Announcing Our 2026 Women in Construction Conference Main Stage Speakers
This is where the future of the built environment comes alive.
Join 2,500+ changemakers and 100+ exhibiting companies for one of the world’s biggest gatherings focused on workforce development, belonging, and inclusion. Expect bold ideas, powerful conversations, and game-changing connections. From high-impact keynotes to more than 20 fast-paced panels and hands-on workshops, every moment is designed to spark action and deliver real results.
In 2026, this is the conference everyone will be talking about — don’t just attend, be part of the movement.
Join 2,500+ changemakers and 100+ exhibiting companies for one of the world’s biggest gatherings focused on workforce development, belonging, and inclusion. Expect bold ideas, powerful conversations, and game-changing connections. From high-impact keynotes to more than 20 fast-paced panels and hands-on workshops, every moment is designed to spark action and deliver real results.
In 2026, this is the conference everyone will be talking about — don’t just attend, be part of the movement.
Opening Keynote: Amy Trask, CBS Sports Analyst and Former CEO of the Oakland Raiders
Trask spent almost 30 years with the Raiders organization, where she became the NFL's first female front office executive and the NFL’s first female CEO. Since 2013, Trask has been a studio analyst for CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports.
In her book, You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League, Trask shared her experience as the highest-ranking female executive in the league. Trask is on the board of the BIG3, the advisory board of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and the East West Shrine Bowl Advisory Team.
Trask spent almost 30 years with the Raiders organization, where she became the NFL's first female front office executive and the NFL’s first female CEO. Since 2013, Trask has been a studio analyst for CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports.
In her book, You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League, Trask shared her experience as the highest-ranking female executive in the league. Trask is on the board of the BIG3, the advisory board of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and the East West Shrine Bowl Advisory Team.
Industry Keynote: Ann McNeill, President & CEO of MCO Construction and Founder of the National Association of Black Women in Construction
Ann McNeill serves as President & CEO of MCO Construction, a prominent African American female-owned firm in South Florida, specializing in construction management and project controls. Since 1980, she has overseen major projects including Miami International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. A speaker, coach, and author, she founded National Association of Black Women in Construction to empower women in construction and promote STEM pathways. Her leadership built a national mentoring network and earned recognition from USA Today and Black Enterprise. She also leads consulting initiatives, serves on boards, holds finance and accounting degrees, and balances a thriving family life and community leadership.
Ann McNeill serves as President & CEO of MCO Construction, a prominent African American female-owned firm in South Florida, specializing in construction management and project controls. Since 1980, she has overseen major projects including Miami International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. A speaker, coach, and author, she founded National Association of Black Women in Construction to empower women in construction and promote STEM pathways. Her leadership built a national mentoring network and earned recognition from USA Today and Black Enterprise. She also leads consulting initiatives, serves on boards, holds finance and accounting degrees, and balances a thriving family life and community leadership.
Closing Keynote: Barbara Corcoran, Real Estate Broker and Featured on ABC’s Shark Tank
Barbara Corcoran’s credits include straight D’s in high school and college and 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country: She borrowed $1,000 and quit her job as a waitress to start a tiny real estate company in New York City. The Corcoran Group, the largest and best-known brand in the brokerage business, building the largest and best-known brand in the business.
Corcoran is the author of the best seller “Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business!” Corcoran is a motivational and inspirational speaker. She is a frequent small business and real estate contributor on every major network. Corcoran has been an investor/Shark for the past sixteen seasons on ABC’s five-time Emmy award winning show, Shark Tank, investing in over 120 businesses to date. Follow Barbara on Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @BarbaraCorcoran.
Barbara Corcoran’s credits include straight D’s in high school and college and 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country: She borrowed $1,000 and quit her job as a waitress to start a tiny real estate company in New York City. The Corcoran Group, the largest and best-known brand in the brokerage business, building the largest and best-known brand in the business.
Corcoran is the author of the best seller “Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business!” Corcoran is a motivational and inspirational speaker. She is a frequent small business and real estate contributor on every major network. Corcoran has been an investor/Shark for the past sixteen seasons on ABC’s five-time Emmy award winning show, Shark Tank, investing in over 120 businesses to date. Follow Barbara on Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @BarbaraCorcoran.
