Events next week in Wilmington will highlight women who work in the construction industry.

The Wilmington-Cape Fear chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction started in July, and that’s when Taylor King joined the group.

King, owner of Wilmington-based Seaside Punch List, said the group has grown to 65 members, mainly from Wilmington, Leland and Hampstead. Gretchen Newcomer, a construction services account manager for Waste Management, led efforts to start the Wilmington group.

The chapter is holding its first Women in Construction Week celebration with events that include a roundtable discussion at 4 p.m. at Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center, 501 Nutt St. Local business owners such as King will talk about entrepreneurship, challenges and successes, followed by networking upstairs in the aView Rooftop Bistro. 

King said the week’s plans will allow the group “to share with our community who we are.”

She said, “We need more women to be involved with doing these jobs so exposure is the No. 1 goal but to do great things for our community is the second part.”

The construction field isn’t presented as an option to girls, King said.

“Young girls get Barbie dolls; boys get dump trucks; and it’s just changing that mindset that just because you’re a girl you don’t have to play with a Barbie doll you can learn how to play with a toolbox and hold a hammer and build a birdhouse,” King said.

Recent trends have been somewhat encouraging.

"We’re  seeing more and more women entering the construction workforce, which is absolutely amazing,” King said, “but I think we’re still at only 11%”

Among other events that will be part of Women in Construction Week is a food drive Wednesday at The Brewer’s Kettle, 4718 Oleander Drive, and an appreciation and fundraiser dinner at Aloft Wilmington. 

King said today is the last day to purchase tickets for the Friday dinner. Tickets and more information are available online.