


A leader in the mortgage industry and “a visionary” according to her peers, Kelly Zitlow sits at the helm of a nonprofit empowering girls to master the use of power tools and take on the lost art of building with their hands.
With a desire to encourage women not to limit themselves, Zitlow, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Cornerstone Capital Bank, in Scottsdale, Arizona, co-founded Women Building America (WBA), a nonprofit that brings teenage girls together in construction camps where they learn about homebuilding and affiliated fields.
The nonprofit strives to embolden the young women while introducing them to possible careers.
“Our thought was how can we focus and get to some young girls before they get into the traditional workspace or college,” Zitlow said. “The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.”
“The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.” - Kelly Zitlow
Zitlow, who has been in the mortgage sector for three decades, co-founded the nonprofit with Lisa Cortez, a loan officer for Cornerstone Home Lending, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cortez, who works on the new home construction side of lending, invited Zitlow to attend one of her construction camp trips in Charlotte, N.C.
Zitlow was immediately enamored.
“I said, Lisa there’s something here,” she said.
Expanding on the idea could help more young girls see that home construction isn’t a profession exclusive to men, she said. In addition, it would help the construction industry fill a deepening shortage in labor.
According to a news release from Associated Builders and Contractors, due to a high demand for construction services, the industry was down 439,000 workers at the beginning of last year. In 2026, as spending picks up in response to presumed lower interest rates, the industry will need to bring in 499,000 new workers.
Zitlow asked Cortez if she was interested in creating a nonprofit and bringing the camps to even more girls. For Cortez, exposing more females to home construction was a no-brainer.
With a background in teaching and nursing, she said she entered the industry “against my will” when her husband pulled her in. From the get-go, she noticed there were not a lot of women in residential homebuilding. Coming from two female-dominated careers, that came as a shock.
“It was very strange to me,” she said. “Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room."
“Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room.” - Lisa Cortez
Zitlow pitched the non-profit idea to Cornerstone Board Chair Mark Laird, who was instrumental in bringing it to life, she said. With his encouragement, Cornerstone became a national sponsor.
In its inaugural year, WBA held camps in Dallas, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. They were so well-received that this year the nonprofit will host six camps: Denver, Colorado; Bastrop, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
“We’ve had a fabulous response and we’re just getting started,” Zitlow said.
Cortez, calling Zitlow “a visionary,” credits her with getting WBA going and with its growth.
“Kelly has the vision for branding,” she said. “She has a way of not just thinking about today or tomorrow, but a year from now.”
Jessica Towner, WBA Program and Operations Coordinator, agreed. “Kelly has been so instrumental in being that visionary,” she said.
When the girls arrive for their day-and-a-half builder boot camp, they’re handed T-shirts and hardhats and get straight to work. Half of the first day is spent in the classroom learning from mostly women who have successfully navigated the home construction industry. Then, after a lunch break, it’s time to put on hardhats and get hands-on experience with power tools.
“The cool thing about this camp is that we actually go out and build something,” Zitlow said. “There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.”
“There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.” - Kelly Zitlow
Homebuilders, general contractors and job superintendents donate time to train enrollees to use the tools and build something, such as a wooden planter, bookshelves, or a doghouse.
None of the wood has been pre-cut, Zitlow noted. There are piles of lumber in warehouses waiting to be cut into exactly the right size and shape for whatever the girls are making that day.
“Just different projects where they’re actually using wood and power tools to build with their hands, which I think is a lost art,” Zitlow said.
With help from volunteers, the girls measure and cut the wood, put together the designs, then sand and paint the finished product. When they built planters, they were able to add flowers donated by a local nursery before calling it a day.
On day two, they do the finishing touches and take their work home.
“The great thing is we’re able to meet them where they’re at and kind of foster whatever interest that maybe was sparked by the camp,” Zitlow said.
The camps are meant to inspire the young women and help foster next steps, whether they are bound for college or plan to take on a trade in what has been a male-dominated space.
“There are great strides and amazing women that are in the home construction industry that are really helping to bring change but also to bring additional labor,” Zitlow said. “This is our way of being able to educate youth, empower young women and give them more options as they move forward in their careers and journeys.”
