A Brief History of Chapter 356

In 1996, after spending two years as members of NAWIC Denver Chapter 112, a fledgling group of seven women decided it was time for a local Colorado Springs chapter. The original group consisted of: Susie Calvin, Brenda Vaughn, Paula Hadaway and Cathy O'Canna (all of GE Johnson Construction Company); Carol Seilheimer (Colorado Structures); Connilee Schwepker (Blue Ridge Construction); and Linda Hampton (SEEMA, Inc.). Margy Greer, then president of the Denver Chapter, made it her goal to help charter the Colorado Springs Chapter.

Impressed with the opportunities the National Association of Women in Construction offered, the women initiated the formidable task of establishing the first information gathering meeting. They mailed over 300 invitation letters signed to prospective members. Gerry Snyder, President of Associated General Contractors of Colorado was invited to be the guest speaker. Before the first meeting, these seven women worried about getting the minimum 15 members to form a chapter. To their amazement, 95 people showed up. Following the meeting, 30 women signed on as potential members. In January 1997, the NAWIC Colorado Springs Chapter 356 was officially chartered.

NAWIC Colorado Springs Chapter 356 has become a well-respected organization in the local construction industry, reaching out to the community in many ways as the members daily live out the Chapter Objectives (see home page). Some of their recent projects include raising funds and collecting donations for the Center for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, facilitating the construction of a safe house playground, working on Habitat for Humanity projects, and, most recently, constructing the first-ever, all women-built playhouse for the Colorado Springs Casas for CASA fundraiser.In keeping with the National Association of Women in Construction's pledge for professional education, Chapter 356 has offered it's members seminars in topics such as blueprint reading, estimating, bonding, introduction to the internet, and public speaking.  Notable speakers at general membership meetings have brought new insight into a variety of fields related to the construction industry:  Dr. Harlan Spence on construction in space, Greg Gulliksen, AIA on "Disneytecture", Susan Eisenberg, author and master electrician, and the mayor of Colorado Springs, Mary Lou Makepeace.  In addition, twelve members have availed themselves of the NAWIC Education Foundation's home study certification programs, and received their Construction Industry Technician (CIT) certification.Members have also been involved in the many National Association of Women in Construction sponsored programs such as Blocks to the Future for elementary schools, the CAD/Design/Drafting Competition for high schools students, Junior NAWIC, and have supported the National Founders' Scholarship Foundation.

To learn more about NAWIC Chapter 356, please browse through our website.

1996-1997
President: Susie Calvin  
Vice President: Penny Whitney  
President-Elect: None  
Recording Secretary: Bonnie White  
Treasurer: Sandy Johnson  
Corresponding Secretary: Cathy O’Canna, CCA  
Directors:
Margaret Ingram    
Tracy Dunn    

1997-1998
President: Tracy Dunn  
Vice President: Penny Whitney  
President-Elect: Cathy O’Canna, CCA  
Recording Secretary: Maureen Moran  
Treasurer: Dodi Walch  
Corresponding Secretary: Connilee Schwepker/Kate Ellis  
Immediate Past President: Susie Calvin  
Directors:
Wanda Dominguez    
Margaret Ingram    
Sandy Johnson    
Bonnie White  

1998-1999
President: Cathy O’Canna, CCA  
Vice President: Sandy Johnson  
President-Elect: Dodi Walch  
Recording Secretary: Bonnie Morgan  
Treasurer: Val Przychodzin  
Corresponding Secretary: Kate Ellis  
Directors:
Davyne Ryals    
Susie Calvin    
Julie Airmont    
Carol Seilheimer  

1999-2000
President: Dodi Walch  
Vice President: Davyne Ryals  
President-Elect: Susie Calvin  
Recording Secretary: Tammy Fortenbury/Kate Ellis  
Treasurer: Connie Stevenson  
Corresponding Secretary: Cassie Chambers/Tricia Hill  
Immediate Past President: Cathy O’Canna, CCA  
Directors:
Ferne Dillow    
Bettie Hicks    
Susan Hadfield    
Kay T. Kaltenbacher    
Carol Seilheimer  

2000-2001
President: Susie Calvin/Kate Ellis  
Vice President: Bonnie Morgan/Kate Ellis/Tricia Klay  
President-Elect: Bonnie Morgan  
Recording Secretary: Kate Ellis/Jill Mussell/Katie Trapp  
Treasurer: Connie Stevenson  
Corresponding Secretary: Tricia Klay/Val Przychodzin  
Immediate Past President: Dodi Walch  
Directors:
Bettie Hicks    
Diane Zink (Watson), CIT  

