2025 GWIC San Diego Conference Agenda
Program subject to change
Sunday, June 8
Due to some logistics issues, badges will not be given out this evening, but please still join us for a relaxed reception on the Flamingo Lawn tonight between 6-9. We’ve got space heaters, mojitos, beer, wine, and we hope you’ll come for a hello to meet some of your fellow attendees. No badge required, we’ll just check you in against the reg list and give you an extra drink ticket as an apology for the inconvenience.
Monday, June 9
Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News-Record
Mindy Gentile
Of Counsel, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Supercharging & Recruiting Construction's Trade Base with Technology & Rosie Spirit
In a construction marketplace of more complex, fast-moving and technology-focused projects, craft workers need to use math, science, technology and engineering (STEM) daily to do their work. But current next-gen workers and prospects lack the needed foundation to tackle new work complexities in such areas as welding, plumbing, electrical & HVAC. Join homebuilding veteran and WBE entrepreneur Demi Clark to learn how new skill can add the spark to move the equity needle for women in construction.
Founder & Chief Spark Igniter, Spark Building Group
Life in the C-Suite: Women Rise to New Challenges
It’s probably never been a tougher time to be a C-suite leader in the construction industry, amid new complexities in project and people management and bigger impacts of fast-changing financial trends and fast-shifting politics. Two veteran women AEC executives share candid insights on leadership challenges—from workplace shortages and supply chain upheavals to decision-making, culture building and navigating success in a new business environment.
CEO, Atlas Technical Consultants
Terri Mestas
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Megaproject Delivery, Sound Transit
Riding the Waves: Navigating the Uncertain Waters of Diversity Initiatives
In the Summer of 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court held that race cannot be considered a factor in admissions at colleges that accept federal funds. Since these decisions, there has been a wave of lawsuits against companies and agencies challenging DE&I initiatives, hiring and promotion practices, and minority/women-owned/disadvantaged business enterprise programs. This panel will discuss the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decisions, the arguments being made for and against these diversity initiatives and the uncertain future of DE&I and MWDBE initiatives in the construction industry.
Partner, Houston Office, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Mindy Gentile
Of Counsel, Miami Office, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Jennifer Harris
Partner, D.C. Office, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Women Rise in Construction Technology: Inventors, Investors, and Implementers
Women have emerged as leading voices in construction technology—founding companies, funding innovation and championing adoption across the field. In 2024, female tech founders raised $38.8 billion across sectors, says Pitchbook, while research from BCG shows women-led startups deliver 2.5 times more revenue per dollar invested. This panel, moderated by a founder of networking group Women in Construction Tech, brings together a cross-section of female founders, investors and implementers driving measurable change in how we build. As the industry navigates headwinds from rising anti-DEI sentiment, the panel will explore risks, opportunities and actions to ensure women continue to lead in shaping the future of construction.
Managing Partner, Overlay Capital and Co-Founder & Global Lead, Women in Construction Technology
Speakers: Katie Bond
Senior Vice President, Customer Success, ALICE Technologies
Jenny He
Co-Founder and CEO, Ergeon
Erin Khan
Founder and Senior Consultant, Erin Khan Consulting
The Courage to Disrupt
Learn from construction CEO Jennifer Todd’s own empowering journey into the mental barriers that hold women back and how to break free from self-imposed limits. Focusing on self-awareness, resilience and bold actions, attendees will learn how to overcome personal and professional obstacles to lead with confidence and authenticity. The session includes an exclusive clip of Breaking Barriers, a film series just launched by Jennifer to showcase inspiring stories of women in construction displaying the power of perseverance and grit in breaking their own workplace barriers.
President, LMS General Contractors and Founder, A Greener Tomorrow
Optional Facilitated Conversation tables
Read about each one here.
Pathways Into the Construction Industry
As construction copes with an ongoing labor shortage, panelists will explore the current landscape of education as it relates to pathways into the industry. They will identify strategies to better engage students—those in school and those seeking career pivots. Key topics include promoting representation and inclusion in early career stages, fostering allyship and ensuring the industry's brightest talents are recruited and retained. Panelists will offer insights on how to effectively connect students to pathway programs, highlight the value of diverse perspectives and explore how the industry can shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Regional Manager, Hilti and President, NAWIC Orange County Chapter #91
Panelists: Shawna Smith
Executive Director, Hope Builders
Lisa Thibodeaux
President and CEO, Construction Experts Inc.
GC & Sub Couples’ Therapy: Let’s Talk About Finances
The billing process in construction is notoriously painful, straining relationships between GCs and subs. It’s time to address those issues head-on and find common ground! During this session, billing expert Claire Wilson will facilitate open dialogue between subs and GCs, exploring the billing and payment dynamic. With equal doses of humor and real-talk, Claire will create a safe space for attendees to share frustrations and successes, tackling everything from contracts and change orders to payments and closeouts. The goal? To uncover practical solutions and foster stronger relationships.
