Speaking Sessions

Keynote Speaker

I've been an owner of a boutique marble quarry operation for 32 years. When I started my career, there were nearly no women in construction. Today, I encounter many women in all aspects of design, construction and engineering. I started the company with no employees, no revenue and no WIP. We've supplied stone across the country and have touched over 2000 buildings in the US, for both historic, restoration and new projects. Each team we worked with to successful supply and complete our projects were unique and that unique experience helped build my leadership skills. We all are and can be builders, physically and metaphorically. But it requires, technical skills, patience and teamwork to achieve that success.

Breakout Session

​Collaboration shouldn’t feel like friction. This interactive workshop focuses on practical ways to improve integration between design and construction teams. Through real-world scenarios and group exercises, participants will learn how to align goals, streamline communication, and resolve conflicts before they derail progress.

Breakout Session

We have all heard the infamous saying, "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine" And while this is completely true it can often times come across very harsh and like you are not willing to be a team player OR it can feel impossible to say while we may truly feel this way deep down but don't know how to articulate this boundary. As women we are generally the constant "fixers" and "cleaner-uppers" of all the things - it is in our DNA to take on too much and to feel we need to do more than perhaps a male counterpart would to show our value or some how justify our worth. It is 2026, this is simply not true and in a time where we are more overloaded and burdened with life and all the various things that accompany that it is critical that we find a way to set firm yet professional and courteous boundaries that both benefit ourselves and in the long run, the collective group of your coworkers, peers or hey even your family. I would love to share some things I have learned over the years about boundary setting, recognizing your capacity limits and having an open dialogue with a break out group of phrases or ways that these can be communicated in our workplaces and beyond.

Breakout Session

Leadership is a mission, not a title. Drawing on lessons from the military and applying them to the challenges of construction, From Boots to Blueprints is a condensed learning session designed to help women uncover their authentic leadership style and voice. Led by a seasoned military leader, this program translates battlefield-tested principles—discipline, adaptability, and mission focus—into the construction world. Participants will learn to lead with confidence, navigate high-pressure environments, and inspire teams through clarity, courage, and resilience. Whether leading on the jobsite or in the boardroom, this training empowers women to define their leadership blueprint and command respect without sacrificing authenticity.

Breakout Session

Long before a project ever breaks ground, critical decisions made at the design desk begin shaping its success—or quietly setting it up for struggle. In this session, Rebekah Meredith explores the often-overlooked disconnect between design intent and field reality, and how misalignment early in the process can drive inefficiency, rework, and frustration across teams. Drawing from her rare experience leading engineering, design, and construction under one roof, Rebekah pulls back the curtain on where projects commonly break down before construction begins—ranging from constructability blind spots and sequencing conflicts to details that work on paper but fail in practice. Through real-world examples and practical insight, she challenges long-standing industry norms and invites attendees to rethink how collaboration actually happens. This session is both technical and human. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how early design decisions ripple through the field, how to identify the “black hole” in their own workflows, and—most importantly—why challenging the status quo is often the first step toward better outcomes. Rebekah’s conversational yet polished delivery brings depth, clarity, and energy to a topic that impacts every role in the built environment.