KAREN BARBOUR: FROM INDUSTRY ADVOCATE TO NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Karen Barbour’s journey to becoming National President of Women Construction Owners & Executives was not the result of a single milestone. It was the natural next step in a career defined by service, advocacy, and a commitment to opening doors for others.

For nearly four decades, Karen has worked closely with contractors, business owners, and industry leaders, giving her a firsthand view of both the opportunities and the barriers facing women in construction. Through her work in surety and as founder of The Barbour Group, she has helped companies grow stronger and compete at higher levels. But along the way, she also saw a broader need: women business owners and executives needed more than technical support. They needed community, visibility, mentorship, and a stronger collective voice.

That belief shaped Karen’s leadership within WCOE and ultimately led her to the national presidency. She understood that WCOE’s mission was not only relevant, but essential. At a time when women continue to build influence across every segment of the construction industry, Karen saw the importance of strengthening the organization’s reach, deepening member engagement, and ensuring women leaders had a platform to connect, advocate, and lead.

That same vision led Karen to found WCOE DMV. Recognizing the strength and opportunity within the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region, she saw the need for a strong local chapter that could bring women in construction together in a more direct and meaningful way. WCOE DMV was created to foster relationships, elevate women-owned and women-led businesses, create business opportunities, and build a powerful regional network connected to WCOE’s national mission.

For Karen, leadership is about more than holding a title. It is about building structures that help others succeed. Her work with WCOE nationally and her role in founding WCOE DMV reflect the same principle that has defined her career from the beginning: when access, advocacy, and relationships come together, real opportunity follows.