Iowa Women In Trades Network

10/22/2026

We can't wait to meet you too!

10/15/2026

If anyone in the Polk County is looking to get into the maintenance side, check out their job listing for the Mechanical Systems Specialist. Applications are due by 10/21.

Thank you For your interest in employment with Polk County.  The County no longer accepts paper applications.  You may apply online at any location with Internet access.  Public computers are available at the Human Resources Department, Public Libraries, and Iowa Workforce Development.  Appl...

10/08/2026

Reminder - We have our monthly meeting tonight! Monthly Meeting
Thursday, October 08 · 6:30 – 7:30pm
Time zone: America/Chicago
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/sgc-tdrd-kht
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 518-547-0132‬ PIN: ‪731 199 850‬ #
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/sgc-tdrd-kht?pin=9150494070097

Real-time meetings by Google. Using your browser, share your video, desktop, and presentations with teammates and customers.

10/08/2026

🌠 Breaking It Down: What’s the Difference Between "Hispanic" and "Latino"?

In construction, a diverse crew is one of our greatest strengths. But when it comes to talking about culture and identity, people often use terms like "Hispanic" and "Latino" interchangeably. While they overlap a lot, they actually mean two different things!

Here is a quick, easy guide to help us use respectful and accurate language:

Hispanic (Geography + Language):

This term refers to people who come from—or have ancestry from—a Spanish-speaking country.

Key driver: Language. It includes Spain, but excludes Brazil (where Portuguese is spoken).

Latino / Latina / Latine (Geography Only):

This term refers to people from—or with ancestry from—Latin America (Central America, South America, and parts of the Caribbean).

Key driver: Geography. It includes Brazil (because it's in South America), but excludes Spain (because it's in Europe).

Where They Overlap:

Many people are both! For example, someone from Mexico or Colombia is considered both Hispanic (Spanish-speaking) and Latino (from Latin America).

However, someone from Brazil is Latino (Latin America) but not Hispanic, while someone from Spain is Hispanic (Spanish-speaking) but not Latino.

Why This Matters on the Jobsite
Using the right terms isn't about policing language—it’s about respect, recognizing individual identities, and showing that we see our colleagues as unique individuals rather than a monolith.

When in doubt, it's always best to follow someone's personal preference or ask how they identify!

Let's continue building an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels valued.

10/01/2026

Did October sneak up on any of you?? It certainly did to me. With that in mind we are rescheduling our monthly meeting so we can get content prepared for you! See you next week.

09/30/2026

🏗️ Women in Construction Spotlight: Linda Alvarado

This week, we are shining a well-deserved spotlight on an absolute titan in the commercial construction industry: Linda Alvarado, founder and CEO of Alvarado Construction, Inc.

Starting a commercial general contracting and management firm from the ground up takes incredible grit, and seeing a woman-owned business lead some of the country's most iconic multi-million dollar developments is truly inspiring.

Under Linda’s leadership, Alvarado Construction has delivered massive, complex projects that shape entire communities, including:

Empower Field at Mile High (Home of the Denver Broncos): Managing construction for a massive stadium spanning 1.8 million square feet and accommodating over 76,000 fans.

The Colorado Convention Center Expansion & Denver Hyatt Hotel: Overseeing complex, high-rise hospitality and massive public exhibition spaces.

The Downtown Aquarium (Denver): Building a sprawling 107,000-square-foot facility housing a million-gallon marine and freshwater habitat.

Beyond building physical skylines, Linda made history as the first Hispanic owner of a Major League Baseball franchise (co-owning the Colorado Rockies) and has spent decades breaking barriers for women and minority-owned businesses in heavy construction.

Why Her Story Inspires Us:

Scale & Scope: Proving that women-owned firms can successfully execute massive, high-stakes infrastructure and commercial builds.

Resilience & Leadership: Navigating heavy commercial bidding, government contracting, and executive leadership in a heavily male-dominated field.

Paving the Way: Using her platform to mentor and advocate for the next generation of women entering the building trades.

Let’s celebrate Linda Alvarado for building monuments that last and paving paths for women in construction!

09/28/2026

Motivational Monday: You aren't lost, you're exploring.

Ever catch yourself mid-career asking, "What am I actually doing right now?" 🙋‍♀️🧭

When we second-guess our direction, it’s easy to panic and feel like we’ve gone completely off-track. But here’s your reminder today: You aren't lost, you're exploring.

Checking in on yourself and being honest about where you are isn't a sign of failure—it's self-awareness. Sometimes, taking a detour or trying a new task helps you figure out what you love, what you hate, and where your hard boundaries lie.

Your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's:
✨ Maybe your path leads to becoming a foreman or project manager.
✨ Maybe it’s stepping up as a union steward or leading a safety committee.
✨ Or maybe it’s trying a new branch of your trade entirely.

Every detour teaches you something valuable about what you are—and aren't—open to doing. We’re here for all of it, and we love exploring right alongside you. 🛠️❤️

Where has your trade journey taken you that you didn't originally expect? Drop it in the comments! 👇

09/26/2026

🏗️ Women in Construction Spotlight: Frida Escobedo

This week for Hispanic Heritage Month, we are celebrating a powerhouse in architecture and design who is actively reshaping global skylines: Frida Escobedo!

Based in Mexico City, Escobedo is a visionary architect known for designing and restoring public spaces, cultural venues, and community architecture. She made major history by becoming the youngest architect—and the first woman—to design the prestigious Serpentine Pavilion in London, and she is leading the design for the upcoming Modern and Contemporary Art Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Why Her Work Inspires Us:

Material & Craft: Her projects brilliantly blend modern construction techniques with deep cultural context, often using inventive textures and local materials like concrete tiles to create dynamic public spaces.

Breaking Barriers: As a Latina architect leading massive, high-profile international structural projects, she paves the way for women stepping into technical design, engineering, and construction leadership.

Spaces for Community: Her work focuses heavily on how people interact with their built environment, turning architecture into a tool for social connection.

Let’s celebrate the incredible women designing, engineering, and building our world from the ground up!