2025 MOTIVATIONAL KEYNOTE
Sandra Yawn
"Captain Sandy"
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READ BIO
Captain Sandra Yawn (“Captain Sandy”) is a leader, international speaker and businesswoman, whose exceptional leadership style has helped her to break through every obstacle in her path – from the glass ceilings and near-fatal accidents on land to pirates and fires at sea! As a renowned superyacht captain with over 30 years of international maritime experience, Yawn’s integrity and courage have earned her an outstanding reputation as an elite class of captain, and recognition from the International Superyacht Society, who bestowed upon her the prestigious Distinguished Crew Award for her bravery in the midst of a catastrophic fire and pirate threat that occurred in 2006 off the coast of Yemen. Tapping into her signature conviction and affinity for adventure, Yawn charted a brand new course in 2015 when she became a series lead on Bravo’s hit series Below Deck Mediterranean. |
2025 SPEAKERS
Julie Brown
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Judaline Cassidy
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Barb Allen
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Malia Cohen
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EVENT PARTNERS
2026 Conference at a Glance
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Wednesday, September 9, 2026 @ Safe Credit Union Convention Center
Registration Opens | Continental Breakfast | Exhibitor Space Opens - 8:00 a.m. Welcome - 9:00 a.m. General Session - 9:30 a.m. Break 10:15 a.m. General Session - 10:45 a.m. Lunch | Exhibitors - 12:00 p.m. Workshops - 1:30 p.m. Workshops - 2:45 p.m. Industry K St. Happy Hour - 3:45 p.m. *Times Subject to Change* |
Thursday, September 10, 2026 @ Safe Credit Union Convention Center
Registration Opens | Continental Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. Workshops - 8:45 a.m. Workshops - 10:00 a.m. Break - 11:00 a.m. General Session Welcome - 11:15 a.m. Lunch - 12:00 p.m. *Times Subject to Change* |
"Belonging is a necessary ingredient for our performance - individually, in teams and for our organizations - because we
can more effectively engage and bring our best selves to work."
- Tracy Brower, PhD, Master of Corporate Real Estate
The construction industry is one of the nation’s (and world’s) largest industries. In 2021, construction accounted for over 4.1 percent of the US gross domestic product*. That ranks ahead of agriculture, mining, transportation, arts and entertainment, and even national defense spending! Despite more than 90 percent of US general contractors listing labor shortages as a concern**, women make up only 10.3 percent*** of those working in the built environment – and that number shrinks to just 2-4 percent when looking at several of the skilled trades. With unprecedented labor shortages, the time is now for us to determine what changes we must make to ensure that we are an equitable and inclusive industry.
* US Bureau of Economic Analysis, ** US Chamber, *** US Bureau of Labor Statistics
* US Bureau of Economic Analysis, ** US Chamber, *** US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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YOUR PRESENCE
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What Sponsors, Speakers, and Supporters Have to Say About the WIC Conference
DIVERSIFYING THE INDUSTRY"Men showing up daily as allies to assist our women comrade in the development of their careers and supporting them into roles of leadership in key to diversifying the industry and tapping into new talent"
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SPOTLIGHTING CHALLENGES"The more people we have representing lived experiences from across all of our diverse backgrounds, will give us a stronger and more successful outcome."
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FOR EVERYONE"Everyone is welcome! You can come here and learn something, weather you're a man or woman or person of color you're gonna gain some insight!"
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS
PRESENTING SPONSOR
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LANYARD SPONSOR
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PRINT MEDIA SPONSOR
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WORKFORCE TRACK SPONSOR
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KEYNOTE SPONSOR
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STAGE SPONSOR
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INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR SPONSORS
TITANIUM SPONSORS
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST SPONSORS
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NOTE PAD SPONSOR
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PEN SPONSOR
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WATER BOTTLE SPONSOR
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WIFI SPONSOR
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PLATINUM SPONSORS
BREAKOUT SPONSORS
EXHIBITOR TABLE SPONSORS
Air Systems Service & Construction, Apollo Drone Services, Atlas Disposal Industries, Inc., Bobo Construction, Inc., Buhler Commercial, Charge, CSHQA, Clear Graphics and Printing, Construction Management Online, Enterprise, ERTEC Environmental Systems, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, McGrath - Mobile Modular/Mobile Modular Portable Storage/Kitchen To Go/Environplex/TRS Ren Telco, Frank M. Booth, Inc., Ramos Oil Company,
Sierra Pacific Windows, Structure Groups, Three29, Tricorp Group, Weintraub | Tobin, WY Construction; dba Pacific Construction
PREMIER SPONSORS
Ample Electric, Inc., Dewberry Engineers, Helix Electric Inc., LB Construction, Inc., Solace Enterprises, Inc., Thornton Tomasetti, United Mechanical,
United Way Santa Cruz County, Urata & Sons Concrete, LLC, VPCS, Western Engineering Contractors, Inc., Z Squared Construction
STUDENT SPONSOR
Gilbane Building Company
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSOR
BXSJ
Air Systems Service & Construction, Apollo Drone Services, Atlas Disposal Industries, Inc., Bobo Construction, Inc., Buhler Commercial, Charge, CSHQA, Clear Graphics and Printing, Construction Management Online, Enterprise, ERTEC Environmental Systems, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, McGrath - Mobile Modular/Mobile Modular Portable Storage/Kitchen To Go/Environplex/TRS Ren Telco, Frank M. Booth, Inc., Ramos Oil Company,
Sierra Pacific Windows, Structure Groups, Three29, Tricorp Group, Weintraub | Tobin, WY Construction; dba Pacific Construction
PREMIER SPONSORS
Ample Electric, Inc., Dewberry Engineers, Helix Electric Inc., LB Construction, Inc., Solace Enterprises, Inc., Thornton Tomasetti, United Mechanical,
United Way Santa Cruz County, Urata & Sons Concrete, LLC, VPCS, Western Engineering Contractors, Inc., Z Squared Construction
STUDENT SPONSOR
Gilbane Building Company
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSOR
BXSJ
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
QUESTIONS? Contact Jessica Miller at [email protected] or call 916.465.8357.