Bid now for a personal consultation with construction trailblazer Barbara K!
From 1995-2002, Barbara Kavovit, aka, Barbara K, construction trailblazer, founded the first, NYC Female owned, (certified Women Business Enterprise) Construction Management and General Contracting company, Anchor Construction. Some of her projects of note was the renovation of homes Amber Valetta (Perry Street) and Linda Evangelista (Bank St), Carnegie Hall Towers, Coty Cosmetics, iVillage and many other high profile projects. In 2001 Barbara was chosen by Crain’s as one of “100 Most Influential Women in Business.” In 2001 and 2002 she was a finalist in the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Barbara has been a speaker at many conferences including subjects on “marketing to women”, Big Brothers, Big Sisters as a motivational speaker for young women, the Pink Conference, Marketing Council of America and Columbia University to name a few.
In 2003 Barbara created “Barbara K”, the brandt she became best known for and pioneer behind the line of “Barbara K” tools and do-it-yourself products specifically designed for women. Barbara takes pride in knowing that the tools she created not only completed projects, but also helped women develop skills, and by that process developed confidence for them to participate in anything regarding their home life. Barbara firmly believes that fashionable and function goes hand it hand with utilitarian products, along with useful tips and information that empower women to resolve problems in their home and provide solutions to help them live comfortably-- thus being a vehicle for a woman’s self esteem and confidence.
From 2010-2011 Barbara created the Barbara’s Way tool line for the mass market and licensed her name and designs to Stanley Tools. Together they launched a nationwide program at WalMart in over 3,500 stores. In 2012 Barbara created the brand, “DIYVA”, continuing her passion for all things DIY and DIVA. It’s all about being capable, independent and strong combined with feminine, sexy and fabulous, -- “Do It Yourself DIVA!”
In 2012 Barbara invented and patented the “Pillow Purse”- a versatile handbag that transforms in an ergonomic pillow. She launched the “DIYVA” line of Toolkits and Pillow Purses at Macy’s in 400 stores and on line. This coming Mother’s Day, 2015, the “DIYVA” line of Toolkits will be available in select Home Depot stores in the Midwest, Homedepot.com and Amazon. In December 2015, Barbara will launch her DIYVA line of DIY products on QVC during a 30 minute DIY special- “DIY With Barbara K.”
Barbara was a former NY Post columnist (Real Estate Section) for six years as well as an author of two books, “Room for Improvement: Change Your Home! Enhance Your Life! With: Tools, Tips and Inspiration from Barbara K!” (Rodale 2005) and “Invest In Your Nest: Add Style, Comfort, and Value To Your Home” (Rodale 2006). (Amazon) Her name has also been associated with countless books on “Entrepreneurs.”
Barbara’s expertise is fully recognized. She has appeared on Good Morning America and The Today Show numerous times. As the Home Improvement expert for AOL’s Coaches. Barbara has been featured in publications around the country and internationally including “O” The Oprah Magazine, The New York
Times, People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Parade and Forbes. Barbara was the host of the “home segment” on WE Network’s SAVVY, a video magazine show, in a pilot for the E! Channel, “Get A Grip With Barbara K”, on CNBC’s commercial campaign “I Am American Business”, guest commentator on HGTV’s "25 Biggest Home Renovating Mistakes. Barbara appears as well in a documentary about her life on Canadian Lifetime TV. She also provided her expert assistance on the Style Network’s new “What I Hate About Myself,” and appeared recently on Better TV, CBS The Couch, and the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family and Fox Business “The Real Story” with Gretchen Carlsen and many others.