NAWIC PUGET SOUND CHAPTER #60

Panelist

rita brown

President/CEO, BCC+

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Rita Brown brings 25+ years of experience, is an accomplished industry professional, entrepreneur, and former structural/misc. steel detailer and small business owner. Her experiences in the commercial/industrial building industry have uniquely qualified her to serve in the role of senior management business consultant for a variety of companies, associations, and trades. A proven leader in practical change management and progressive business success strategies, workforce imperatives, and program development, Brown continues to build a legacy of industry service. Often recognized with significant recognitions both local and nationwide, Brown is also an award-winning former professional writer and has been published internationally. Brown is currently deeply embedded in the launch of a

bi-direction EV spinoff company that is set to lead next generation electrical contracting opportunities, in addition to servicing clients.

In a volunteer capacity, Brown currently serves NOW State of Michigan President [National Organization for Women], A founding member of North American Professionals in

Building and Infrastructure, National Director for The Build Initiative [workforce and education programs for women], AGC National D&I Immediate Past Chairwoman [Assoc. Of General Contractors]; she is a contributing outreach lead for MASCI, a registered apprenticeship collaborative in the state of MI, and a member of GLFEA [Great Lakes Fabricator and Erectors Association]. She also serves on Lawrence Technological University’s STEM Advisory Board and Wayne State University Susan Harwood and CET Workzone Safety Training Grants Advisory Committee. This mom of five humans and three canines brings authenticity, experience, and an unapologetic claiming of space at the table, in an industry that is often challenging, she brings her own chair.

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Panelist

ally jencson

President/CEO, Frontline Floor Coverings

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Allison “Ally” Jencson, sometimes called the Tradeswoman Tigress, is fiercely passionate about helping women be successful in the construction and trades industries. As the leader of her own trades business, Ally discovered that there aren’t many resources for the 2% of female construction workers who are tradeswomen. And so, being the resourceful rebel that she is, Ally created Girder Skirts™. A community for tradeswomen to support and connect with each other, just like a girder does for a physical structure. She has over 15 years of trades business experience to back up what she teaches. Ally knows it takes more than hard work and dedication to run a family and a business at the same time. It takes being a rebel and doing things differently!

Ally brings her insight, experience and rebellious spirit to the stage with a passion to inspire her audiences to step into their confidence and unleash the bad ass she believes resides in all of us. As a female business owner in the construction trades, Ally has been on both sides of the proverbial fence. She’s been in the trenches doing the dirty work as well as the “behind the scenes” challenges of running a business as the CEO. She had to learn on her own how to be brave and embrace her leadership abilities. Through overcoming business and personal challenges, Ally has aligned with her “inner rebel” AND built bad ass businesses. Ally is so approachable and authentic. She has an uncanny ability to tune-in with her audiences, connecting with them on a deeper level and creating experiential keynotes with great take-aways.

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Panelist

jeanette mcardle

Project Executive, Prime Electric

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Jeanette has over 30 years’ experience in the electrical industry with a background working

on schools, healthcare, commercial, industrial, and special projects. The first 20 years of her career were in the field, completing a 5-year apprenticeship program and working my way up from a journey wiremen position to foreman and then general foreman before transitioning to the office in a project management role.  She is currently employed as a Project Executive with Prime Electric. Her main focus is on design build high-rise and tenant improvement construction with responsibilities include managing all preconstruction & design activities and oversight of project teams during construction activities at The Spring District and Cloudvue developments in Bellevue.

