Construction Women disscus the need for (online) speed.

The Gospel of the techies reads loud and clear. The time is now. The Internet revolution is upon us and, yes, it has made it way to the construction industry. Yet the question on the minds of many remains: Is this a threat or a promise? On June 29, "Megatrends: Can You Afford Not To Be Online?", a seminar presented by Professional Women in Construction (PWC) at the Yale Club in New York City, offered a rare opportunity to hear a balanced evaluation by a panel of experts that allowed members of the industry to sift through the hype and the substance. The program was co-sponsored by McGraw-Hill's Construction.com. Other event sponsors were The Blue Book of Building and Construction; Buildpoint Corporation; Con Edison; Fleet Bank; Gaspra Technologies; and Sweet's Group.

Lenore Janis, president of PWC, explained, "PWC has always been in the forefront in presenting the latest trends to our members and audience. This seminar, which, to our knowledge, is the first of its kind offered in the northeast region, provides a broad overview of the enormous and exciting opportunities available in e-Commerce for construction, while recognizing that sea changes don't take place over night. Many questions must be carefully weighed before leaping."

The panelists included the leaders of two firms which design and implement Internet-based project communication and e-Commerce solutions for construction: Jon Antevy, CEO and co-founder of e-Builder, Inc., and Tim Perini, cofounder and vice president of business development and marketing for Cephren, Inc. Other panelists offered their views on how e-Commerce solutions assisted their workplace: Clifford J. Macaylo, vice president-supply chain of Fischbach & Moore Electric, Inc.; Diana Chapin, first deputy commissioner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection; Dennis Jawor, director of treasury operations with Con Edison; and Scott Silverman, director of MIS with Slattery Skanska. Victoria Pao, director of business development for the Information & Media Services Group with McGraw-Hill Companies which includes Business Week and B2B (business to business) verticals in construction, aviation and energy, works with the Construction Information Group to focus on business development opportunities in the o nline space. Matthew Fair, senior technical editor of ENR (Engineering News Record) gave a journalist's perspective in conclusion. Judy Schriener, managing online editor/Web producer for McGraw Hill Construction Information Group and PWC's 1992 Woman of the year, served as moderator.

Upcoming PWC events include "Meet the Architects" on Tuesday, July 25, and Meet the PWC Sponsors on Tuesday, August 22. Both events are at La Maganette Ristorante, 50th Street and 3rd Ave., and run from 5:39 to 8 p.m. For reservations call [phone].

Founded in 1980, Professional Women in Construction is a nonprofit association dedicated to the advancement of women business owners, professionals and executives actively engaged in construction and allied industries. It presents over 15 events annually.

This year's events are funded, in part, by corporate sponsors which are: The Chase Manhattan Bank; Goetz Fitzpatrick Most & Bruckman LLP; Henegan Construction; LCOR; National Minority Business Council; Peckar & Abramson, PC; Port Authority of NY & NJ; Roc/Soc Marketing Inc.; Slattery/Skanska; Tishman Realty & Construction; and Turner Construction. The associate sponsors are ACC Construction; Altus Metal & Marble Maintenance; Ava Shypula Consulting; Cauldwell Wingate; Communication Research Consultants; Egg Electric; Hazardous Elimination Corp.; The Mann Report; New York Construction News; Marilyn Thypin, Ph.D.; Real Estate New York; Real Estate Weekly; and Testwell Laboratories.