The vibe at the camps is of career exploration and breaking barriers, Cortez said. The girls are able to plan for careers in surprising fields including electrical work, plumbing, landscape design or a myriad of other trades affiliated with home construction. When they see successful women in these areas “their minds are blown” and their trajectory often pivots.
“These girls have never had this route on their career path,” she said. “In society, we don’t see women in these jobs. The reality is women can do these jobs.”
WBA partners with Habitat for Humanity, which offers internship opportunities to camp-goers that allow them to participate in Habitat projects and receive a certificate.
Towner noted that the partnership with Habitat has made a positive impact and inspired one girl to secure an internship with an architectural firm. “To see a movement kind of develop through the voice of these girls is just so magical,” she said.
Zitlow expects more lightbulbs to go off as young women embrace the idea of career paths in construction. “The bigger thought here is that sometimes we’re moved by things and we let them pass for some reason,” she said.
She added that she was appreciative of the support from Cornerstone in helping her and Cortez bring their own idea to light so they can encourage women not to limit themselves.
A leader in the mortgage industry and “a visionary” according to her peers, Kelly Zitlow sits at the helm of a nonprofit empowering girls to master the use of power tools and take on the lost art of building with their hands.
With a desire to encourage women not to limit themselves, Zitlow, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Cornerstone Capital Bank, in Scottsdale, Arizona, co-founded Women Building America (WBA), a nonprofit that brings teenage girls together in construction camps where they learn about homebuilding and affiliated fields.
The nonprofit strives to embolden the young women while introducing them to possible careers.
“Our thought was how can we focus and get to some young girls before they get into the traditional workspace or college,” Zitlow said. “The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.”
“The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.” - Kelly Zitlow
Zitlow, who has been in the mortgage sector for three decades, co-founded the nonprofit with Lisa Cortez, a loan officer for Cornerstone Home Lending, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cortez, who works on the new home construction side of lending, invited Zitlow to attend one of her construction camp trips in Charlotte, N.C.
Zitlow was immediately enamored.
“I said, Lisa there’s something here,” she said.
Expanding on the idea could help more young girls see that home construction isn’t a profession exclusive to men, she said. In addition, it would help the construction industry fill a deepening shortage in labor.
According to a news release from Associated Builders and Contractors, due to a high demand for construction services, the industry was down 439,000 workers at the beginning of last year. In 2026, as spending picks up in response to presumed lower interest rates, the industry will need to bring in 499,000 new workers.
Zitlow asked Cortez if she was interested in creating a nonprofit and bringing the camps to even more girls. For Cortez, exposing more females to home construction was a no-brainer.
With a background in teaching and nursing, she said she entered the industry “against my will” when her husband pulled her in. From the get-go, she noticed there were not a lot of women in residential homebuilding. Coming from two female-dominated careers, that came as a shock.
“It was very strange to me,” she said. “Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room."
“Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room.” - Lisa Cortez
Zitlow pitched the non-profit idea to Cornerstone Board Chair Mark Laird, who was instrumental in bringing it to life, she said. With his encouragement, Cornerstone became a national sponsor.
In its inaugural year, WBA held camps in Dallas, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. They were so well-received that this year the nonprofit will host six camps: Denver, Colorado; Bastrop, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
“We’ve had a fabulous response and we’re just getting started,” Zitlow said.
Cortez, calling Zitlow “a visionary,” credits her with getting WBA going and with its growth.
“Kelly has the vision for branding,” she said. “She has a way of not just thinking about today or tomorrow, but a year from now.”
Jessica Towner, WBA Program and Operations Coordinator, agreed. “Kelly has been so instrumental in being that visionary,” she said.
When the girls arrive for their day-and-a-half builder boot camp, they’re handed T-shirts and hardhats and get straight to work. Half of the first day is spent in the classroom learning from mostly women who have successfully navigated the home construction industry. Then, after a lunch break, it’s time to put on hardhats and get hands-on experience with power tools.
“The cool thing about this camp is that we actually go out and build something,” Zitlow said. “There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.”
“There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.” - Kelly Zitlow
Homebuilders, general contractors and job superintendents donate time to train enrollees to use the tools and build something, such as a wooden planter, bookshelves, or a doghouse.
