Speakers

Melissa Anderson
Chief Operating Officer @Art Anderson

Melissa Anderson leads Business Development at Art Anderson including sales and marketing. She guides our business operations with emphasis on financial performance and market growth. Melissa received her undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Washington and her Master’s in Business Administration from Seattle University. She thrives on the challenges that business often presents and is always looking for creative solutions that make life better (and fun!) for both clients and employees. Melissa is Mom to three awesome kids that keep her busy outside of work. She can be found binge reading late into the night, on the waters of Puget Sound in the summer, and at Husky Stadium rooting for the Purple and Gold!

Alyssa Brandt
Marketing Writer @GBBN

Alyssa helps GBBN tell the story of its work through proposals, presentations, and gbbn.com, as well as digital, print, and social media. She works with the firm's experts and thought leaders to help them surface, shape, and share insights that connect with the clients and audiences they're trying to reach. Before joining GBBN, Alyssa was an award-winning writer who covered all things Cincinnati for a variety of media outlets including Cincinnati Magazine and WCPO.com. Her work has also appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Observer, and Marketer Magazine. When she’s not writing, she’s knitting, and collecting an ever-growing stash of yarn, tools, and patterns.

April Bettinger
Owner, Founder @Nip Tuck Remodeling

For the past 25 years, April Bettinger has carved out for herself a respected niche in the construction industry. Throughout her career in construction, she has worked with a vision and determination to create a remodeling company with extraordinary craftsmanship AND a focus on professionalism. In 2010, April began Nip Tuck Remodeling where she holds key roles managing finance, budgeting, customer service, team building, and sales management. She is an active member of the Board of Directors of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. April holds the designations of Certified Graduate Associate, Certified Graduate Remodeler, and Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist through the NAHB. She is also a member of many national organizations including the National Association of Home Builders, NKBA & Remodelers Advantage.

Jennifer Sebranek
Principal, Chief Marketing Officer @GBBN

Jennifer oversees GBBN’s award-winning marketing department and directs communications and public relations initiatives across all markets and offices. She’s a flexible and patient consensus-builder who works with her team, firm leadership, and a growing workforce in the United States and China to ensure that GBBN’s diverse, creative voices share an authentic and cohesive brand message. She is a past president of the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services where she has also been recognized as Marketer of the Year. She is frequently invited to present her marketing insights at conferences, including the SMPS Pinnacle Experience and the Cincinnati Public Relations Society of America Media Day Conference. Jennifer’s ability to listen, empathize, and consider multiple points of view is informed by all the places she’s called home—from her rural roots in North Carolina to time spent living in Chicago, Illinois and Oxford, England.

Brenda Radmacher
Partner @Akerman LLP

Brenda Radmacher focuses her practice on construction law, working as a counselor, litigator, and noted speaker on issues involving land owners, developers, general contractors, and design professionals. She has a multi-faceted practice handling litigation and providing advice and transactional counsel to her construction-industry clients. Brenda has experience advising clients on risk management best practices, drafting critical documents, contracts, and procedures, and effectively resolving disputes. With 25 years of experience working with construction contractors, construction managers, design professionals, developers, and owners, Brenda’s practice emphasizes resolving complex construction disputes through negotiation, mediation, and when necessary, arbitration and litigation, on projects in California, nationwide, and internationally.

Camille Jenkins
Customer Experience Consultant @Camille's Keys

Camille Jenkins is a customer experience consultant, keynote speaker, realtor, and servant leader. With decades’ worth of industry experience, she brings a real-world approach to setting and delivering on expectations. While Camille’s Keys consulting services translate across all industries, she assists organizations primarily in the remodeling, new home construction and service industries. Prior to becoming a consultant, Camille served as national vice president of customer relations for Meritage Homes. During her 20+ years tenure, the company achieved a 90%+ customer satisfaction rate and was awarded countless Avid awards for outstanding customer satisfaction ratings. Camille’s passion for working with and serving families in need was recognized in 2020 when she was presented the Cornerstone Award by Operation Homefront for her 7-year partnership and hands-on work that resulted in 13 mortgage-free homes being awarded to deserving military families. Her current goal is to mentor and encourage women to embrace residential construction as a career.

