2019
Venue TBC,
London
(New speakers to be announced every week!)
Aimme Hallgrimson
Vice President of Business Development @ XL Construction
Brenda Radmacher
Partner @ Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Shelley has nearly 20 years of experience as a safety professional working in environmental, construction, emergency management, transportation, and energy industries. At AECOM, she provides leadership and technical SH&E support to management teams. She mentors a network of SH&E Professional working within the organization, leads strategic interventions and creates opportunities for recognition within AECOM’s Safety for Life Program. Shelley is a CSP, she has a BA in Environmental Studies from the USD, and a master’s in Public Health from SDSU. She has been a member of the NSC’s Board of Directors, a Campbell Award reviewer, and Chair ASSP’s Young Professional’s Development Committee. She currently Chairs NSC’s Women’s Division and Campbell Institutes Participation Committee. Shelley was awarded NSC’s Rising Star of Safety in 2010 and ASSP’s 2015 Safety Professional of the Year in 2015.
Known as an over-performing controller of building strategy and empathetic coordinator of construction teams, Kabri is a conscious role model for the next generation of female superintendents. Endorsed by a 13-year portfolio of high-risk projects, she was recognized as one of Construction Business Owner’s 2019 Outstanding Women in Construction. A champion for careers in construction management and the skilled trades, Kabri leverages her contributions to Seattle-area organizations by connecting resources supporting womxn and minorities. She boldly reinforces the rising emphasis on psychological safety – advancing the industry through initiatives that examine bias and challenge the stigma of suicide in construction.
Sara Angus is the director of Construction & Design Services and Director of Development, Licensed stores for Global store development at Starbucks. She has over 20 years of industry experience. She has worked on retail, commercial, educational, hospitality, institutional, non-profit and residential projects at all levels of design and construction.
Prior to joining Starbucks in 2019, she worked for large regional general contractor as a project executive on a wide range of project types and sizes. She is a board member for Women Leaders in Construction (Seattle) and has lectured in the University of Washington’s Construction Management program from 2003-2016 and continues to guest lecture in the CM and Commercial Real Estate programs.
Elena leads Turner’s corporate social responsibility programs in Northern California focused on economic impact, workforce development, outreach & services and Employee Resource Groups.
Economic impact is the lifeline of Turner’s focus by ensuring compliance with client’s business and workforce goals, managing their signature Turner School of Construction Management program and advocating and mentoring Underrepresented Business Enterprises such as minority and women-owned, disabled veteran, LGBTQ as well as small and local firms in the construction industry.
Elena’s expertise in workforce development grew from her leadership of the Oakland Workforce Development Board and focuses on these crucial initiatives: high/middle schools, justice system, project related and regional partnerships. She is actively recruited to lead workforce development efforts in Northern California.
Elena ensures that employees are offered opportunities to engage and connect internally and externally through volunteer and philanthropic events.
Dianne Lee is a tireless advocate and industry professional in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction marketplace. With 15+ years of experience, she has been credited for multiple billion-dollar contract awards both nationally and internationally. She is a transformational leader with direct experience having represented all facets of the construction industry from the Architecture and Engineering, Program and Construction Management and General Contracting sides of the business. Having represented all major firms from large to small such as Parsons, Parsons International, AECOM, Vanir, Dianne is now Director at Kitchell.
She currently serves on 3 prestigious industry boards. The Asian American Architects and Engineers Association of Southern California (AAa/e), Society of Marketing Professionals of Southern California (SMPS) and the Western Winter Workshop (WWW) a project and program controls organization. She also serves as Program Chair for all 3 organizations. In 2019, she served on the Board and as Program Chair for the Construction Management Association of America of Southern CA (CMAA SC).
As Vice President of Operations, Jessica leads and mentors a team of construction professionals to build exquisite spaces for companies in the Bay Area. Jessica began her construction management career 21 years ago and has worked with multiple construction firms in the Bay Area. Since joining Skyline in 2008, Jessica has led large-scale projects for high profile clients such as Workday, Oracle and PG&E. She spearheaded the development of the Building America Challenge, an initiative that sources American-made materials for construction projects, and was named one of the 40-under-40 rising stars of the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times.
Marilyn Grabowski is the Owner of Atlantic InfraStructure. Drawing on a STEM education, a Chemistry degree from Franklin & Marshall College, and her talent for branding honed from a career in pharmaceutical sales, Grabowski has cemented herself as the go-to partner for roadwork in NJ. An advocate for entrepreneurship, Grabowski enjoys mentoring students and women. A past president of the Supplier Diversity Development Council, and a lead on the Construction Industry Advancement Program, she received the 2018 EY Service Award for NJ. Recipient of PWC Women of Influence and the Women Presidents’ Organization Fastest 50 Growing Women Owned Business.
