In the July issue of Builder and Developer, Laminack discusses her and NAHB’s efforts to expand the involvement of women in the residential building industry
Builder and Developer: Where did your interest in residential construction begin?
Heather Laminack: I come from a long line of builders. My family legacy began with my great-grandfather, Alexander Ferrier, who emigrated from Scotland to work as a stone mason on the Texas State Capitol in exchange for land. Over generations, the family trade evolved from masonry into structural concrete, building bridges across Texas. That foundation eventually led my dad to building the energy-efficient, high-performance homes that Ferrier Homes is now known for. I started helping in the family business at just nine years old, filing paperwork. That experience later turned into cleaning job sites, working as an accounts payable clerk in high school and later serving as office manager while in college. After graduation, I stepped into the role of general manager. Now, I’m involved in every facet of Ferrier Homes’ operations from sales to design to project management to accounting.
B&D: Tell us a little bit about your role with the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council:
HL: I joined the PWB Council, an NAHB council dedicated to promoting professionalism among women in the residential building industry, in 2018 and am honored to serve as the 2026 National PWB Chair. I was raised to plant roots and give back to your community, and that philosophy extends to my NAHB involvement as well. Not just show up and leave, but come ready to serve and help others.
B&D: In this role, what are your priorities for advancing women in the residential construction industry?
HL: As this year’s chair, I hope to build on the strong foundation laid by past leaders while expanding opportunities for skill development, networking and industry presence.
My key initiatives for 2026 include: Relaunching a quarterly PWB Book Club focused on career growth and skill-building, expanding educational offerings through webinars, Shop Talks and workshops, strengthening workforce development initiatives such as SkillsUSA and focusing on retention by evaluating what strategies are working and where there is needed improvement.
B&D: Labor shortages continue to challenge builders nationwide, what role can women play in closing the skilled labor gap?
HL: It’s not a surprise that this is a male-dominated industry, but it’s inspiring to see more women entering the residential construction world. There are more women in construction than ever before, and if we want to close the skilled labor shortage, we need to expand the workforce. Women belong and are needed in every lane of our industry, both from a workforce and a diversity perspective. Diversity is essential to achieving innovation & change; diversity of experiences, diversity of perspectives. Harnessing that diversity makes us stronger.
B&D: What were some challenges you faced as a woman in construction? What did you learn from them?
HL: Growing up in this industry, most of the roles I associated with women were office support staff. This is the path I took as well and learned a lot from while doing it! A barrier I faced, which I have heard others encounter as well, is when I wanted to expand beyond those duties. Women tend to be great at these roles and teams become dependent on them and scared when they want to move on! Looking back, I was waiting for someone to give me permission to step into a role that I didn’t see other women doing. But no one ever gave me that permission, I had to believe in myself and step confidently in the direction I wanted to pursue.
B&D: What advice would you give to women entering the industry today who aspire to leadership roles?
HL: For women considering leadership roles, locally or nationally, remember the mission is clear: Get involved! By plugging into subcommittees, working groups and task forces, members not only make an impact but naturally grow into leadership along the way. Showing up and digging into the work goes a long way. Don’t sit on the sidelines: We need your voice!
B&D: Is there anything else you would like to add?
HL: Representation matters! Women of all ages need to see themselves represented in every facet of our industry. The NAHB PWB community exists to support, advocate and advance women in this core mission and our industry is better because of it.
This is the full interview, read the print version.
