Board of Directors
Each year, we hope to challenge the organization to realize new goals and embrace greater missions for the group.
Holly Cindell
President
Bio
Holly Cindell is President of WiOPS’ National Board of Directors. A co-founding member of the organization, she has served in this role since establishing WiOPS in 2013.
In 2018, Holly founded Consults on Construction, a WBE consulting firm. After 33 years of delivering mega projects in heavy civil, healthcare, and commercial industries for large general contractors, Holly now focuses on adding value to her clients’ projects through risk analysis, process improvements and project delivery.
Holly lives in Los Angeles with her husband. When not playing tennis or hiking in Griffith Park, she enjoys traveling, including to sporting events of her three granddaughters.
Kelly Martin
Vice President
Bio
Kelly Martin is Vice President of WiOPS’ National Board of Directors. Passionate about continual growth, life-long learning, and relationship building, she is serving her third year in this position.
Corporate Vice President of ISEC, Inc., Kelly has a long tenure at the U.S.-based specialty contracting firm. She currently leads the firm’s corporate preconstruction department, international and domestic fabrications partners and organizational development efforts. Kelly recently earned her Executive Juris Doctorate, which she utilizes regularly for contract negotiations.
Weekends and personal interests include painting, sailing, and hiking with her coon hound Roscoe, as well as spending quality time with family and friends.
Sarah Carr
Treasurer
Bio
Sarah Carr is Treasurer of WiOPS’ National Board of Directors. One of WiOPS co-founding members, she previously served on the Southern California Chapter Board.
Sarah is Vice President, Business Development for the Southern California Region of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Since 1994, she has excelled in numerous professional positions at McCarthy. With her continued leadership, Sarah has contributed to the success of various institutional and commercial projects ranging in size from $20 million to $650 million.
Outside of her professional life, Sarah enjoys early morning workouts, refining her golf game and spending time with family and friends.
Emery Molnar
Secretary
Bio
Emery Molnar has served as Secretary on the WiOPS National Board of Directors since 2018.
Vice President and Southern California Business Unit Leader with Gilbane Building Company, Emery has excelled in numerous executive positions across pre-construction, construction operations, strategic planning and business development over his 36-year career. An integral part of Gilbane’s leadership team, he is responsible for spearheading the firm’s LA operations and growth. Emery is also the Chairperson of the LA/OC ACE Mentor Affillates, a free afterschool teen program led by volunteer design and construction industry professionals.
In his free time, he works on his Triumph TR6 or is riding his Peloton.
Kasie Bowden
Board Member
Bio
Kasie Bowden is a Board Member on the WiOPS National Board of Directors. A WiOPS co-founding member, she previously served on the Southern California Chapter Board.
Since 2006, Kasie’s construction career has evolved from Field and Project Engineer to Design Manager and Superintendent of major educational, hospital and aviation projects for the Southern California district of Hensel Phelps. Her most recent project involves supervising the $350-million Southwest Airlines LAX T1.5 Development Program as Project Superintendent.
Kasie enjoys travelling, brunch with good friends and, more recently, going on long walks around the neighborhood with her husband and two young children.
Amanda Corbet
Board Member
Bio
Amanda Corbet is a Board Member on the WiOPS National Board of Directors. She previously served on the Southern California Chapter Board and is a co-founding member.
Since 2006, Amanda’s career has evolved from Project Engineer to Project Manager, and now Director of Community Outreach and Inclusion for the Southern California Region of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. In her current role, she focuses on building relationships with SBE/DVBE/MWBE businesses, supporting McCarthy’s commitment to establishing a diverse network of industry partners.
Also, a mother of two small children, Amanda enjoys home improvement projects with her husband and is passionate about fitness and exercise.
Erin Volk
Board Member
Bio
Erin Volk has served as a Board Member on the National Board of Directors since 2015.
She is the Vice President of Workforce & Community Development for the Associated General Contractors of California (AGC). Erin joined the AGC of California in 2010 as the Executive Director of AGC Construction Education Foundation. Since 2015, she has served in her current role providing leadership and strategic direction to statewide workforce development programs including Build California.
Weekends and personal interests include painting, wine tasting, and walks with her best dog pal Gus, as well as spending quality time with family and friends.
Melissa Berg
President
Bio
Melissa Berg is President of WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Melissa is an owner and Director at Dome Construction, a mid-sized general contractor with locations throughout California. Her teams specialize in healthcare construction in the Bay Area. She also leads efforts in the advancement of women and diversity and inclusion within Dome.
Outside of work, Melissa loves to travel, especially trips involving scuba diving. Most weekends you can find her at a beach with her dog Mia and wife Kristen.