2001-2002
President: Bonnie Morgan  
Vice President: Connie Stevenson/Janet Koscielski  
President-Elect: Connie Stevenson  
Recording Secretary: Katie Trapp  
Treasurer: Sherri Boettcher  
Corresponding Secretary: Janet Koscielski/Malisa Martinez/Linda Champlin  
Immediate Past President: Kate Ellis  
Directors:
Cyndi Wheatley    
Diane Zink (Watson), CIT    

2002-2003
President: Connie Stevenson  
Vice President: Tammy Kidd  
President-Elect: Diane Zink (Watson), CIT  
Recording Secretary: Dodi Walch, CDT, CIT  
Treasurer: Sherri Boettcher  
Corresponding Secretary: Linda Champlin  
Immediate Past President: Bonnie Morgan  
Directors:
Cathy Andrew    
Lynda Rataczack    
Cyndi Wheatley    

2003-2004
President: Diane Zink (Watson), CCA, CIT  
Vice President: Cyndi Wheatley  
President-Elect: Dodi Walch, CDT, CIT  
Recording Secretary: Linda Champlin  
Treasurer: Connie Stevenson  
Corresponding Secretary: Penny Wagner  
Immediate Past President: Connie Stevenson  
Directors:
Cathy Andrew    
Sherri Boettcher  

2004-2005
President: Dodi Walch, CDT, CIT  
Vice President: Cathy Andrew, CCA  
President-Elect: Sherri (Boettcher) Muelhoefer  
Recording Secretary: Linda Champlin-Frank  
Treasurer: Susie Hadfield  
Immediate Past President: Diane Zink (Watson), CCA, CIT  
Directors:
Carolyn Cummings    
Cathy Watts, CIT    

2005-2006
President: Sherri Muelhoefer  
Vice President: Carolyn Cummings  
President-Elect: Linda Champlin-Frank  
Recording Secretary: Vanessa Smith  
Treasurer: Susie Hadfield  
Immediate Past President: Dodi Walch, CCA,CDT, CIT  
Directors:
Angelique Kallio, CIT    
Aimee Sandor      

2006-2007
President: Linda Champlin-Frank  
Vice President: Bettie Hicks  
President-Elect: Carolyn Cummings  
Recording Secretary: Marsi Loving  
Treasurer: Cathy Andrew, CCA  
Immediate Past President: Sherri Muelhoefer  
Directors:
Rhonda Brennan    
Connie Stevenson      

2007-2008
President Carolyn Cummings  
Vice President: Connie Stevenson  
Recording Secretary: Marsi Loving  
Treasurer: Cathy Andrew, CCA  
Immediate Past President:
Linda Champlin-Frank, CIT  
Directors:
Rhonda Brennan    
Wendy Hibbert      

2008-2009
President Katie Trapp  
Vice President: Cathy Andrew, CCA  
President Elect: Wendy Hibbert, CIT  
Recording Secretary: Bonnie Morgan, CIT  
Treasurer: Dodi Walch, CCA, CIT, CDT  
Immediate Past President: Carolyn Cummings  
Directors:
Marsi Loving    
Brenda Bratton, CIT      

2009-2010
President Katie Trapp  
Vice President: Cathy Andrew, CCA  
President Elect: Carolyn Cummings  
Recording Secretary: Karen Mitchell  
Treasurer: Brenda Bratton, CIT  
Directors:
Marsi Loving    
Rhonda Brennan      

2010-2011
President: Carolyn Cummings  
Vice President: Linda Champlin-Frank, CBT, CIT  
Recording Secretary: Karen Mitchell, CBT, CIT  
Treasurer: Robyn VanKooten, CBT, CDS, CIT  
Immediate Past President: Katie Trapp  
Directors:
Marsi Loving   
Cyndi Wheatley      

2011-2012
President: Linda Champlin-Frank, CBT, CIT  
Vice President: Karen Mitchell, CBT, CIT  
Recording Secretary: Cyndi Wheatley
Treasurer: Robyn VanKooten, CBT, CDS, CIT  
Immediate Past President: Carolyn Cummings  
Directors:
Marsi Loving    
Katie Trapp