CUFO Supports Women Builders Council’s AIM 2022 Leadership Forum

Senior Vice President of Columbia Health Dr. Melanie J. Bernitz was among the expert panelists at the Women Builders Council’s (WBC) AIM Leadership Forum, a two-day event held on June 16 and 17. The hybrid event consisted of a series of live and on-demand webinars and a national symposium that brought together engaging leaders from across the country to examine and develop a new blueprint for growing women in the construction industry.  

A partner for the WBC, University Facilities and Operations supports programs like the AIM Leadership Forum because it shares in Columbia’s long-standing commitment to working with minority, women-owned, and locally based (MWL) businesses. Through panel and network sessions, the forum offered the skills and strategies that are not always available in the workplace to help organizations better serve women in the building industry. One of the topics discussed included the intersection of work and wellness, and how women in the construction industry can develop it to make a difference. Columbia Health’s Dr. Bernitz shared her personal story on how her personal wellness is closely linked to how she presents herself in the workplace and shared tips on how to reach your full potential by advocating for yourself and finding support that can help you reach your goals.  

Since 2004, WBC has been a leading association representing women in construction with a focus on leadership. In its third year, the 2022 AIM Forum supported women at all levels of leadership – from CEOs and business owners to college students – to engage in a series of immersive workshops and conversations to provide new insights on leadership strategies, practical skills, and professional growth in the building industry to build a more inclusive, equitable and diverse construction industry that continues to attract, recruit and retain women.