Co-Founder, Siteline
Women Driven Data Centers: Unlocking Your Full Potential at the Intersection of Technology and Construction
US data center demand is forecasted to grow by some 10% a year until 2030, and women are playing key roles in guiding these megaprojects. The Mortenson/Hensel Phelps/Meta team will discuss how data center construction is driving the future of this sector and highlight how women are making important contributions at the intersection of technology and construction.
Executive Vice President, Mortenson
Katie Freed
Preconstruction Manager, Meta
Sarah J. Forrest, DBIA
Preconstruction Director and Chief Estimator, Hensel Phelps
Winning the Battle Against Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome, a false and sometimes crippling belief that one’s successes are the product of luck or fraud rather than skill, affects up to 82% of all people at some point in their lives. The challenge is that most people who experience it don’t talk about it. They suffer in silence. In this session, Lisa shares her personal story about imposter syndrome and how it impacted her career. She presents the common signs of imposter syndrome, its potential effects, and four effective ways to manage it so that those experiencing it don’t feel stuck, can take action, and move forward.
Founder, The Confidence Track
Breaking Silos: Building Skillset Diversity as a Catalyst Towards Leadership
This session will highlight how women in construction can advance their careers by acquiring skills from outside their current department. Panelists will explore how engaging in cross-functional training, volunteering for interdisciplinary projects, or collaborating with other departments can provide fresh perspectives, enhance problem-solving abilities, and build a more versatile skillset. By breaking out of departmental silos, women can position themselves for leadership roles that require a broad understanding of the entire construction process.
Chief Administrative Officer, Turner Construction Co.
Jamie Dodd
Learning and Development Manager, Flatiron Dragados
Rachael Northcutt
Design-Build Strategic Pursuits Director, HNTB
Meagan Smyth
Business Development Director, Skanska
LA County Recovers: Women Leading the Rebuild After Eaton and Palisades Wildfires
Join Ciara Barnett, Assistant Deputy Director for LA County Public Works, and ENR Deputy Editor, Infrastructure and local Angelino, Aileen Cho, for a conversation centered on how innovative technologies, tools and policy changes are helping chart a path toward recovery from one of the most devastating natural disasters in LA County history. Rebuilding entire communities requires an unprecedented level of collaboration – from public-private partnerships to nonprofit organizations, and all facets of the building industry are needed to help meet the moment.
Deputy Editor, Infrastructure, Engineering News-Record
Speaker: Ciara Barnett
Assistant Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Public Works
Thrive in Leadership: Your Critical Path to Construction’s Future
GWIC is thrilled to feature one of construction’s most accomplished and insightful women leaders, Gretchen Gagel, to offer key strategies to plan your path to leadership and an achievable vision for an inclusive industry. A 40-year executive, she also is author of the just published Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction (Wiley US). Gretchen will share candid advice and real stories on meeting bias, culture-building, team dynamics and other challenges from her own experience and peers in becoming an authentic leader.
President & CEO, Greatness Consulting & Women Thriving in Construction - A Global Institute
Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News-Record
Mindy Gentile
Of Counsel, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Tuesday, June 10
Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News-Record
Mindy Gentile
Of Counsel, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Meeting the Moment: Build Hope; Lead with Respect and Dignity
Turner Chairman and CEO Peter Davoren in conversation on the responsibility to cultivate a culture where respect and dignity are foundational—and where physical, mental, and emotional well-being are recognized as vital to personal fulfillment and organizational success.
Chairman and CEO, Turner Construction Co.
Getting Real About Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast becoming an essential design and construction tool impacting project efficiency, operating protocols, cost management, safety and innovation. But its use is not without risk and can lead to unforeseen data breaches and challenges ranging from ethics violations and privacy concerns to impacts on safety, workforce bias and accountability. Panelists will share insights on how to balance AI’s revolutionary potential with real world practicalities to build widespread trust, ethical use and value.
Of Counsel, Miami Office, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Speakers: Michael McGrattan
Chief Information Officer, Dudek
Azita Morteza
Digital Analyst, STV
Jesse Torres
Chief Administrative Officer, Best Constracting Services
What Women Want: Meeting Workplace Health and Wellness Needs
ABC National executive vice president, construction firm executive and industry veteran Stephanie Schmidt-Lehmann discusses making the construction industry more attractive, accessible and welcoming to women by addressing cultural, structural and practical challenges ranging from jobsite safety elements tailored for women to the fundamentals key to promoting workforce development, retention and career advancement.
