE subcontractors, about the resources right here their own Nashville.
More than just a networking group, the ladies of WiNC pooled their resources to create giveaways and handouts with their contact information and designations. They also put feet to the streets and went to construction jobsites and offices in Davidson and surrounding counties to make sure their contact information was readily available to estimators and project managers. Soon, the familiar neon pink carpenter pencils became a symbol that ‘WiNC was Here!’, business card holders emblazoned with the neon pink logo could be found on most estimator’s desks and the popular WiNC Calendar could be seen at most jobsites in the Middle Tennessee area.
Quarterly meetings are a way to bring local resources directly to the group. Topics include:
- Getting Involved with the Music City Center
- How to do business with MDHA
- How to do business with Ft. Campbell
- How to do business with Nashville State Community College as a SBE, WBE or DBE
- Branding your Business
Testimonials:
Helped with networking skills, tough in the beginning…WiNC has helped knowing how to talk to people in the construction industry and knowing how to network for other people and introduce other people’s businesses. And knowing how my business can help other people’s businesses. And that is what this group excels at. I have gotten four or five jobs of off networking through WiNC Mixers & Blitzes. Elite Roofing, we built a relationship there and that is what we set out to do. Lindsay – Aerial innovations
WiNC has not only be a source of networking in the construction industry in Nashville but we created a platform for women to discuss topics in depth that are going on right here at our back door with a common goal to attain business relationships and increase revenues. As a unit our group is resourceful, intelligent, and driven to the max. Each individual brings something to the table to make our group dynamic. Jolene has marketing presence and one-of-a-kind business and people leadership. Kimble is very sales and promo smart. She knows what sparks people’s attention and keeps their interest so you can get the business. She also has a way with words to help you understand promo lingo, what works and why. Alicia is diplomatic and so positive. You can count on her to make decisions and see all angles of a situation in a bright light. Mary offers a high level of expertise in construction as well as the experience and contacts to back it up. The promo items are always top notch. The lunches are tasty as well as informative, the sales blitzes feel like a field trip with your sorority sisters and the response you get from your fellow members when you ask a question is always sincere and accurate. Personally, we have received a handful of invitations to bid commercial projects; it has helped us look at new revenue streams as our market is ever evolving. We have made great contacts too and expect bigger results in the near future as we continue to canvas the middle Tennessee market. Gina Sutton – Gaertner Cabinet Company
I really feel lucky to serve both your (WiNC) companies and the construction industry. I’ve used WiNC as an opportunity to build trust among the companies that are here as well as to get introductions to the companies that other members work with. The business that WiNC has brought has really helped us in a year where we are growing our business. We are almost doubling our business size this year and WiNC has been a good portion of that. I look at the sales blitzes as a way to get out from behind my desk and get into the sales field. And it’s nice to be able to do that with people who know what they are doing and know the person better than I do because you get that introduction from someone who already does business with those contractors. That has been extremely valuable to me. Kimble Bosworth – Proforma
WiNC has done for me has introduced me to everyone in the group which has been a great networking opportunity as well as friendships outside of work. As far as our mixers, I’ve probably made two really good contacts who are buying from me on a regular basis, starting new jobs. One is in Franklin with Biscan construction and one is in Nashville with Dyer and Boger construction both of which I met at a mixer. Beth Barnett – Care Supply
The way WiNC first helped me is realize how serious men in the industry take this group because I was referred to the group by a man who has done business with WiNC. That he took it seriously enough to see what we do and the way we spread the word about what we do to the construction industry was really a compliment to the group. I have had some success and some sales. Our Sumner County Blitz, brought a small job for a church. And I actually had a job from TW Frierson, who I met on the very first blitz that I attended as a guest. It has definitely paid off as far as getting leads for business but it’s also helped me personally. I’ve been in construction in Tennessee for ten years and there’s never been a group like this. You go to ABC, AGC and have a beer every once in a while, but this is a really active group. There’s days when I don’t feel like going out there and getting with it but someone in the group will call and say “Hey, here’s a job you should be on or look into” and that really helps me stay active in that way too. It’s kind of a break from my norm to come to the blitzes , lunches and the mixers. I think we all get into a routine and a change in the routine really helps to have something to look forward to, knowing it’s going to be different. Natalie Hicks – Crane Works
I think one of the greatest contacts for me personally was when we had the speaker from Ft. Campbell. That was exactly the person I needed to meet and I needed to know for construction & federal contracting in the state of Tennessee. So that has very much been an excellent contact. Generally speaking WiNC has helped me in so many ways because my primary role in the company was dealing with paper. I do enjoy networking so this creates that excuse where I do get out and I do get to network and I do get to be in the sales moment a few hours out of the month. So the blitzes are very valuable to me, the contacts here are very valuable to me, I love them. I feel that the group is very collaborative and shares ideas. Just the collective ideas of the whole group bring such a diversity to how we are building our business. And we are incubating our businesses. Regina Smith – Exodus Industries