Welcome to the Archive

Barb’s Blog began as a way to connect members to our Executive Director’s guidance, updates on industry hot topics, and best industry practices broken down into snack sized morsels. Barb’s Blog goes live on Mondays, for updates on posting be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Small Business Retirement Plan Mandate

Small Business Retirement Plan Mandate

Small Business Retirement Plan Mandate—Are You Aware? In May 2023, the state of Minnesota joined over half of other U.S. states in passing legislation requiring private-sector...

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Data Storytelling

Data Storytelling

I hated math – hated it. I’m good at it, I just never liked it. Girls weren’t supposed to like math when I was growing up. Fast forward to college and requirements for a degree –...

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New Year — Make Time

New Year — Make Time

New Year — Make Time Ringing in the new year means a time of resolutions and goals. There is so much emphasis on change and what you can do better. We are full of positivity and...

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Are Contracting Programs at Risk

Are Contracting Programs at Risk

Are Contracting Programs at Risk? During a meeting with government entities today, we discussed the risk of contracting programs due to the supreme court decision on affirmative...

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What Happened in DC 2023

What Happened in DC 2023

What Happened in DC 2023 After the success of last year’s DC Fly-In with the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, the board made this a budget item for me to attend each year....

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TikTok & Federal Contracting

TikTok & Federal Contracting

Big Brother is Watching: What you need to know about TikTok & Federal Contracting If you are unfamiliar with the Big Brother reference, it comes from the George Orwell book...

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Exhibit A Forms

Exhibit A Forms

Why Do I Care About MnDOT's Exhibit A Forms? Part of the "Barb’s Blog" intent is to take issues/concerns I work with members on and turn them into educational opportunities. This...

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Back to the Federal Reserve

Back to the Federal Reserve

Back to the Federal Reserve: Community Advisory Council Reunion One of my career highlights to date was my term serving on the Federal Reserve Board’s Community Advisory Council...

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The History of AWC Golf

The History of AWC Golf

Sold Out - How a simple act of philanthropy has exploded. If you haven’t heard the 2023 AWC Scholarship Golf FUNdraiser is Sold Out.  I first want to say THANK YOU for all the...

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Bad Apples are Spoiling the Bunch

Bad Apples are Spoiling the Bunch

"Bad Apples are Spoiling the Bunch" We are all familiar with this metaphor. It can be traced all the way back to 1340 English as “A rotten apple quickly infects its neighbor”...

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Federal Reserve: Inflation Economics

Federal Reserve: Inflation Economics

After my term serving on the Community Advisory Council to the Federal Reserve, I became much more intrigued with economics and policy. On the CAC we were asked questions on...

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Employee Performance Reviews

Employee Performance Reviews

In the early ‘90s I was working for a design firm as part of the administrative team. I remember my mentor Barb year after year procrastinate the annual performance review...

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What Happened In DC

What Happened In DC

After years of considering the Minnesota Transportation Alliance’s DC Fly-In, attending this year was perfectly timed. The conference was centered on the new IIJA funding...

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Where’s My CERT Certificate?

Where’s My CERT Certificate?

I have worked as a liaison between members and the Central CERT agencies on multiple certification issues. As noted in a previous blog, mentoring our AWC members through...

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Where’s Barb

Where’s Barb

This week’s blog is more of a “Where’s Waldo” for what has been happening behind the scenes at AWC this summer. A “Where’s Barb” if you will. Often Summer is my slow season –...

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Public Owners – Final Answer

Public Owners – Final Answer

In my Federal Reserve council meetings in 2020, I told the Governors that our industry was working but we were going to be hurting in years to come and to please save us some...

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Federal Contracting

Federal Contracting

Federal Contracting – Are you ignoring this business opportunity?When AWC was started in 1995, a handful of the membership was bidding and performing on federal contracts. This...

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Gratitude

Gratitude

Today’s blog is a public Thank You note.  Last Friday was the AWC Scholarship Golf FUNdraiser Event. This is the sole funding source for our scholarships awarded to women...

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Legislative Inaction

Legislative Inaction

Today I want to talk the failure of the Minnesota legislature this past session. I believe that the divided government should be referred to going forward as “Government of...

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Reset

Reset

Since my first job as a secretary and data tech back in the 1980's, I have been working on computers.  When your computer freezes up - you call IT. Inevitably the first thing you...

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Good Faith Efforts

Good Faith Efforts

This is part 3 of Barb's certification series. Click here to read part 1: "You Must Use Me, I'm a Certified Business" and here to read part 2: "Which Certifications Do I Need to...

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Promote Your Company, Not Gmail

Promote Your Company, Not Gmail

For some this is a lightbulb moment, and others it might be a good refresher. We are 35+ years into the digital age, yet for some online marketing is still a mystery. I was at a...

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Which Certifications Do I Need to Get?

Which Certifications Do I Need to Get?

This is part 2 of Barb's certification series. Click here to read part 1: "You Must Use Me, I'm a Certified Business".Did you know that in Minnesota there are 6 women owned...

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Construction Crisis IGNORED

Construction Crisis IGNORED

I feel like I am the squeakiest wheel in town on this issue and quite frankly it would be too expensive to oil this wheel right now due to fuel escalation! Last year when I...

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The World of Cyber Security

The World of Cyber Security

Cyber Security: Boring – Yep.  Confusing – Yep.  Costly – Yep, Yep. What Cyber Security is not: someone else’s concern. I am coming off a 6-week process of renewing the AWC cyber...

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How It All Began

How It All Began

In honor of Women in Construction Week I want to recognize how a handful of women started the AWC. The founding members were trail blazers at a time when women owned business in...

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It Starts With US

It Starts With US

It Starts with Us! The Movement and Challenge.Two years ago, a movement was started but the world took away our focus on the roll out. The roll out is starting with a...

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Mentoring for Good

Mentoring for Good

Have you ever thought about how you can truly make a difference in the success and growth of small businesses? One of the most significant things you can do is to become a mentor...

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Subcontractors Take a Hit

Subcontractors Take a Hit

Wow! Over 20,000 views to my share of the Finance & Commerce article, "Subcontractors take a hit," on LinkedIn. Thank you to Brian Johnson and Finance & Commerce for...

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32 and 20

32 and 20

Today I want to address the workforce goals in Minnesota. At a DBE and Workforce Advisory Committee meeting I attended, the end of the meeting got a bit contentious regarding...

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One Voice – Who Cares What I Think?

One Voice – Who Cares What I Think?

Just coming off of the MN Construction Summit, I attended a presentation given by Minnesota Senator Ann Johnson Stewart.  The Senator is a woman business owner, engineering...

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Remembering Mel Reeves

Remembering Mel Reeves

On January 6th, 2022, the industry lost a workforce advocate – Mel Reeves. Mel was a social justice champion and advocate for equality within this industry. I first began working...

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Introductions

Introductions

Welcome! Barb’s Blog is a new feature that will be shared on the website, social media, and The Scoop! When the AWC was small, members were very knowledgeable about the regular...

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