Executive Vice President, Associated Builders and Contractors
From Miss America to U.S. Nuclear Designer: Grace Stanke Takes the Path Less Traveled
Join GWIC West’s closing keynoter for an upclose look at her career journey from winning America’s oldest women’s competition to life as a cutting-edge nuclear engineer. Learn how Grace Stanke’s nontraditional trajectory can inspire your own career choices in a world that offers exciting possibilities for women with talent, curiosity and drive.
Nuclear Fuels Engineer & Clean Energy Advocate, Constellation
Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News-Record
Mindy Gentile
Of Counsel, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Pitch It To Me: How to Share your Company's Project News with ENR Editors
Join ENR editors for a discussion of what makes something newsworthy and learn the best approach for submitting your company's project, people and industry news for possible publication in ENR.
Emell Adolphus and Jen Seward
Editors, Engineering News-Record
Deep Dive into DEI
Take a deeper dive into the DEI issues discussed in P&A’s legal panel, Riding the Waves: Navigating the Uncertain Waters of Diversity Initiatives. Kim Altsuler will lead a discussion and answer your questions about the legal challenges to DEI programs and how companies are reacting to the changing environment.
Kim Altsuler
Partner, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
It Takes More Than a Hardhat to Keep a Head Safe: A Roundtable on Mental Health in Construction
This interactive roundtable discussion tackles one of the construction industry'smost urgent and overlooked issues: mental health. With suicide and addiction claiming more lives than every other workplace-related fatality combined, it's time to talk about what really keeps workers safe. We’ll explore how to spot warning signs, engage in supportive conversations, manage stress, and build a culture where mental health is prioritized alongside physical safety. Come ready to share, listen, and leave with real strategies you can bring back to your team!
Mandy McIntyre
Founder/Principal, Level Up Consultants
Life in the Trump Era: What's Good, Bad and Ugly for Construction?
Share your candid thoughts (not for publication) of how new administration orders and policies on DEI, tariffs, contracting and other construction issues are affecting or could affect your workplace and bottom line.
Debra Rubin
Deputy Editor, Global Business and Energy/ENR
Power in Your Voice: Self-Advocacy with Intention
This guided table discussion explores the art of self-advocacy and the impact of having intentional advocates in your corner. Learn how to speak up for yourself with confidence, identify allies who can elevate your voice, and approach your career with purpose. Share stories, build connections, and leave with tools to advocate—both for yourself and others—with clarity and courage.
Kelsey Moore
Project Controls Manager, Flatiron
Performance Counts, but Teambuilding Succeeds
I learned early on that being good at what you do and managing people well are two different concepts. Join this lunch table to understand the difference between high performers and those who make good leaders. Learn the importance of identifying strengths versus skills that can be learned.
Sandra Ramos
Senior Vice President, West Region Leader, NFP Property & Casualty Services Inc.
The Power of Positive Scheduling
Find indisputable value with actionable results in the real world through generative scheduling and optimization.
Diana Su
Director, Customer Strategy and Enablement, ALICE Technologies
The Intersection of Trauma, Mental Health and Construction
Construction is facing a mental health crisis, and trauma is often at the core. With suicide rates four times the national average and substance use impacting teams across the industry, we can’t afford to ignore the deeper issues affecting our people. In this small group discussion, we’ll explore how trauma shows up on job sites, why it matters for safety, retention and culture, and how trauma-informed practices can help us build workplaces that are not just safer, but truly supportive. We’ve made huge strides in physical safety. Now it’s time to bring that same energy to mental health.
Stephanie Lemek
Founder and CEO, The Wounded Workforce
Increasing Your Visibility Through Social Media and Personal Branding
How do you successfully balance promoting your personal brand while also generating positive publicity for your company? Learn how full-time construction director and self-published author, Courtney Kelly, utilizes social media to reach across two industries and create a win-win situation for herself and the places she works.
Courtney Kelly
Construction Project Director, H.J. Russell
Psychological Safety—Building the Right Culture to Enable Organizational Greatness
Every organization strives for greatness. That greatness comes from the level of engagement and performance of the people within the company. Psychological safety is not about “being nice” or “being comfortable.” Rather, it is creating a culture where input is encouraged and recognized. It is an environment where people are unafraid to ask for assistance or admit making mistakes. It is a space where ideas can be challenged constructively in the desire to pursue continuous improvement.
Stephane McShane
Director, Maxim Consulting Group
Productive Partnering—Getting the Most from Your Business Development
Join Allison, Balfour Beatty Business Development Director in Arizona, to share best practices in building and maintaining your client relationships
Allison Black
Business Development Director, Arizona, Balfour Beatty
Synergistic Mentorships: Building Strong Relationships that Foster Success
Discover key strategies to cultivate meaningful and effective mentor-mentee relationships. This discussion will explore practical tips for developing trust, setting goals, and creating mutual growth that drives confidence, leadership and long-term success.