Kelley Cowan is a Project Executive with XL Construction, a commercial general contractor based in northern California. She graduated from UCLA with a BS in Civil Engineering and has over twenty-five years of construction operations and preconstruction experience in the education, healthcare, biopharmaceutical, and corporate campus markets.
A third-generation construction professional, Kelley is the Immediate Past President of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange Board of Directors, was a founding board member of the ACE (now CREATE) Mentor Program of Greater Sacramento, and was recognized as a leading professional in the Sacramento Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” List for her focus on leadership, community service, and workforce development.
Kimberly is the Director of Corporate Development with Lancaster Burns Construction, Inc. and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University.
Kimberly serves on the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchanges (SRBX) Government Affairs Committee. In that capacity, Kimberly plays a critical role in advancing the benefits of construction and assists policy makers in understanding the importance of construction to the regional and state economy. In addition, she serves on the SRBX Women in Construction Council. Kimberly is a recognised leader, grabbing the attention of and educating key policymakers of women’s contributions in construction and advancing policies that incentivize more women to enter the industry.
Sandra Akmansoy is a civil engineer and began her career with Arup in 2003 in Arup’s Madrid office. In 2012, she opened Arup’s first permanent office in Copenhagen, where she led the formation of Arup’s Denmark group. Under Sandra’s leadership, the Copenhagen office has participated in many notable building and infrastructure projects — including the Cityringen Metro expansion, Fehmarnbelt Tunnel and the Camp Adventure observation tower. During her tenure, Sandra oversaw the expansion of Arup’s Denmark team to nearly 70 people and fostered the growth of the Copenhagen office’s infrastructure and buildings practices. Sandra has worked and delivered projects in over 15 countries, and speaks 4 languages fluently.
Sandra relocated to Dallas in August 2019 to lead the development of Arup’s office. As the Dallas office leader, she will help drive the ongoing expansion of Arup’s Texas group in both the buildings and infrastructure sectors, which has seen a steady rise in business, operations, and staff in both Dallas and Houston in recent years.
Sandra is a Distinguished Alumna of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
Bernadette Reyes is Vice President of Architecture and Design at Public Storage. Ms. Reyes and her team lead the Company’s architecture, site planning, building system and interior design efforts. She ensures Public Storage standards are consistently applied to ground up and existing properties across the portfolio.
Since joining in May 2017 Ms. Reyes has led the design strategy for our portfolio providing support of architectural design, site planning, procurement, design specifications, branding and material selection. Ms. Reyes has also led the development of the reinvestment design and rebranding strategies for our capital reinvestment efforts.
Prior to joining Public Storage, Ms. Reyes worked at Austin Commercial as the Western Region Director of Preconstruction, establishing Austin’s expansion office in California. Prior to joining Austin Commercial, Ms. Reyes was a Senior Design Manager for Clark Construction, one of the largest general contractors in the United States and led over $3 billion of Design/Build and LEED projects.
Alice started her career in the AEC industry with DPR Construction in the San Francisco Bay Area building UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She led the Bay Area Skunkworks group and implemented various construction technologies on project sites. In April 2016, Alice relocated to Singapore to help start up the Southeast Asia HQ for DPR Construction as the resident BIM/VDC and construction technology expert and worked on data center projects. She was part of various workgroups led by the Singapore Building and Construction Authority (BCA), was a part-time lecturer for the BCA Academy BIM Management Certification Course, taught BIM courses for RICS and spoke at various conferences in the region. She joined the Digital Built Environment Institute(DBEI) organizing committee whilst in Asia and is now part of the DBEI North America Committee since her relocation back to San Francisco. After realizing the slow pace of digitization in the construction industry, Alice joined the Brick & Mortar Ventures team to work with startups that want to disrupt the way we design, construct and maintain the built world.
Bianca Arcilo is the Director of Architectural Solutions at One Workplace in Northern California. Bianca thrives in providing more than physical innovation but improving the building process from first idea through day two and beyond. Delivering cost certainty with flexible solutions that enhance the way your organization works. Using prefabricated interior construction solutions you have the freedom and flexibility to improve productivity and collaboration from day 1 to 222.
With 20+ year in Interiors Bianca has spent most of her career delivering timely and sustainable projects working within multiple firms supporting high profile clients like Facebook, Netflix, UC Berkeley, XL Construction, Swinerton, JLL and Bank of America to name a few. Bianca studied interior design and architecture in college and leads multiple philanthropic endeavours and while raising 3 teenage daughters.
