Stephanie Simpkins, owner and president of Liberty Lake-based North Star Enterprises 1 Inc., has been named the 2025 board president for Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors.

Simpkins is the first woman to hold the position in the organization’s 104-year history.

“Too often, young women and girls grow up without ever considering the construction industry as a career path, whether due to outdated perceptions, a lack of visual role models, or simply because no one ever told them, ‘Yes, you can do this,’” Simpkins says in an AGC press release. “Well, I’m here to say, ‘Yes, you can.’”

Simpkins has played a key role in AGC’s efforts to strengthen member engagement, advocate for industry advancements, and create a more inclusive environment for construction professionals, the release states.

As board president, she plans to expand AGC’s outreach, increase member participation, and push for policies that support contractors and their workforce.

Simpkins’ company, North Star Enterprises, was founded in 1984 by her mother, Chris Anderson. In 2014, Simpkins took over as president and sole owner of the company, which specializes in providing traffic control solutions for contractors in the Inland Northwest.

Simpkins’ unprecedented appointment comes just ahead of Women in Construction Week, which will take place March 2-8. The Spokane chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction has organized a series of events to celebrate and empower women in the industry.

While Simpkins is the first woman to hold the board president position, women have held other leadership roles in the AGC chapter. Cheryl Stewart is the organization's current executive director.