Angela Connor and Kellie Ros
Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Deep Dive into MWDBE
Take a deeper dive into the MWDBE issues discussed in P&A’s legal panel, Riding the Waves: Navigating the Uncertain Waters of Diversity Initiatives. Jennifer Harris will lead a discussion and answer your questions about the legal challenges to MWDBE programs and how companies are reacting to the changing environment.
Jennifer Harris
Partner, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
You’ve Earned a Seat at the Table; Now Own It
Skill and dedication has helped you succeed, but once you get a seat at the table, it can feel like another challenge to find the confidence to lead, manage, and take your place among new peers—especially when the table still looks like a “boys’ table”. We will discuss and share ways to find confidence that feels authentic, whatever stage you are in your career.
Elaine Lee
Partner, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Building Bridges: Strategic Networking for Career Growth in Construction
In today’s competitive construction landscape, who you know can be just as important as what you know. This discussion will delve into practical strategies and personal stories about how intentional networking can accelerate a career. From cultivating relationships on job sites to leveraging professional associations and digital platforms, participants will gain actionable insights into how to grow a network, enhance visibility, and position themselves for advancement in all sectors of the construction industry.
Talin Espinoza
Chief Strategy Officer, Royal Electric Co.
Building Solutions
Construction project problems and disputes often become legal headaches that are costly, time-consuming and energy-draining. Mindy Gentile will lead a discussion and offer practical strategies about alternative dispute resolution methods that have proven to preserve relationships, reduce project delays, minimize legal expenses, and keep your companies out of the courtroom.
Mindy Gentile
Partner, Peckar & Abramson P.C.
Finding Limitless
Jessi’s book The Truth About Being a Woman in Construction shatters expectations, offering an unfiltered deep dive into the reality of navigating a male-dominated field—not just as a woman, but as a queer woman carving her own space. This discussion will explore the challenges and successes of women and queer individuals in male-dominated trades, using The Truth About Being a Woman in Construction as a springboard for conversation. We will examine systemic barriers, share personal experiences, and discuss actionable steps toward greater inclusion and equity.
Jessica Lynn
Founder, Pivot HIGHer+
Celebrating DEI Through Supplier Diversity
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives are under scrutiny bringing challenges to supplier diversity programs, join this table discussion to share success stories, ideas, and remind us why the design/construction industry can’t afford losing focus on supporting diverse, local, and qualified enterprises.
Alejandra "Ale" Spray
CEO & President, Hispanic Contractors of Colorado
Building Success: Strategies for Collaborative Delivery in Design-Build Projects
This TableTop Discussion is led by Donna Bloom-Crook, director of business development for PCL’s Civil Infrastructure Division, who will explore best practices for successful design-build project delivery from the perspectives of owners, designers, and contractors. This discussion will highlight strategies for building strong, collaborative teams, emphasizing early alignment, clear communication, and effective risk management. Attendees will discuss practical tactics to enhance partnerships, streamline workflows, and achieve project success.
Donna Bloom-Crook
Director of Business Development, PCL Construction
Leveraging BIM and Emerging Technologies in Data Center Construction
This discussion will examine how Building Information Modeling (BIM) and a suite of emerging technologies are reshaping the planning, design, and delivery of data center projects—facilities that demand exceptional precision, scalability, and speed to market. As the industry embraces innovations ranging from immersive virtual collaboration to on-site robotics, we’ll explore how to strategically adopt these tools to enhance project outcomes without being distracted by fleeting trends.
Taylor Gilmore
Operating Group Integrated Construction Director, Mortenson
Building Safety Beyond Hard Hats – LGBTQIA+ Women in Construction
Women in construction often face the challenge of being the 'only' in the room. When you also identify as LGBTQIA+, that experience can become even more complex. Today’s conversation is about understanding what psychological safety really means, showing up authentically, speaking without fear, and feeling truly seen. We’ll explore the barriers we face, like microaggressions and lack of visibility, and highlight what’s working well. We’ll also look at how political and legal shifts are impacting workplace culture and talk about how we can lead with clarity, courage, and action to build safer, more inclusive jobsites.
Mischa Haramia
Entertainment Practice Director, Henderson Engineers
Building Faster, Smarter: Meet Prefab
Can construction—once known for delays and cost overruns—really be faster, smarter, and more predictable? What if we could build in weeks what once took months, with quality you can count on? Enter prefabrication: a bold, innovative approach transforming chaos into control.
Gayatri Umashankar
Prefab Integrator, West Coast, Digital Building Components
Prepare for Conflict: Protect Your Scope and Margin
How do you manage conflict and protect your scope while building the project? All projects encounter problems, but you can have a strategy to win. We will discuss how to anticipate scope creep and delays, provide timely notice of potential issues and change orders, and prepare emotionally and organizationally for conflict while staying in relationship with your client.
Lauren Schnabel, Bob Schraeder and Nancy Schraeder
Schraeder Solutions