None of the wood has been pre-cut, Zitlow noted. There are piles of lumber in warehouses waiting to be cut into exactly the right size and shape for whatever the girls are making that day.
“Just different projects where they’re actually using wood and power tools to build with their hands, which I think is a lost art,” Zitlow said.
With help from volunteers, the girls measure and cut the wood, put together the designs, then sand and paint the finished product. When they built planters, they were able to add flowers donated by a local nursery before calling it a day.
On day two, they do the finishing touches and take their work home.
“The great thing is we’re able to meet them where they’re at and kind of foster whatever interest that maybe was sparked by the camp,” Zitlow said.
The camps are meant to inspire the young women and help foster next steps, whether they are bound for college or plan to take on a trade in what has been a male-dominated space.
“There are great strides and amazing women that are in the home construction industry that are really helping to bring change but also to bring additional labor,” Zitlow said. “This is our way of being able to educate youth, empower young women and give them more options as they move forward in their careers and journeys.”
The vibe at the camps is of career exploration and breaking barriers, Cortez said. The girls are able to plan for careers in surprising fields including electrical work, plumbing, landscape design or a myriad of other trades affiliated with home construction. When they see successful women in these areas “their minds are blown” and their trajectory often pivots.
“These girls have never had this route on their career path,” she said. “In society, we don’t see women in these jobs. The reality is women can do these jobs.”
WBA partners with Habitat for Humanity, which offers internship opportunities to camp-goers that allow them to participate in Habitat projects and receive a certificate.
Towner noted that the partnership with Habitat has made a positive impact and inspired one girl to secure an internship with an architectural firm. “To see a movement kind of develop through the voice of these girls is just so magical,” she said.
Zitlow expects more lightbulbs to go off as young women embrace the idea of career paths in construction. “The bigger thought here is that sometimes we’re moved by things and we let them pass for some reason,” she said.
She added that she was appreciative of the support from Cornerstone in helping her and Cortez bring their own idea to light so they can encourage women not to limit themselves.
A leader in the mortgage industry and “a visionary” according to her peers, Kelly Zitlow sits at the helm of a nonprofit empowering girls to master the use of power tools and take on the lost art of building with their hands.
With a desire to encourage women not to limit themselves, Zitlow, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Cornerstone Capital Bank, in Scottsdale, Arizona, co-founded Women Building America (WBA), a nonprofit that brings teenage girls together in construction camps where they learn about homebuilding and affiliated fields.
The nonprofit strives to embolden the young women while introducing them to possible careers.
“Our thought was how can we focus and get to some young girls before they get into the traditional workspace or college,” Zitlow said. “The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.”
“The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.” - Kelly Zitlow
Zitlow, who has been in the mortgage sector for three decades, co-founded the nonprofit with Lisa Cortez, a loan officer for Cornerstone Home Lending, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cortez, who works on the new home construction side of lending, invited Zitlow to attend one of her construction camp trips in Charlotte, N.C.
Zitlow was immediately enamored.
“I said, Lisa there’s something here,” she said.
Expanding on the idea could help more young girls see that home construction isn’t a profession exclusive to men, she said. In addition, it would help the construction industry fill a deepening shortage in labor.
According to a news release from Associated Builders and Contractors, due to a high demand for construction services, the industry was down 439,000 workers at the beginning of last year. In 2026, as spending picks up in response to presumed lower interest rates, the industry will need to bring in 499,000 new workers.
Zitlow asked Cortez if she was interested in creating a nonprofit and bringing the camps to even more girls. For Cortez, exposing more females to home construction was a no-brainer.
With a background in teaching and nursing, she said she entered the industry “against my will” when her husband pulled her in. From the get-go, she noticed there were not a lot of women in residential homebuilding. Coming from two female-dominated careers, that came as a shock.
“It was very strange to me,” she said. “Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room."
“Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room.” - Lisa Cortez
Zitlow pitched the non-profit idea to Cornerstone Board Chair Mark Laird, who was instrumental in bringing it to life, she said. With his encouragement, Cornerstone became a national sponsor.
In its inaugural year, WBA held camps in Dallas, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. They were so well-received that this year the nonprofit will host six camps: Denver, Colorado; Bastrop, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
“We’ve had a fabulous response and we’re just getting started,” Zitlow said.
