INDUSTRY TESTIMONIALS
Leading with Authenticity
Some words from industry colleagues and clients.
Krystle Schnell
Instructor
OE324
NAWIC members,
I am writing today to offer my support to NAWIC Lansing Chapter 177 President Rita Brown for the position of NAWIC national president-elect.My name is Krystle Schnell, and I have worked as a tradeswoman in the construction industry for 13 years. For the last 3 years, I have strived to build a sense of community with the women in our organization. It has been a long process, trying to create a platform where our women could actively support each other and truly lift each other up. We are making strides in this now thanks to the help and support of Rita Brown and NAWIC Lansing Chapter 177.
Rita has been a critical player in gaining involvement with and for these women. By creating an opportunity to bring in our apprentices as student members with NAWIC, she has helped to connect us not only with each other but with women of other trades as well. This has strengthened our sisterhood at its core and led to increased interest in holding and participating in women’s groups on an organizational level. This organizational involvement goes so much further than our female membership. It includes the buy-in from our male allies at top levels of management which allows us to grow and expand at an expedited rate. The support and opportunity provided by Rita Brown to the boots-on-the-ground tradeswomen has been invaluable and is appreciated more than she could know. I am so grateful for her willingness to spend endless hours, voluntarily, to make this possible for us.
Beyond the commitment that she has shown to our organization, she has proved to be an incredibly dedicated sponsor. She has shown time and time again that she does not just talk about opening doors for women. She actively pushes those doors out of the way and pulls others in right beside her. She puts her reputation on the line to give others the chance to exceed and supports them every step of the way. As one of the many women she has done this for, I can say firsthand that this woman is a powerhouse for the advancement of women in the construction industry.
Leadership like Rita’s is what can truly make a difference. It certainly has for me and the skilled tradeswomen in Michigan. That is why I support her wholeheartedly, and I hope you will as well. Thank you for your consideration.
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Thank you,
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Krystle Schnell
InstructorOperating Engineers
324275 E. Highland RoadHowell, MI 48843
Hilary Peach, Author
Rita Brown is a firecracker. She sees issues that other people only look at, and responds effectively with speed, creativity, and grace. She’s whip-smart and savvy, a committed problem-solver, and more than anything Rita Brown knows how to get things done...
Rita is always working, always thinking, and her commitment to lifting women up is beyond measure.
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