Kim Gill, MA, CAE, a veteran Colorado nonprofit executive with experience in the plumbing and contracting industries, has been named the founding executive director of Women in Plumbing and Piping (WiPP), a 501(c)3 project focused on the empowerment of women in both industries nationally.

WiPP’s mission is to provide a community of connection and empowerment for women in the plumbing and piping industries to thrive personally and professionally. The organization is built on four pillars including mentorship, education, networking and education. These pillars all support workforce development including the recruitment of more women into the plumbing and piping industries and, once in, to ensure they have a path to success. The newly established membership organization seeks partnerships with associations and corporations to drive this initiative for the industry.

“I’m excited and honored to be on the ground floor of this effort,” said Gill, who added, “I am passionate about this endeavor to support women because my family worked in the trades, and I have worked for various construction associations throughout my career. I see other industries — such as HVAC, roofing and trucking — providing much-needed resources and support to women and think it’s important we do the same here.”

Gill, originally from Albany, New York, has more than 25 years of management experience, the vast majority in nonprofit trade associations and professional societies. Prior to WiPP, she served as the top executive or one of the top executives in plumbing and contracting membership organizations in Colorado. She also served as marketing director for an international project management software company working with the trades. More recently, she has managed national organizations in education and health care.

Gill has an MA in Marketing and Advertising from Emerson College, Boston, and she has a BA in Communications, PR & Business from the State University of New York College at Oswego. She serves on the board of the Colorado Society of Association Executives and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives. She received her CAE credential from ASAE in 2015 and teaches coursework to individuals pursuing or maintaining their certification.