Cortez, calling Zitlow “a visionary,” credits her with getting WBA going and with its growth.
“Kelly has the vision for branding,” she said. “She has a way of not just thinking about today or tomorrow, but a year from now.”
Jessica Towner, WBA Program and Operations Coordinator, agreed. “Kelly has been so instrumental in being that visionary,” she said.
When the girls arrive for their day-and-a-half builder boot camp, they’re handed T-shirts and hardhats and get straight to work. Half of the first day is spent in the classroom learning from mostly women who have successfully navigated the home construction industry. Then, after a lunch break, it’s time to put on hardhats and get hands-on experience with power tools.
“The cool thing about this camp is that we actually go out and build something,” Zitlow said. “There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.”
“There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.” - Kelly Zitlow
Homebuilders, general contractors and job superintendents donate time to train enrollees to use the tools and build something, such as a wooden planter, bookshelves, or a doghouse.
None of the wood has been pre-cut, Zitlow noted. There are piles of lumber in warehouses waiting to be cut into exactly the right size and shape for whatever the girls are making that day.
“Just different projects where they’re actually using wood and power tools to build with their hands, which I think is a lost art,” Zitlow said.
With help from volunteers, the girls measure and cut the wood, put together the designs, then sand and paint the finished product. When they built planters, they were able to add flowers donated by a local nursery before calling it a day.
On day two, they do the finishing touches and take their work home.
“The great thing is we’re able to meet them where they’re at and kind of foster whatever interest that maybe was sparked by the camp,” Zitlow said.
The camps are meant to inspire the young women and help foster next steps, whether they are bound for college or plan to take on a trade in what has been a male-dominated space.
“There are great strides and amazing women that are in the home construction industry that are really helping to bring change but also to bring additional labor,” Zitlow said. “This is our way of being able to educate youth, empower young women and give them more options as they move forward in their careers and journeys.”
The vibe at the camps is of career exploration and breaking barriers, Cortez said. The girls are able to plan for careers in surprising fields including electrical work, plumbing, landscape design or a myriad of other trades affiliated with home construction. When they see successful women in these areas “their minds are blown” and their trajectory often pivots.
“These girls have never had this route on their career path,” she said. “In society, we don’t see women in these jobs. The reality is women can do these jobs.”
WBA partners with Habitat for Humanity, which offers internship opportunities to camp-goers that allow them to participate in Habitat projects and receive a certificate.
Towner noted that the partnership with Habitat has made a positive impact and inspired one girl to secure an internship with an architectural firm. “To see a movement kind of develop through the voice of these girls is just so magical,” she said.
Zitlow expects more lightbulbs to go off as young women embrace the idea of career paths in construction. “The bigger thought here is that sometimes we’re moved by things and we let them pass for some reason,” she said.
She added that she was appreciative of the support from Cornerstone in helping her and Cortez bring their own idea to light so they can encourage women not to limit themselves.
A leader in the mortgage industry and “a visionary” according to her peers, Kelly Zitlow sits at the helm of a nonprofit empowering girls to master the use of power tools and take on the lost art of building with their hands.
With a desire to encourage women not to limit themselves, Zitlow, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Cornerstone Capital Bank, in Scottsdale, Arizona, co-founded Women Building America (WBA), a nonprofit that brings teenage girls together in construction camps where they learn about homebuilding and affiliated fields.
The nonprofit strives to embolden the young women while introducing them to possible careers.
“Our thought was how can we focus and get to some young girls before they get into the traditional workspace or college,” Zitlow said. “The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.”
“The goal here is to plant seeds — that’s what is so exciting.” - Kelly Zitlow
Zitlow, who has been in the mortgage sector for three decades, co-founded the nonprofit with Lisa Cortez, a loan officer for Cornerstone Home Lending, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cortez, who works on the new home construction side of lending, invited Zitlow to attend one of her construction camp trips in Charlotte, N.C.
Zitlow was immediately enamored.
“I said, Lisa there’s something here,” she said.
Expanding on the idea could help more young girls see that home construction isn’t a profession exclusive to men, she said. In addition, it would help the construction industry fill a deepening shortage in labor.
