Tamie K. Taylor, CIT
NEF Trustee
I have always said that a woman has to prove herself every time she steps on a job – – no matter how many years of experience she has. The only way to heighten our visibility is by obtaining credentials behind our name and one of the ways to do that is through Education…. Education…. Education…. There is no better place to gain the knowledge and credentials than through the NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF).
I learned about the NEF at my first Regional Forum and after Forum I looked into and took one of the programs – starting with the CIT after that I was hooked. Not being one that is good at taking tests – no, I didn’t pass the first time, but I didn’t let that deter me, I got right back in there and studied more. Believe me, I paid more attention to the details and I learned more the second time – adding truth to the saying that you learn from your mistakes or in this case from your incorrect answers – although we aren’t told what we missed on the test so you basically had to restudy and remember how you answered the questions and what the book indicated to determine what you missed – but the moral of the story is I learned and retained more the second time around. Took the test again and passed.
NEF is meeting the educational gap of those that can’t or don’t want to attend in a university setting but allows everyone the opportunity to increase their construction knowledge base. Both men and women. I think that this is a misnomer out there and we need to change this. These home study based classes are for everyone and everyone should be taking them.
I previously served on the NEF Board but due to work and personal commitments had to take a pause but I am so happy to be back on the NEF Board as we progress NEF into the 21st century with online books, online testing and next – online study groups. The programs offered by NEF continue to get better and better and have also broaden to reach the various sectors of the construction industry from the entry level bookkeeper (CBT) to the contract specialists (CIT), field engineer and executives (CDT and CIS, ESP) and there is more to come.
As NEF is donation based, I make certain that I budget my $$’s to not only participate in the NEF Fundraisers at the Regional and National events but I also have my donation ready at each function to add to my NEF Ladder Club of Success. If you haven’t started your NEF Ladder Club – start it now. Make that $100 donation to NEF (whether in $25 increments or as a whole) and help NEF continue to provide educational opportunities to those in and or wanting to enter the construction industry.