Courtenay Bauer
Principal @Verse Design LA

Courtenay Bauer is a Principal and co-founder of Los Angeles architecture firm Verse Design, launched in 2015. She has been actively engaged in the architectural design and construction industry since 2000, working as a project manager and project architect at offices on both coasts of the United States. Courtenay leverages her focused experience in architectural planning, design, and contract administration on a variety of projects in the United States and China. Her work is committed to the ideas and importance of efficient and sustainable construction, while advocating for the implementation of innovation in our built environment. As a firm principal, Courtenay’s strengths lie in her ability to adroitly identify a project’s status and manage a team to exceed delivery expectations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Catholic University of America and a Master of Architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. A registered architect since 2013, Courtenay’s connectivity with the profession includes teaching visual studies seminars and design studios at SCI-Arc, UCLA, and USC. She currently participates as a guest critic at design reviews. Courtenay’s hobbies include surfing and other outdoor sports.

Dawn Dantzler
VP of Marketing and Customer Experience @Tilson Homes

Dawn Dantzler, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Experience at Tilson Homes, spent over ten years with a marketing and advertising agency, working with clients in a variety of industries. She made the leap to client-side in 2018 and is currently the Vice President of Marketing & Customer Experience at Tilson Homes. Her commitment to connecting company culture with your external marketing brand can be seen when she co-hosts Tilson's weekly live stream, Tilson Live.

Melissa Galland
Founder @DO&Be Agency

Melissa Galland, Founder/Better Builder at DO&Be Agency, holds a CX certification from Forrester and has experience working with Adair Homes (a large regional OYL builder), Lennar, DR Horton, Taylor Morrison, and various other companies. She currently serves as the Chair of the Portland PWB and owns a Marketing and Revenue Growth agency, specializing in the building industry with clients that span the production, custom, and multi-family homebuilding industries.

Cindy Cipriani
Co-owner, Design Team Coach @Cipriani Remodeling Solutions

Cindy Cipriani is VP of Sales for New Jersey-based Cipriani Remodeling Solutions, a design-build remodeler with close to $9 million in annual revenue. In addition to remodeling, her passion for helping professionals achieve a healthier work/life balance led her to become a business and wellness coach 12 years ago. Cipriani is a sought-after speaker and author of The 5C Solution: Discover Clarity & Confidence in Times of Change.

Kara Noonan
Head of Sales, TN, GA & FL @Dale Carnegie

Kara Noonan is the head of sales for Dale Carnegie’s franchise in Tennessee, Georgia, and Central Florida. Her decade of experience in management, strategic sales, coaching and facilitation has empowered thousands of professionals to lead fuller, more profitable, and productive lives. As a speaker, Kara’s experience and passion for leadership helps her global clients reach their full potential. Working with professionals in over 20 countries, her favorite aspect of facilitation is watching participants exceed their expectations, both inside and outside of the training room.

Kimberly Mackey
Founder @New Homes Solutions

Kimberly Mackey, founder of New Homes Solutions Consulting, brings over two decades of experience as a senior-level residential home building and real estate executive, and is a sought-after speaker and author. Her experience includes working with builders and developers of all sizes – from local/regional companies to publicly traded national companies. She is an active leader at the NAHB, currently serving as the Chair of the National Associates Committee, and is a past chair of the National Sales and Marketing Council. Kimberly is the 2020 recipient of the John P. Hall Award for lifetime achievement in sales and marketing, the 2017 Associate of the Year for the Florida Home Builders Association, and a two-time recipient of the SMC Member of the Year. She is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and Professional Women in Building and is the host of the "Head-to-Head" live program and the co-host of the "Sales & Marketing Power Hour."

LaDawn Townsend
CEO @VOS Group

LaDawn Townsend is an advisor to high-visibility leaders and CEO of the VOS Group, a strategic advisory firm that helps companies scale through profitable revenue growth plans. She has been entrusted by global brands such as NASA, Fortune, SBA, the Bi-Partisan Group of United States House of Congressman, Raconteur Times,KTN News & LinkedIn News. As a former corporate America executive she brings to her clients 20 years of experience delivering strategies for profitable revenue growth and executive leadership development. She believes that business can be a force for good and that begins with the leadership at the helm. LaDawn is a Los Angeles native now living in Austin,TX, a lover of world travel, history, good books, and coffee (with a shot of Oat Milk).