Holly recently took on the new challenge of starting a consulting company, Consults On Construction. Holly works with her industry clients to plan the work to achieve the best outcomes and to resolve all emerging issues. A 32-year construction industry veteran, Holly provides construction experience to her leadership role within the industry. She has led onsite construction activities for projects throughout California, focused on at-risk and design-build construction. Holly’s ability to orchestrate multi-dimensional projects is echoed in her involvement in WiOPS (Women in Construction Operations). Launched in 2013, the professional organization was founded by Holly and 7 other women to provide support and mentorship to women in construction. Holly serves as the organization’s governing board president.
A Registered professional engineer (civil) in California and Hawaii, Holly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Cornell University as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from the University of Southern California.
As the manager of diversity and inclusion at PCL Construction, Priscilla oversees all aspects of government and labor relations, supplier diversity, and targeted workforce development. As a certified Master Compliance Administrator from Morgan State University, Priscilla is recognized as one of the industry’s leading compliance professional in Southern California. She’s passionate about discovering and creating unique ways to make a difference in the construction industry and in the community in which she lives and work. Recently, Priscilla was recognized as one of L.A’s Most Outstanding Women in Construction & Design by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Audrey Sato, LEED-AP is Principal Architect at Sato Architects, Inc., President of the Association for Women in Architecture and Design (AWA+D), and host of the XX|LA Architects Podcast.
Audrey founded Sato Architects, Inc. in 2010, specializing in residential design, green building, and historic preservation. Audrey gained an appreciation for nature and community while growing up in Hawaii. While at Brown University, Audrey discovered her love for architecture, realizing the potential for design to enrich lives. She received her Masters of Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, and spent 5 years teaching architecture. Audrey's other interests include surfing, ikebana, and her dog.
Ms. Bomba has nearly 20 years of experience in the management and design of construction projects. She specializes in program management and project advisory for major infrastructure and utility project portfolios. She leads multi-disciplinary teams in adapting to changing client needs.
After graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2001 with a degree in Civil Engineering, Susan’s career has taken her from field construction support, engineering design, project management, program management, and more recently strategic advisory services for owners and contractors. She leverages this broad experience to help mentor staff and help women find their place in the industry. In addition, Susan is a principal advisor for Exponent’s diversity program.
Tiff has 12 years in the construction industry; working across multiple industries and multiple countries, including Australia and Canada. Tiff has been in the construction industry since graduating from college; starting with construction scheduling, moving to field engineering and now an Area Superintendent on a mega-project construction site building an Ethylene Cracker and Polyethylene facility. Tiff is passionate about sharing her journey of building a successful and rewarding career in the construction industry with others and encouraging them to join this exciting industry.
Tiff works for Bechtel Oil Gas & Chemical and has BS in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University.
Steve Lawler, AIA, has over 25 years of experience in workplace and interiors. Focused on the “big picture,” Steve works with program stakeholders and leads BCCI’s architecture team to deliver tailored design-build and design assist solutions for clients in the financial, consulting, retail, entertainment, and technology sectors. Steve’s experience bridges the executive suite to technically demanding business continuity projects. He ensures that aesthetic and technical requirements are considered holistically and integrated into the final solution. With an insightful view of design and real estate trends, Steve is a devoted mentor to young professionals and a trusted advisor to his clients.
Bryan Prats is COO and minority owner of Prats Construction Inc.
With twenty years of experience in the industry he has worked in all aspects of the trades. He stared in the field working with his hands and has moved along with Project Management and now serves as the Chief Operating officer. He has a passion for working with good people, exceeding expectations, honoring his word, building something tangible, and building a future for both Pratsco and family.
When Bryan is not working at Pratsco he volunteers with Non Profits Building Community, assisting with Donor Relations and Community Outreach. He loves Hitting a little white golf ball around on nicely cut grass. A few keys to his success is to listen more to yourself, care less about what others think and be always kind.
Kelli is third generation in her family to work in the construction industry. After college, she joined her family’s Construction Management firm as a project engineer. Her natural instincts for the business helped her advance first to project manager, then senior project manager. As a vice president, Kelli oversees multiple project teams throughout California. In addition, she leads VPCS’s business development and long-term strategic planning. As a firm leader, her focus is to promote diversity and positive work environment for VPCS teams. Kelli has been married for 14 years and is the mother of two children (10 & 11).