Kelly Coogan
Vice President
Bio
Kelly Coogan is Vice President of WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Kelly is a Sr. Project Manager with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a large national General Contractor founded in 1864. Based in their San Francisco office, Kelly is a passionate construction professional who has focused on building healthcare projects within the Bay Area over her 13-year career with McCarthy.
When Kelly is not on the jobsite, you can find her spending time with family and friends, camping, hiking, cooking, or working on her own property in Sebastopol, Calif.
Kelly is a Sr. Project Manager with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a large national General Contractor founded in 1864. Based in their San Francisco office, Kelly is a passionate construction professional who has focused on building healthcare projects within the Bay Area over her 13-year career with McCarthy.
When Kelly is not on the jobsite, you can find her spending time with family and friends, camping, hiking, cooking, or working on her own property in Sebastopol, Calif.
Jennifer Lauritzen
Secretary
Bio
Jennifer Lauritzen is Secretary of WiOPS Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Jenn is a Project Executive with Swinerton, a commercial contracting company founded in 1888. In this role, she oversees projects in the San Francisco Bay Area for the company’s Northern California Healthcare Division and is actively involved in fostering the division’s Lean journey.
When Jenn is not on the job, look to the skies where she may be found paragliding among the clouds. She also enjoys riding her motorcycles, rock climbing, and taking on a DIY home improvement project.
Stacie McConnell
Director of Membership
Bio
Stacie McConnell is Director of Membership for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Stacie is a Senior Operations Manager with ISEC, Inc., a commercial specialty subcontractor whose scopes include architectural woodwork, ornamental metals, specialties, doors frames and hardware, laboratory casework and lab & medical equipment. In her 24th year at ISEC, she oversees several project management teams in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Stacie enjoys music, going to live concerts, hanging out at the beach, craft beer, and spending time with family and friends.
Christina Greystone
Director of Events
Bio
Christina Greystone is the Event Director for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Christina is a Sr. Assistant Project Manager at Retrolock Corp (RLC), a WBE Certified design-build interior finish contractor specializing in doors, frames and hardware, millwork, finish carpentry and access controls. Christina is responsible for assisting projects in the Bay Area and for business development.
In her spare time, Christina enjoys playing softball, golfing, participating in 5k and 10k running events with friends, going hiking with her dog Rufus, and traveling to restaurants and wineries.
LaToya Thompson
Public Relations Director
Bio
LaToya Thompson is Public Relations Director for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter.
A Fire Sprinkler Specialist for Hilti North America, LaToya works with fire sprinkler contractors and engineers on major top-tier commercial and multi-family projects around the Bay Area. With 18 years of sales management experience, she has helped change the face and mindset of the construction industry. LaToya has an open-door policy for anyone who wants to reach out to her for mentorship and networking.
In her free time, LaToya is a guest drummer for her mother’s Blues band. She also enjoys hiking, dog-sitting for friends and helping loved ones manage their personal properties.
A Fire Sprinkler Specialist for Hilti North America, LaToya works with fire sprinkler contractors and engineers on major top-tier commercial and multi-family projects around the Bay Area. With 18 years of sales management experience, she has helped change the face and mindset of the construction industry. LaToya has an open-door policy for anyone who wants to reach out to her for mentorship and networking.
In her free time, LaToya is a guest drummer for her mother’s Blues band. She also enjoys hiking, dog-sitting for friends and helping loved ones manage their personal properties.
LaDrena Dansby
Treasurer
Bio
LaDrena Dansby is Treasurer of WiOPS Northern California Chapter. She helped co-found WiOPS in 2013 along with a group of pioneering women from construction, architecture and engineering companies.
LaDrena is a Program Manager with AECOM currently overseeing a major healthcare master plan implementation program. LaDrena is a California registered Professional Engineer and a certified DBIA Professional with over 26 years of program administration, project management and design experience. Her expertise includes delivering over $4.1 billion in California healthcare projects which entails working with project owners to plan, design and construct hospitals and healthcare facilities and providing resilience, tactics and leadership.
LaDrena enjoys day trips, spending time with family and friends, cooking, and taking walks to observe the everyday beauty around us.
LaDrena is a Program Manager with AECOM currently overseeing a major healthcare master plan implementation program. LaDrena is a California registered Professional Engineer and a certified DBIA Professional with over 26 years of program administration, project management and design experience. Her expertise includes delivering over $4.1 billion in California healthcare projects which entails working with project owners to plan, design and construct hospitals and healthcare facilities and providing resilience, tactics and leadership.
LaDrena enjoys day trips, spending time with family and friends, cooking, and taking walks to observe the everyday beauty around us.
