BAC At the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference

The 2025 Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) conference, the largest event for women in construction, took place in Chicago, Illinois last September. The North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) event again set attendance records – drawing over 6,000 tradeswomen, labor leaders, government officials, and industry heads from across North America. As in previous years, the Conference featured a variety of programming, including plenary sessions, workshops, panels, and the annual TWBN banner parade, creating an energizing and empowering atmosphere for all.

As the conference-wide attendance has grown – so has the BAC delegation – showing the increased solidarity, participation, recruitment and support for women in our union. “Attending an event like this gives the tradeswomen the opportunity to see that they are not alone in their field,” said BAC’s Director of Health and Safety Liliana Calderon Castillo. “It makes tradeswomen and their contributions visible to everyone who attends, and everyone who watches the parade march by.”

The conference featured high-profile speakers, including NABTU President Sean McGarvey, Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker, and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler who is herself an IBEW member and fellow tradeswomen.

For sisters like Local 8 Southeast’s An’Jel “Alyx” Hilton, who was attending her first TWBN, excitement was in the air. “I loved being surrounded by so many skilled and driven women from across the trades,” she said. “It’s powerful. It reminds me that even though our field is challenging, we’re a part of a community. That community gives me confidence and reassurance that I belong here.”

For other sisters, such as Local 2 Michigan’s Michele Riley, attending TWBN has become a yearly tradition. “This was my seventh conference! My first one was 2014 in Sacramento,” she said. “I love to go and experience the sisterhood and solidarity.” 

“Being in a room with thousands of other women helps break the sense of isolation many may feel on job sites,” Riley continued. “Being one of the only women on the job for the last 25 years, I know the importance of knowing you are not alone!” 

The International Union encourages all BAC Sisters to join our R.I.S.E. (Resource for Inclusion, Success and Empowerment) group. For information on BAC Sisters R.I.S.E., and to sign up for their monthly virtual educational forum, email bacsistersrise@gmail.com. Scan the QR code for the link to the private Facebook group.