Leah Fellows
Founder/President @Blue Gypsy, Inc.

Leah Fellows, national online sales counselor trainer for the new home building industry, founded Blue Gypsy Inc. in 2010 to help home builders create award winning OSC programs. She regularly writes for industry blogs, magazines, and websites, and presents at IBS, SEBC, industry webinars, and podcasts. With 17 years in the industry, giving back is important. She is active in Professional Women in Building and the Sales and Marketing Council, serving on both boards. She is the past chair of the PWB Mentoring Committee, serves on the NSMC Board of Trustees and is current Chair of the National PWB’s Professional Development sub-committee. Prior to the building industry, Leah backpacked the world for 13 years and was a bartender, sailboat captain, and dive instructor.

Mandy McIntyre
Owner, President @Level Up Consultants

Mandy McIntyre is the Owner and President of Level Up Consultants in Cleveland, Ohio. McIntyre spent 10 years in roofing, most recently as Vice President of 1st Choice Roofing Company. She has completed Cornell University's Diversity & Inclusion program and Harvard University's Leadership Principles program, and is a registered Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. McIntyre is a certified yoga and meditation instructor practicing reiki therapy. McIntyre's non-profit organization, The Yoga Hawk Foundation, provides equitable access to yoga, meditation, and holistic therapy in Northeast Ohio to marginalized communities. McIntyre is a dedicated member of the National Women in Roofing with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and serves as Chair for the Cleveland Council. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Hitchcock Center for Women in Cleveland where she volunteers as a yoga instructor and serves on the Building Committee.

Emily Bosman
Product Manager @Garman Homes

Emily Bosman, Product Manager at Garman Homes, is in charge of all trades, plans and money for the company's Tiny Homes. Emily started her homebuilding journey at East Carolina University where she studied Interior Design and Business. Her career in interior design started in Myrtle Beach, N.C., working on custom homes. She then worked in model home and residential home design for national builders. Using her design savvy, customer service expertise and ability to get things done, she came to Garman as a product manager and dove right in. Shifting gears into the operations and purchasing world from design has been her greatest adventure and the Tiny Homes have been her passion for over a year now. She received Garman’s Product Manager of the Year award last year and is leading the charge for several other subdivisions, including a Habitat for Humanity Partnership Community.

Abbie Mirata
Founder @The Intrapreneur Project

Abbie Mirata is the Sr. Corporate Director of Learning & Development at Offerpad. She’s also a best selling author, speaker and the founder of The Intrapreneur Project, a professional development and success strategy program to guide driven women in business to be personally fulfilled, grow their professional brand and create inspired impact inside and outside of their organization. Abbie has over 20 years of sales, marketing, training and people operations experience in real estate and homebuilding. Abbie draws from both professional and personal experiences to teach and empower other women to shift their perspective so they can respond to day to day life differently and adapt an inherent value of joy, maintaining their sanity while keeping their humanity.

Alaina Money-Garman
Founder & CEO @Garman Homes

Alaina Money-Garman, aka Buildlikeagirl, is a homebuilder, writer, speaker, and founder and CEO of Garman Homes. Known for her award-winning blog, Build Like a Girl, Alaina is passionate about the role of women and BIPOC in homebuilding. In 2015, Alaina was named to Pro Builder’s 40 Under 40, and has also been named Builder of the Year twice - in 2015, by the Home Builders Association of Durham Orange Chatham County and, in 2017, as the first female recipient of the award by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake. In 2023, Raleigh Magazine included her as one of 19 women Shaping the Future of Raleigh. She has served on multiple boards including the Homebuilders Association of Raleigh-Wake, Hope Renovations, and the Executive Leadership Team for The House That She Built. A full member of the Urban Land Institute, Alaina served as Council Chair for the Residential Neighborhood Development Council - Blue Flight from 2020-2023.