Jeanette Slye
Director of Fundraising
Bio
Jeanette Slye is the Director of Fundraising for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She began serving on the chapter’s Board of Directors in 2020.
Working in the construction industry since 2011, Jeanette is an experienced project administrator. She is currently a Sr. Project Cost Administrator for Swinerton, a commercial general contractor founded in 1888. Based in the firm’s healthcare division, Jeanette oversees all job cost documentation for the company’s Bay Area healthcare projects while working closely with subcontractors and clients.
Away from work, Jeanette enjoys spending time outdoors participating in activities such as skeet shooting, camping and traveling.
Marie Patterson
Education Director
Bio
Marie Patterson is Education Director for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Marie is an Assistant Professor at California State University, Chico in the Construction Management Department, and is advisor to the Chico State Women in Construction and Mechanical Contractors Association student clubs. Her industry career included working for specialty piping contractors focusing on advanced technology and pharmaceutical markets, as well as overseeing facility renovations for project owners.
Marie’s hobbies include golfing, hiking, camping, and fly fishing. She also enjoys evenings at home cooking.
Leah Wimberly
President
Bio
Leah Wimberly is the President of WiOPS’ Southern California Chapter. She assumed the role of President in 2020 after serving on its Board of Directors as Director of Marketing since 2018.
Working in the construction industry since 2008, Leah is a Project Manager and Estimator for Pacific Wall Systems, a Union drywall contractor in Southern California. She also acts as an RME for the company, having her C-2 Contractor’s License applied to the company’s license.
Outside of work and WiOPS, Leah spends her free time golfing, going to the beach, volunteering in her community, playing with her dog Zuma, and relaxing with her family.
Sammi Shepherd
Vice President and Secretary
Bio
Sammi Shepherd is currently Vice President and Secretary of WiOPS’ Southern California Chapter, and has been an active member of the organization since its founding as part of the Events Committee.
Currently a Project Manager for McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., Sammi has worked for the national commercial construction firm since she entered the industry as an intern in 2000. Her expertise has led to the successful completion of numerous projects, including those in schools, hospitals and commercial market sectors.
Outside of work, Sammi is incredibly crafty, and loves spending her free time knitting, painting, singing, and more! You name it, she can do it!
Michelle Keyser
Director of Marketing
Bio
Michelle Keyser is the Director of Marketing for WiOPS’ Southern California Chapter. She began serving on its Board of Directors in 2020. Prior to that role, she served on the marketing committee for three years, where she created and led the Member of the Month campaign.
The Manager of Supplier Diversity for commercial general contractor Hensel Phelps, Michelle has excelled in a variety of other positions, including Estimator, Field Engineer, Office Engineer and Project Engineer over her 9-year construction career.
When she is away from work, Michelle enjoys spending time with family, reading, HIIT workouts and traveling.
Claudia Thompson
Director of Events
Bio
Claudia Thompson is the Director of Events for WiOPS’ Southern California Chapter. She began serving on its Board of Directors in 2020.
The President and Founder of D3 Construction Services, Claudia is a certified woman-owned small business helping builders in Southern California by providing temporary fencing, trailers and labor. She began her construction career in 2002, working as an Intern for Lendlease, then was a Product Manager for PulteGroup prior to starting her own company.
Outside of work, Claudia spends her free time outside enjoying nature with her husband, four kids, five cats and dog.
Erin Lawless
Treasurer
Bio
Erin Lawless is the Treasurer of WiOPS’ Southern California Chapter. A member since WiOPS’ inception, she has served on the Chapter’s Board of Directors since 2016.
Erin is the Preconstruction Services Manager for ISEC, Inc., Southern California Region where she has worked since 2003. With a solid track record of increasing her responsibilities and leadership roles, Erin spent most of her career working with operations and project management before taking on her latest challenge overseeing estimating and purchasing at ISEC.
Erin spends her free time with her children and grandchildren, hiking, riding her Vespa, and consistently has at least half-a-dozen craft/home projects in progress.
Jacqueline Reed
Director of Fundraising
Bio
Jacqueline Reed is the Fundraising Chair for WiOPS’ Southern California Chapter. She began serving on its Board of Directors in 2020.
A Senior Purchasing Manager at Clark Construction, Jacqueline has worked in the construction industry since 2010. Prior to her current role, she held other positions as Superintendent and Project Engineer. Jacqueline prides herself on industry involvement, also serving as a Board Member for the AGC Orange County Chapter.
Jacqueline loves spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors and the beach, hanging out with friends, hiking, golfing, brunching, and exercising on her Peloton bike.