“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Construction has no color and neither does water; therefore, when we look at collaboration, it is vital to your success in the construction industry, especially within water infrastructure.

In this issue, we share some highlights from our October/November events and provide some thoughts of a collective vision in the water industry of construction.

Through collaboration we find we are all faced with the same issues, challenges, and opportunities to collaborate. For example:

1.   The escalating cost of materials with supply chain issues

2.   The rising cost of labor

3.   The shortage of labor

4.   An aging, diverse, and browning workforce

5.   Technology changing faster than the industry can keep up

6.   The generational gap, and more.

All the above-mentioned challenges can be combated through collaboration that will eventually help everyone to dominate in the construction industry and create opportunities, in industry sectors. Collaboration brings new energy which will not only assist with the individual business, professions, and careers but the construction industry at large.

Margaret Mead expressed it best in the power in the collaboration of a few. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.” Recent examples of this were exhibited with NABWIC’s partnership with Team FL, Reuters Downstream 2021, and NABHOOD, in addition to partnering with ten water utility agencies across the United States in helping to create solutions to many water challenges. Another example is our NABWIC Water Industry Day planning; biweekly we host a planning committee with the leadership of the water industry leaders to further dominate the issues we have in the country.

These are some solutions and opportunities from the challenges, problems, and issues in the construction industry. Teamwork still makes the dream work and we continue to demonstrate this with our strategic events to bring answers to agencies as builders who are bosses signing on the front of the check.

In closing, to assist in the advancement of the construction industry, this country, and our communities, we must continue to collaborate to dominate. Napoleon Hill said it best, “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others succeed." Your call to action is to join us, in the achievement of our collective vision, as a member, student, sponsor, agency, association, A&E, Contractor, or supplier, on November 9, 2021, during our National Billion Dollar Water Luncheon and Industry Day Virtual Program as we partner with Water Agencies, Engineering and Architecture firms, Construction and related companies, Trade Schools, High Schools, Universities, and Water Associations.