Program Welcome & Introduction

Janice L. Tuchman, Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News Record
Melinda Gentile, Partner, Peckar & Abramson P.C.

Opening Keynote

Looking at Construction’s Post-Pandemic Recovery

Jamie Cook, one of the investment community’s leading and most respected observers of corporate health in the construction and equipment sectors, will kick off this year’s GWIC with an outlook on the shape of the industry’s economic rebound and needed management strategies. She also will offer insights for women advancing industry careers and seeking leadership roles in male dominated fields.

Jamie Cook, Managing Director and Lead Sector Stock Analyst, Construction and Machinery, Credit Suisse

Sponsored by

Break

Panel

View From the Top—How Women Industry Chiefs Are Managing for Growth and Success

Women leaders across the private and public sectors in construction provide insights on key challenges in leading their contracting, consulting and owner organizations forward amid the past year’s uncertainties spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic and market shifts. Learn how these industry chiefs see recovery progressing in key market sectors. What are key lessons learned from the crisis, positive signs and risks ahead for AEC firms and clients, and management advice for attendees?

Moderator
Ted Lower, CEO, LVNV Group

Panelists
Susan Angyal, North American CEO, ERM
Ann McNeill, CEO, MCO Construction; Founder-President, National Association of Black Women in Construction
Kristina Swallow, Director, Nevada Dept. of Transportation

Break

Panel

Building an Inclusive Workplace

Four panelists will share their stories of embracing what it means to lead inclusively. They have seen their teams blossom, results improve and innovation occur. One decided to hire differently, another to pursue or offer different educational opportunities. One embraced her female characteristics on the jobsite, listening with empathy and an intent to empower. Another practices personal self-awareness, identifying blind spots and biases. One even founded a not-for-profit to inspire the next generation construction professionals. They have unique stories of how they ended up leading inclusively, and all are convinced this is the way to a more collaborative and successful culture.
Panelists
Kelly Bluhm, Managing Director, AON
Amaka Amalu, Managing Director Southeast, WSP
Gordon Lansford, CEO, JE Dunn
Cassy Smith, Superintendent, The Penta Building Group

Networking Break

Day 1 Closing Session

Networking for Success: What Social Media Tells Us about the Rise of Women Construction Execs

A presentation by University of Maryland researchers will explore the results of a new study into the career paths of male and female construction executives. Prof. Quinbin Cui and PhD Candidate Paul Hickey cross-referenced data gathered from companies ranked in ENR’s Top 400 Contractors list and individual professionals’ LinkedIn profiles to report on defining characteristics of female construction executives. Notably, they found that women held more positions on the way to senior jobs than men and have more advanced degrees. Based on their social media accounts, the women also demonstrate a wider social “bubble” than their male counterparts. Following a presentation of study results, the research team will be joined by women construction leaders for a robust discussion of insights and potential roadmaps to successful careers.
Paul Hickey, PhD Candidate, University of Maryland
Dr. Quinbin Cui , Professor, University of Maryland, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Panelists
Kasie Mathena, Vice President, AECOM Hunt
Yvette Stevens, Vice President & Director of Economic Inclusion, Gilbane
Patricia Zugibe, President, Holt Construction

Virtual Roundtables

Facilitators will host hour long small-group video meetings for full-conference attendees on various topics of interest.

Day 2 Welcome

Janice L. Tuchman, Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News Record
Melinda Gentile, Partner, Peckar & Abramson P.C.

Day 2 Keynote

Improving the Built Environment Through Better Accessibility Design

Keynote Speaker Ileana Rodriguez will share an inspiring message of overcoming personal adversity to represent the U.S. as a swimmer at the Paralympic Games in London and her continuing work as an architect and consultant to build more accessibility into sports and other public facilities.

Ileana Rodriguez, Principal and Owner, I Design Access

Break

General Session

Changing Work Dynamics

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work, maybe forever. The negative impact of those changes fell predominantly on women in the workforce. In this panel, we will talk to women from different sectors of the construction industry on how they managed the competing demands of work and home, how they and their employers could have handled those demands differently, and discuss best practices to improve work conditions for women as we return to a more normal working environment.

Samantha Cristol, Senior Project Engineer, Webcor
Alexandra McManus, CEO, Eyrus
Emily Sullivan, Director of Purchasing, Clark Construction Group
Bridget Nee Walsh, Welder, Ironworkers Local Union 7

Break

Panel

Digitizing Diversity: How BIM, Remote Working and Other Tech Creates Opportunities for Inclusivity in Construction

This panel will examine the concurrent shifts towards diversity and digitization in the construction industry. The adoption of technology such as BIM, off-site development and premanufacturing, on-site robotics, remote collaboration tools and virtual/augmented reality can open up new opportunities for inclusion by eliminating physical, age, geographic and gender barriers. How will these technologies help the industry recruit and retain women and other diverse groups to amplify innovation and creativity in the hybrid virtual/real construction environment?

Mona Afifi, Assistant Professor, Construction Management, University of Wisconsin - Stout
Cathi Hayes, Vice President of Solution Designof HxGN Smart Build, Hexagon
Cara Wilczynski, Customer Success Manager| Roadmap, Vision, Strategy, Autodesk Construction Cloud

 

Networking Break

Day 2 Closing Session

Young Women of Color in Construction: What They Don't Tell You

In a field that’s still largely male dominated, being a young WOC in construction comes with its own unique set of challenges. Hephzibah Dadala and Nadene Taylor discuss what that means for them, and how to hone their strengths, embrace their differences and thrive in their environments.

Nadene Taylor, Associate, Beyer Blinder Belle
Hephzibah Dadala, Assistant Resident Engineer & Construction Inspector, MNS Engineers; 3rd yr Civil Engineering major, Cal Poly SLO

Virtual Roundtables

Facilitators will host hour long small-group video meetings for full-conference attendees on various topics of interest.

Day 3 Welcome

Janice L. Tuchman, Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News Record
Melinda Gentile, Partner, Peckar & Abramson P.C.

Day 3 Keynote

Starting Salaries, Counteroffers and Other Disruptors of Pay Equity

For today’s organizations to compete for top talent, a “one and done” internal pay equity analysis no longer is sufficient to support a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy. Employers who will lead the pack are those who look within existing compliance approaches and examine the use of policies and procedures that lead to inequities along key points of an employee’s lifecycle. Among the most telling areas for industry leaders to consider are starting salaries, counteroffers and promotions. Keynote presenters Elizabeth Walgram and Sharon Hidalgo, seasoned pay equity experts, will discuss pitfalls employers should be wary of when making various pay decisions. During our interactive session, they will share practical approaches for integrating internal pay equity practices into foundational HR processes, in order to build an equitable and fair total rewards program.

Elizabeth Walgram, Senior Consultant, Segal
Sharon Hidalgo, Vice President, New Client Acquisition, Segal

Break

Panel

Building a Zero Tolerance Community

Tragic events continue to plague our country and, sadly, our industry. But change is coming – and has already begun. Five of the leading General Contractors in the U.S. have come together in the last two years to form a coalition whose mission is to create true and lasting change across the construction industry. This group of leaders has created and implemented an intentional and meaningful effort that has impacted many employees for the better – and changed the job site dynamic for good. This group will discuss the coalition’s efforts and how others can drive change on their jobsites, within the company, and throughout the industry.

Stacee Barkley, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader, DPR Construction
Alondra DeLeon, Project Manager, DEI Champion, Co-Chair Hispanic/Latinx ERG, Gilbane
Kamecia Mason, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, McCarthy Builders
Rodney Pope, Senior Vice President, Employee Relations, Turner Construction Co.

Break

Panel TBD (Continuing Legal Education session)

 

Networking Break

Closing Keynote & Conference Conclusion

Equity and the Community: An Emerging Construction Imperative

Don’t miss this illuminating presentation from a veteran executive in infrastructure management and diversity-equity-inclusion on how new trends and developing priorities in community equity and environmental justice are changing how we plan, build and manage projects. Diana, whose new position at HNTB illustrates industry commitment to altering the DEI conversation from a requirement to a competitive advantage, will share insights on key links between diversity and innovation and how industry professionals can help clients better serve community needs. She has taught the National Transit Institute’s Advanced Environmental Justice seminar for several years through Rutgers University and is set to receive a Certificate of Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University in April.

Diana Mendes, Corporate President, Infrastructure and Mobility Equity, HNTB