Message from CWA President
Welcome to the Construction Writers Association (CWA). For more than 50 years, CWA has provided a forum for journalists, writers, public relations, marketing, and communications professionals in all segments of the construction industry to connect with one another and enhance skills through education.
It is an exciting and busy time for CWA. I am thankful to everyone who has participated in the many CWA activites throughout 2009, and 2010 looks very promising for our association. Our board and committees have been working hard, and here are just a few of the highlights:
- We introduced the new Vision 2014 Strategic Plan. Each of our committees is now focused on supporting our key initiatives of membership, leadership, resources, credibility and stability;
- Our website underwent a significant overhaul to position CWA as the go-to place for members and the industry;
- CWA is currently expanding the job opportunity section with new resources to make it easier than ever to connect members with prospective employers;
- CWA is now connecting construction writers through our social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter;
- CWA is reaching members faster while also promoting a sustainable presence with CWA eXchange, our new e-zine.
- CWA is moving forward with our third CWA Build A Future Scholarship to assist the next generation of construction writers;
- Our 2010 conferences and receptions will provide valuable and timely content while serving as important networking opportunities;
- CWA continues to offer many awards, recognizing the best in our industry;
- And finally, we continued to make administrative changes to streamline our processes to better serve members.
The new year ahead promises to be busy. Plans are already underway for our annual networking receptions at the World of Concrete, February 3, 2010, and the World of Asphalt, February 15-18, 2010. Please plan to stop by, enjoy some refreshments and connect with fellow construction writers.
Finally, I am excited to announce an important change to our 2010 schedule of events. In 2010, we are combining our two conferences into one conference to boost the quality of the conference and to adjust to the current challenging economy that all of us are experiencing now. CWA will host the 2010 Annual Conference in Chicago in the fall. We will continue to offer all of our awards programs and all winners will be honored during the 2010 Annual Conference providing one magnificent event! Please keep an eye out for more details soon.
We are very interested in new sponsorships for 2010, and there are many ways for you to be involved and recognized as a sponsor. For more information about CWA, how to become a member, sponsorship opportunities, or our upcoming calendar of events, I welcome you to take a few moments to look around our website. If you have questions, please feel free to email me or contact our Executive Director Deborah Hodges via email at info@constructionwriters.org or by phone at 773-687-8726.
All the best.
Susan Garritano
2009/2010 CWA President
National Communications Manager
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.