Meet Our 2020 Speakers

Melissa Anderson
Business Development Director
@Anderson Art

Melissa Anderson is the co-owner of Art Anderson, a family-owned engineering and naval architecture firm based Bremerton, WA. She is passionate about business, strategy, community, and team culture. Melissa devotes time to learning about her industry, and particularly how to engage and empower women. When not in the office Melissa spends summers boating, fall coaching soccer, and winters skiing with her family and friends.

Rachel Birnboim
Associate Principal and Senior Project Manager
@Perkins Eastman

Rachel Birnboim, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, an Associate Principal and Senior Project Manager at Perkins Eastman, where she focuses primarily on healthcare architecture. Her repertoire also includes multifamily housing, collegiate student life, senior living, and K-12. Rachel's 21+ years of experince include zoning and code analysis, concept planning and programming, project managment, documentation, consultant coordination, and construction administration. Growing existing client relationships through exemplary performance, achieving excellence in design execution and project delivery, and developing new client relationships are her foremost priorities. Rachel is passionate about design and the collaborative process, advocates for professional growth and development of both herself and her collegues, and is a proud member of the Advisory Board of the WiD+C Conference.

Ivi Gabales
Business Development Manager
@Rice Fergus Miller Inc.

Ivi Gabales is an architect by training, but a business development professional by choice. Having been a project architect for 18 years before focusing on business development, Ivi is able to see the project cycle through from initial lead to completed project. She is currently focused on growing the firm strategically in its healthcare, hospitality, community, and education markets. Most days she develops and maintains relationships to grow the firm's practice, while encouraging and mentoring others to do so as well. Ivi loves meeting new people, making connections, and using those connections to help build healthy and sustainable communities. She is also a startup entrepreneur who is passionate about advocating for those with barriers to employment.

Tami Hausman, PhD
President
@Hausman LLC

Tami Hausman is a strategist and facilitator who helps AEC professionals amplify their influence inside and outside the industry. For some 25 years, she has been an expert advisor to top firms who seek out her experience and insights. Her international roster of clients includes architecture, engineering, and construction firms; real estate developers; project management firms; construction cost consultants; and non-profit organizations. Using her wide network of contacts in the media, Tami positions her clients' knowledge and expertise to best advantage and opens doors to targeted audiences that strengthen their position in the marketplace. She is a graduate of Brown University and received a PhD in art history from New York University.

Les Hiscoe
Chief Executive Officer
@Shawmut Design and Construction

Les Hiscoe is CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, a leading $1.5 billion national construction management firm. As CEO, Hiscoe drives the continued growth and success of the company by creating the most differentiated customer experience in the industry, working with executive leadership to ensure delivery of exceptional levels of client service, develop teams of remarkably talented people, and implement the latest technologies across every aspect of the business. Before being named CEO, Hiscoe was President and COO. Hiscoe was a driving force in elevating the company to a national level, and was instrumental in the establishment and growth of Shawmut's New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago offices.

Marianne Monte
Chief People Officer
@Shawmut Design and Construction

Marianne Monte is Chief People Officer at Shawmut Design and Construction, a leading $1.5 billion national construction management firm. As CPO, Monte drives human resource and business strategy, using her effective executive coaching, talent management, and business partner leadership to create a successful work environment in which employees thrive. Since starting, Monte's work has been integral to Shawmut being named Best Workplace by Fortune Magazine three years in a row.

Brenda Radmacher
Partner @Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP

Brenda Radmacher is a noted expert in construction law and is called on as a counselor, litigator, and noted speaker in regard to issues involving land owners, general contractors, developers, and builders. She has a varied practice with significant experience in representing companies to address risk management issues, handling their litigation, and drafting critical documents and procedures. Ms. Radmacher has developed further expertise in defending against California Proposition 65 and regularly advises multi-national and Fortune 500 clients on compliance and related litigation. At USC Law School, Ms. Radmacher took honors in Environmental Law and was captain of the 1996 Jessup International Moot Court team. She is a past member of the California Bar Association Committee on ADR, and taught negotiation and mediation for over a decade.

Cathy Sewell
Principle @Rider Levett Bucknell

Cathy Sewell is a Principal for Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) North America. Starting with RLB in 2005, she manages business development and marketing for North America. Over the course of her career, Cathy has played a fundamental role in developing and implementing strategic initiatives to strengthen the firm's name recognition and grow the business. Cathy holds a MBA in Marketing and Management from Hawaii Pacific University and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Kent State University. She has served as a judge for the Society of Marketing Professional Services' "National Striving for Excellence" and "National Marketing Communications" awards and co-founded the organization's Hawaii chapter in 2007.

Emily Tilgner, PE, WELL AP, LEED AP
Director, Engineering Services

Emily Tilgner wants other women to be able to thrive in her industry. Director of engineering services at McCownGordon Construction, Emily saw little gender diversity in the upper ranks at her former engineering firm, which led her to spearhead an internal women's network to help propel women to leadership. Upon moving to McCownGordon, she helped start the company's Women in Leadership initiative which inspires and prepares women in the company and community for leadership. In her day job, she creates tools that save hundreds of hours of labor and hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction-related conflicts on projects throughout the Midwest. She is also a licensed commissioning agent. Outside of her work leading McCownGordon's engineering, Virtual Design and Construction, and QAQC departments, Emily serves on the Rockhurst University Civil and Mechanical Engineering advisory board and is active with the Urban Land Institute.

Rebecca Udell
Executive Director of Marketing Strategy @KSS Architects

With passion for design, strategy and connectivity, Rebecca serves as Executive Director of Marketing Strategy for KSS Architects. A women-owned architecture, planning, and interior design firm located in Philadelphia, Princeton, and New York, KSS believes the built environment stimulates learning, commerce and community to support today's social, economic, and environmental challenges. With 20+ years of industry practice as an interior designer coupled with leadership skills honed as President of a boutique firm and through MBA studies, Rebecca's expertise manifests itself in developing comprehensive strategic positioning initiatives. Passionate about helping younger women find their voice, Rebecca has been an active member of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Philadelphia for over 17 years as a Past President and board member for over a decade, Strategic Planning Committee and Outreach Committee member, with a focus on professional development. She is also an inaugural graduate of the CREW Network Leadership Development Program.

Sheryl Van Anne
Project Executive @Chicago Operating Group

With more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Sheryl Van Anne serves as a project executive in Mortenson's Chicago office with a primary focus on the higher education market. Since joining Mortenson in 2003, Sheryl has managed numerous large-scale projects throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond. Sheryl is passionate about promoting the advancement of women and minorities in the construction industry - in both encouraging women to enter the construction industry as well as promotion within the construction industry.

David Barista
Editor in Chief @Building Design+Construction

David has covered the U.S. construction industry for more than 18 years, including multiple editorial roles at  Building Design+Construction and Professional Builder. During his tenure at BD+C, David has led the development and planning of two national events; launched several award-winning editorial programs; created the publication's Daily 5 e-newsletter; and established content partnerships with more than 35 leading AEC firms. He enjoys writing about technology and innovation in the design and construction fields. He is a six-time Jesse H. Neal Award winner, and a seven-time finalist. He's also won numerous editorial awards from the Construction Media Alliance and the American Society of Business Publication Editors.