Michelle Mullins
Co-Owner @Simply Home

Michelle Mullins is co-owner of Simply Home, a women owned and operated residential remodeling company in Austin. She joined forces with co-owner Ashley Wainscott shortly after graduating from Texas Tech University in 2013. Together they transformed the remodeling industry by creating a place for women to be heard in the industry, producing high quality remodels, and delivering exceptional communication. Michelle received her certification as a Certified Remodeler Project Manager (CRPM) and is among a select group of NARI Certified Professionals. She is also a 40 under 40 winner of 2021 by Professional Remodeler. In her free time, you can find her attending local networking events, spending time with friends and family, hanging out on Lake Austin, and enjoying live music with her husband.

Tanya Donahue
President & Owner @RIKB Design Build

Tanya Donahue, President and Owner of RIKB Design Build, provides her team and her clients with proven strategic capabilities, backed by her strong record of success. Bringing over 30 years in the construction industry, her focus is to create, communicate, and implement the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction. RIKB ranks as one of the largest in the New England region. In 2020 she was selected as Kitchen & Bath’s Design News Innovator Honoree. Tanya is an active member of the Rhode Island Builder’s Association, serving as the former co-chair of the Remodelers Committee and currently serving her second term on the Board of Directors. She received the 2015 Prism award for marketing, the 2017 Pro Remodeler magazine Extreme Sales Leader award, served as judge for the national Qualified Remodeler’s Design Awards, and has spoken at Harvard Universities Joint Center for Housing Studies and on National Industry Panels.

Michelle Simms-Reiter
Founder, CEO @Strive Leadership Development

Formerly a successful home building company owner and Real Estate Broker, Michelle Simms-Reiter has a solid foundation for what it takes to succeed. She and her husband founded their own company, Terramor Homes, amid a recession. Their company grew into an $85 million enterprise that was acquired by the largest publicly traded company in the industry, and Michelle has earned accolades such as Women in Business Award and 40 Under 40 from the Triangle Business Journal in 2014 and the Leadership Achievement Award by the HBA and TSMC of Raleigh/Wake County. At Strive Leadership Development, Michelle supports Business Leaders in developing their Management Teams for successful strategy implementation, business plan achievement and to further their operational excellence.

Sheryl Van Anne
Vice President & General Manager @Mortenson Construction

With almost 25 years of experience, Sheryl works for Mortenson Construction as their Vice President & General Manager leading the Chicago office. She leads the business development, marketing, design phase, and virtual design & construction teams in Chicago, as well as strategic oversight of the Higher Education market. Pursuing her degree in engineering, she realized that her passion was in construction. Sheryl loves to help customers and design partners deliver complex buildings that get to shape our society’s future. Sheryl brings her energy to her teams every day and considers it an honor to serve them in her role. She’s passionate about advancement for women and people of color within the AEC industry and serves as an advocate for equity at all levels. Outside of work Sheryl is married and is raising 3 teenage daughters which is truly all consuming.

Ivi Gabales
Director of Business Development @Glumac

Ivi Gabales is an architect with over three decades of experience in the AEC industry. Currently serving as the Director of Business Development at Glumac, she oversees the Seattle and Portland offices, driving growth and success. With her deep technical expertise in design and construction, Ivi has forged strong business relationships across diverse sectors such as commercial, residential, education, government, healthcare, and life sciences. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to leverage her skills to expand and enhance projects and partnerships. Passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the AEC industry, Ivi is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and minority women to assume leadership roles.

Laura Rushfeldt
Senior Associate, Senior Project Architect @CBT

Laura is a Senior Project Architect at CBT with 15+ years of industry experience. Her work spans building types, project scales, and geographic settings, from small-scale residential and commercial buildings to large mixed-use projects to urban design and master planning efforts. Her longstanding focus is on planning and programming for complex cultural and commercial projects, with a particular focus on life sciences. Laura is co-chair of cbtWiD and the chairs cbt’s EDI Policy Group, which is “committed to making a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace by enacting meaningful changes to CBT policies in order to promote awareness, eliminate bias, and foster community.” Laura received her Master of Architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and B.S. Architecture from The Ohio State University. Laura is a licensed Architect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, LEED AP Certified, and an active member in the Boston Society of Architects.