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Panelist

jennifer morales

Underwriting Consultant, CNA

Jennifer Morales, MBA, (she/her/hers) is an Underwriting Consultant for CNA. She is responsible for marketing, sales, and underwriting of Management Liability; Directors and Officers, Employment Liability, Fiduciary Liability, and Crime, for the state of Florida. Jennifer has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry including auto, fidelity, commercial surety bonds, and management liability in various positions including claims, customer service, subrogation, and underwriting. Jennifer has been a committed member of NAWIC since 2017 and has held various positions on both the local and national level. She served as Attendance Chair (2018), Student Outreach Chair (2019), Director (2018-2020) for NAWIC Greater Orlando Chapter 73. She served as Co-Chair of NAWIC’s National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (2020) and is the current Executive Chair of NAWIC’s National DE&I Committee. Jennifer has also been an active participant in several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) with her current and former employer since 2017 developing the competencies and skills needed for her current role on NAWIC’s National DE&I Committee. Jennifer graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Master of Business Administration and currently holds a Florida Agents License. Jennifer is wife to Nicholas Morales and mother to Leila, Ethan, and fur-baby Cooper. Jennifer enjoys reading, family gatherings, walks in the morning with her mom and dad, quality time with her soul sisters, is a networking-enthusiast who has never met a stranger, and an avid student of life – eager to always learn.

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Panelist

melanie ryan

CEO, MFR Coaching Consulting

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Melanie Ryan is the CEO of MFR Coaching Consulting (MFR CC). MFR CC’s mission is to empower organizations, communities, and individuals to achieve equitable, impactful, and sustaining change that honors the worth and value of every human being by building capacity in culture development, DEI, and leadership via assessment, facilitation, learning, integration, and coaching.

Melanie has over twenty years of experience in leadership, culture development, and building diverse, inclusive, and equitable teams. She is known for her ability to connect what people say to underlying root issues. In organizations, she uses these connections to empower groups of people to build equitable cultures and with individuals she uses these connections to support people in reaching their full potential.

Melanie is a Certified Diversity & Belonging Facilitator, Certified Professional Diversity Coach and Certified Culture Assessor. She holds a Master in Social Work from the University of Washington.

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Panelist

shannon tymosko

Electrical Apprentice, IBEW Local 105

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Shannon Tymosko is a 2nd year Electrical Apprentice and Skilled Trades Ambassador. She originally completed a Child and Youth work diploma where she found a passion for people, mental health and learning.  Throughout her twenties she worked in a shelter for homeless youth, alongside a career in finances where she worked her way through different position ending in a head office job.   

Sadly, neither of these jobs were careers that allowed her to thrive. She simply survived.  In 2017, her best friend Matt purchased a home and wanted to complete renovations. Both of them at the time were what you would call ‘Green’: someone who has no construction experience. With the help of YouTube, friends, and Google they completed several renovation projects. It was through this process she discovered she loved working with her hands. She felt empowered and proud of each new thing she completed. She knew then, this was something she would like to do for a career.  

Fast forward a few years and she has come to realize, for the first time in her life she has what she considers her ‘Independence’! Being in the skilled trades has given her the confidence, skills, and community to complete any work tasks or tackle home projects.  

She is blessed to say this journey has also taken her on a route of advocacy as an Ambassador for the Skilled Trade. This allows her to take her passion for people that she found while being a Child and Youth Worker and combine it with her new love for the trades.

Moderator

gerri harris

President, G. Harris Consulting, LLC

Geraldine “Gerri” Harris is President/Managing Member of G. Harris Consulting, LLC, a professional business management services firm that provides customized solutions for business management consulting, training, and coaching. She consults on diversity and inclusion, leadership, organizational development, strategic planning, and specializes in business administration and operational processes-all as relates to design and construction. Prior to founding G. Harris Consulting, LLC in 2020, Gerri held executive positions in the construction industry for organizations operating in the areas architecture, hospitality, entertainment, gaming, and construction and construction management.

Gerri was named in the “Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity” by Diversity-Plus magazine in 2018. In 2019 she was a finalist for the “Woman of Distinction” award from the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Southern Nevada Chapter. In 2020, she became the first African American woman to serve on the board of Nevada Contractors Association (NCA) as chair of its Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee. Also, she received the “Collaborator Excellence in Supplier Diversity Award” from the Western Region Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC).

Gerri currently serves on the boards of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC), is the first African American to hold the position of vice president for National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Las Vegas Chapter #74, vice chair of the NAWIC National Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and member of the Nevada Contractors Association (NCA) Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee.