Emily Cohen
Chief Executive Officer
United Contractors (UCON)

Emily, CEO of United Contractors, has been a driving force behind the organization’s evolution into one of the most influential and effective union construction associations in the nation. With more than 16 years of experience operating at the intersection of construction, politics and organizational leadership, she is a next-gen executive recognized for her deep industry relationships, bold vision and relentless commitment to California’s union contractors, their teams and the communities they serve. Guided by a belief in genuine relationship-building and passionate advocacy and known for her ability to align competing interests around common goals, Emily has fundamentally changed how labor, management and stakeholders work together, building first-of-their-kind partnerships that have delivered powerful results for the industry and the state.

Over the course of her career, Emily has played a central role in expanding UCON’s membership, growing its Political Action Committee tenfold, and driving some of the most consequential advocacy wins for California’s union construction sector. Before becoming CEO, Emily served as UCON’s executive vice president and director of government relations. As a recognized thought leader she is also on a mission—one that changes the conversation around our talent shortages and forces organizations to rethink how they recruit and retain talent—especially women, at all levels of the industry.

Emily was recognized last month by the Bay Area Business Times as one of the Bay Area’s Most Influential Women, highlighting her growing impact on California’s construction industry and broader business community in shaping infrastructure development in the region and across the state.

A Senate Appointee to the California High-Speed Rail Authority, she also serves on the board of the California Alliance for Jobs and Advisory Board of San Francico Planning & Urban Research Association. Emily also is on the board of the world-renowned GLIDE Foundation, and on the Advisory Board for Old Skool Café, a nonprofit restaurant transforming the lives of at-risk youth in San Francisco. She is a graduate of the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program, previously served as a legislative aide to the Chairman of the California Assembly Appropriations Committee and completed executive leadership training at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.