Christa Mahar
Principal, Director of Communications @OJB Landscape Architecture

Christa Mahar leads OJB’s communications and public relations efforts, managing overall strategy for promotion and publications, as well as client engagement. She led OJB’s equity in design efforts, including JUST certification and on-going support and outreach for DEI initiatives with ASLA, NAMLA and the Landscape Architecture Foundation. She earned a BA in urban planning from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and certification in environmental analysis from Harvard University. She has developed and managed production of multiple monographs and project publications and served as editor of five design books. Her experience also includes the organization of several traveling architectural exhibitions, from archival research to design, production, and catalogue publication. She has spoken at the national and regional conferences of the Society for College and University Planning, the Society of Marketing Professional Services, as well as the Boston Society of Architects.

Mina Starsiak Hawk
co-founder/owner @Two Chick and a Hammer
HGTV Host @"Good Bones" & "Good Bones: Risky Business"

Mina Starsiak Hawk is the co-founder and owner of Two Chicks and a Hammer. She stars in HGTV’s shows "Good Bones" and "Good Bones: Risky Business," and has appeared on "Rock the Block," "A Very Brady Renovation," and "Battle on the Beach." Mina is a Realtor, storefront business owner, mother, and wife—working to revitalize her community of Indianapolis one house at a time.

Ashley Wainscott
Founder and CEO @Simply Home

Ashley Wainscott, is founder and CEO of Simply Home. After graduating with an Entrepreneurship degree from St. Edward’s University, Ashley launched Simply Home, a remodeling company that eliminates surprises by pushing for accountability and demanding quality. Simply Home is headed into its 10th year in business. Ashley has received numerous accolades including the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year from St. Edward’s University, and a “Woman to Watch” by Austin Woman magazine. She also received the Excellence in Opportunity Award from the Austin Young Chamber. Dedicated to bettering the community she calls home. In her free time, you can find Ashley painting in her backyard, hiking on one of the many trails in Austin, walking her dogs or gardening. In actuality she is running to keep up with her growing baby boy, and focusing on her family.

Kimberly Burkhert
CEO @Bala Consulting Engineers

Kimberly Burkert is a visionary leader, who merges her keen expertise in strategic planning and growth with her passion for mentoring, diversity, and philanthropy. With over 25 years of experience in the AEC industry, Kimberly has used her vast knowledge and strong business acumen to grow Bala into a national firm with fourfold revenue growth during her tenure as CEO. Kimberly embodies Bala’s relationship-driven culture and is avidly committed to the tenure, growth and diversity of Bala’s people. Additionally, her passion to give back to the community drove her to redefine philanthropy for Bala, including establishing a paid philanthropy day for Bala employees. Kimberly’s industry and community achievements have been recognized by the 2023 Philadelphia TITAN 100 award, and the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction award.

Lillian Gierling
Principal @Gensler

With over 20 years and 4 million square feet of workplace interiors experience, Lillian is a problem solver with a collaborative spirit and unimpeachable commitment to her clients. She meets the demands of each project by staying focused on the possibilities. She has overseen the strategy, planning, and design for more than 1.2 million square feet of global energy projects. A former Regional Practice Area Leader for Financial Services Firms, Lillian also has expertise in all workplace interiors including technology, product development, legal, and management services. She received her Bachelor of Interior Design from Louisiana State University.

Kelly Cantley
Senior Vice President @Bozzuto Construction Company

As Senior Vice President of Bozzuto Construction Company, Kelly Cantley oversees our preconstruction and estimating departments and is also responsible for developing new business opportunities for the construction group. Involved with all aspects of the business, Kelly serves as a liaison between preconstruction, operations, and clients to ensure project goals are met from construction’s conception to completion. Prior to Bozzuto, Kelly worked for Turner Construction, and before her civilian career, she served as an Officer in the Civil Engineer Corps. Kelly acquired her Master of Business Administration Degree from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the US Naval Academy. Kelly is active in many real estate affiliations as well as philanthropic organizations such as Urban Land Institute, Women’s Housing Coalition, ACE Mentoring Program and Jubilee Housing.