Susan White is a member of Benesch’s Litigation and Construction Practice Groups. She provides counsel to subcontractors, contractors, suppliers and project owners in litigation and business consultation matters, including many ENR 400 contractors and ENR 600 specialty contractors, and both public and private owners, on all phases of the construction process – from contract procurement to project management and dispute resolution – on projects throughout the United States. Susan is a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America
Shannon Shackerley-Bennett is a dynamic leader that creates results through strong communication, organizational and professional abilities. More than 25 years of progressively responsible positions with corporate, new business, and start up teams, means she applies practical knowledge and leadership to manage risk and solve complex challenges. Prior to establishing North Star Hotel Development Shannon was the Chief Operating Officer responsible for the strategic direction and daily operation of a company overseeing $90M+ of commercial real estate holdings with over a million square feet of build out potential. This executive and her team now enable the capital raise, acquisition, and entitlements for Silicon Valley real estate pre-construction development projects.
Karen Mozes is the Director of Professional Development for the Gensler SW region. In her role she provides leadership trainings, guidance, and executive coaching to the Gensler community, while providing the leadership with strategic advice aimed at improving engagement, retention, and overall impact within the region. Prior to joining Gensler, Karen owned her own consulting firm, Cinco Consulting Solutions, providing trainings, leading offsite retreats, conducting conflict resolution, coaching and strategic consulting to architectural and engineering firms, as well as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies around the US. Karen is also the co-founder of The Business of Yoga, in partnership with Yoga Journal and is a professional licensed coach. Karen holds a Masters in Building Systems Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Design from the University of California, Berkeley. Karen spent over 15 years working in the AE field prior to transitioning to training and professional development, in the capacity of architect, façade engineer and sustainability consultant. For more information, visit her website www.karenmozes.com.
Jenny Volbeda, MRED is the Senior Project Engineer of Preconstruction Services for Pence Construction where she helps manage, coordinate and deliver the preconstruction phase of upcoming and potential projects.
Jenny is experienced in Development and Construction with a demonstrated history of working within the industry with both local developers and general contractors. Previous projects include tenant improvements, major renovations and redevelopments, and ground-up development in all real estate sectors. She received a Master's degree focused in Real Estate Development from Portland State University in 2019, and previously a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Spanish from Oregon State University.
In addition to working and learning, Jenny is active in industry groups like Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), CSI Portland and Portland State Alumni Association.
Lilian Magallanes is a Community Development Program Manager at Bluebeam, Inc., where she leverages thirteen years of construction management and facilities experience to strengthen Bluebeam’s industry relationships and nurture professional partnerships. In her previous role as BIM Coordinator for the Los Angeles Community College District, her team identified technologies and applications of Building Information Modeling and challenged the industry to deliver projects through the use of modeling standards, digital collaboration and quality assurance. In addition to her role at Bluebeam, Lilian also currently serves as the Membership Committee Chair for the Construction Progress Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to defining the future of project data governance through common data exchanges.
Jean von Bargen Root, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, PMP
Director of Sustainability @ MWA Architects, Inc.
Jean has over 20 years of architectural experience in housing, infrastructure, and neighborhood revitalization projects across the west coast. As MWA’s Director of Sustainability, she furthers her mission of social justice and sustainable communities by challenging design teams to understand how to better sustain the planet through thoughtful and deliberate design. Lately this focus has been applied to projects less know for sustainability: water and wastewater treatment facilities. Re-thinking sustainability at the scale of public infrastructure poses a host of alternate opportunities for innovation within design. Jean believes that early in design, clear lines of communication must be established to maximize efficiencies and uncover design opportunities to further support our responsibility as stewards of the environment. All people are deserving of quality design and healthy spaces.
Blue Coble joined the Local 75 Arizona Union Ironworkers in 2011. She was awarded Apprentice of the Year in 2015. She has since become a trustee, and an instructor with her local. She was recently named a finalist in the Construction Business Owners Magazine Outstanding Women in Construction of 2019. She is currently a Quality Manager for McCarthy Building Company, and is studying Industrial Hygiene with the hopes to someday make a valuable contribution to the field.
Alyssa earned her MS in Structural Engineering from University of Wisconsin Madison after completing a BS in Civil Engineering at Tulane University. She worked as a structural engineer at a California-based design firm that focused on lean construction and cutting edge design methodology. In 2014 she Co-Founded DNA Detailing & BIM in pursuit of a passion she had found for modeling and integrating new technologies into the construction industry. At DNA Detailing, the main focus is providing BIM models for coordination through fabrication.
Daniella co-founded DNA Detailing which uses Tekla Structures to detail rebar in 3D and produce drawings and fabrication lists directly from the models. She has a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo, CA. Prior to starting DNA, she worked as a structural engineer using BIM to produce engineering drawings, which gives her a unique perspective into implementing BIM across the building industry. Daniella is passionate about moving the construction industry forward by using BIM to improve outdated practices and bridge the gap between the design and construction teams.
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