National Institute of Building Sciences Names First Female Board Chair

The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) named Anne M. Ellis, executive director with the Charles Pankow Foundation, as the first female Chair of the Board of Directors in the organization's history since it was created by Congress in 1974. A non-governmental non-profit, NIBS says that it brings together labor and consumer interests, government representatives, regulatory agencies, and members of the building industry to resolve problems and plan for the future of housing and commercial buildings.

“We recognize the need to improve diversity and inclusion in leadership roles in this industry, and this year’s nominations process was a step in the right direction,” said Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, President and CEO of NIBS, says of the election of Ellis, P.E., Hon.M.ACI, F.ASCE, M.NAC. “The skill set and knowledge that these new board members bring to the table will increase our ability to serve the needs of the nation’s building industry.”

 The other elected board officials include Thomas H. Phoenix, Sr., PE, FASHRAE, LEED-AP, CPL Architects and Engineers, PC as vice-chair; Darrell X. Rounds, FMA, C.E.M., operations group manager, General Motors as treasurer; and Charlie D. Curlin, Jr., PE, CEM, CPD, principal with Shultz Engineering Group as secretary. They will join four other board members appointed by President Joe Biden. The entire NIBS board is comprised of 21 members.

"The President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints six members to represent the public interest, NIBS says. "The remaining 15 members are elected from the nation's building community and include both public interest representatives and industry voices."

First Female Chair on Heels of Social Equity Survey

Ellis's election aligns with the NIBS' findings on overall industry attitudes on diversity based on the 2021 Built Environment Social Equity Survey, conducted by the consulting firm Avenue M Group. With nearly 12,000 responses, the survey found that nearly two-thirds of employees who work in building indicated that it is important or extremely important to increase the diversity of the built environment. Women and minorities in the industry were more likely to indicate that the built environment is not diverse and that it is very important to improve the diversity. 

“Diversity, equity and inclusion, specifically in leadership positions, must be a priority in the building industry,” says Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, president and CEO of NIBS. “The built environment needs a workforce and culture transformation, and this survey is just the first step to establish baseline data and set actionable goals. NIBS remains dedicated to the work that lies ahead.”

According to NIBS, the organization invited more than 80 organizations to partner in the equity survey, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and ASHRAE.

More survey highlights:

• The majority of survey respondents are employed full-time (71%) and have been in the built environment for more than 20 years.
• Nearly three-fourths (74%) of survey respondents identify as White.
• Sixty-three percent of respondents work in private industry or business and 23% work in government.
• Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents are men, and almost three in 10 (28%) are women.
• Sixty-six percent of women respondents indicated they experienced discrimination or prejudice in the built environment based on gender.
• More than two in five (43%) employed/working respondents indicated their company has a program or initiative dedicated to DEI.
• Younger respondents and women were more likely to indicate the importance to increase the diversity of the built environment.
• Black or African-American respondents (91%), South Asian respondents (89%), East Asian respondents (84%), and Hispanic or Latina/Latino/Latinx respondents (79%) were more likely than White respondents (64%) to indicate it is important or extremely important to increase the diversity of the built environment.

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