According to a news release from Associated Builders and Contractors, due to a high demand for construction services, the industry was down 439,000 workers at the beginning of last year. In 2026, as spending picks up in response to presumed lower interest rates, the industry will need to bring in 499,000 new workers.
Zitlow asked Cortez if she was interested in creating a nonprofit and bringing the camps to even more girls. For Cortez, exposing more females to home construction was a no-brainer.
With a background in teaching and nursing, she said she entered the industry “against my will” when her husband pulled her in. From the get-go, she noticed there were not a lot of women in residential homebuilding. Coming from two female-dominated careers, that came as a shock.
“It was very strange to me,” she said. “Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room."
“Even today in board meetings, builder meetings, I’m the only woman in the room.” - Lisa Cortez
Zitlow pitched the non-profit idea to Cornerstone Board Chair Mark Laird, who was instrumental in bringing it to life, she said. With his encouragement, Cornerstone became a national sponsor.
In its inaugural year, WBA held camps in Dallas, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. They were so well-received that this year the nonprofit will host six camps: Denver, Colorado; Bastrop, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
“We’ve had a fabulous response and we’re just getting started,” Zitlow said.
Cortez, calling Zitlow “a visionary,” credits her with getting WBA going and with its growth.
“Kelly has the vision for branding,” she said. “She has a way of not just thinking about today or tomorrow, but a year from now.”
Jessica Towner, WBA Program and Operations Coordinator, agreed. “Kelly has been so instrumental in being that visionary,” she said.
When the girls arrive for their day-and-a-half builder boot camp, they’re handed T-shirts and hardhats and get straight to work. Half of the first day is spent in the classroom learning from mostly women who have successfully navigated the home construction industry. Then, after a lunch break, it’s time to put on hardhats and get hands-on experience with power tools.
“The cool thing about this camp is that we actually go out and build something,” Zitlow said. “There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.”
“There’s nothing like seeing the light go off in a young mind who had no idea how to even use any power tools or how to design things, and to see the empowerment that happens in this transition in a day and a half.” - Kelly Zitlow
Homebuilders, general contractors and job superintendents donate time to train enrollees to use the tools and build something, such as a wooden planter, bookshelves, or a doghouse.
None of the wood has been pre-cut, Zitlow noted. There are piles of lumber in warehouses waiting to be cut into exactly the right size and shape for whatever the girls are making that day.
“Just different projects where they’re actually using wood and power tools to build with their hands, which I think is a lost art,” Zitlow said.
With help from volunteers, the girls measure and cut the wood, put together the designs, then sand and paint the finished product. When they built planters, they were able to add flowers donated by a local nursery before calling it a day.
On day two, they do the finishing touches and take their work home.
“The great thing is we’re able to meet them where they’re at and kind of foster whatever interest that maybe was sparked by the camp,” Zitlow said.
The camps are meant to inspire the young women and help foster next steps, whether they are bound for college or plan to take on a trade in what has been a male-dominated space.
“There are great strides and amazing women that are in the home construction industry that are really helping to bring change but also to bring additional labor,” Zitlow said. “This is our way of being able to educate youth, empower young women and give them more options as they move forward in their careers and journeys.”
The vibe at the camps is of career exploration and breaking barriers, Cortez said. The girls are able to plan for careers in surprising fields including electrical work, plumbing, landscape design or a myriad of other trades affiliated with home construction. When they see successful women in these areas “their minds are blown” and their trajectory often pivots.
“These girls have never had this route on their career path,” she said. “In society, we don’t see women in these jobs. The reality is women can do these jobs.”
WBA partners with Habitat for Humanity, which offers internship opportunities to camp-goers that allow them to participate in Habitat projects and receive a certificate.
Towner noted that the partnership with Habitat has made a positive impact and inspired one girl to secure an internship with an architectural firm. “To see a movement kind of develop through the voice of these girls is just so magical,” she said.
Zitlow expects more lightbulbs to go off as young women embrace the idea of career paths in construction. “The bigger thought here is that sometimes we’re moved by things and we let them pass for some reason,” she said.
She added that she was appreciative of the support from Cornerstone in helping her and Cortez bring their own idea to light so they can encourage women not to limit themselves.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.


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MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.


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